Apple is working on MagSafe-compatible battery packs that will be compatible with the iPhone 12 models, and leaker Jon Prosser said on the Genius Bar podcast today that one version of the battery pack will have “reverse charging.”
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According to Prosser, Apple is working on two versions of the battery packs, a standard version and a premium version with reverse charging. Prosser doesn’t go into reverse charging, but presumably it means the battery pack can charge an iPhone 12 and charge AirPods from the other end at the same time.
Prosser has a mixed track record when it comes to forecasting Apple’s plans and isn’t always accurate, so the reliability of this information is unclear and should be viewed with some skepticism until confirmed. Prosser claims his source is “not sure” if Apple will release both battery packs or if only one will be launched, so we may not see a version with a reverse charging debut. Later this week, Prosser plans to release renders of the battery packs based on information from its source.
Apple’s work on iPhone 12 battery packs became apparent in mid-February following the launch of the second iOS 14.5 beta. There was talk of a mysterious “battery pack” that was discovered in the code by MacRumors collaborator Steve Moser, and Bloomberg later confirmed that Apple is indeed working on an iPhone 12 MagSafe battery pack.
Gurman mentioned no reverse charging capability, but some prototypes were described as having a white rubber exterior. Gurman said the development of the accessory is hampered by software issues that Apple is still fixing before the accessory is released.
There were rumors of bilateral wireless charging for the 2019 iPhone 11 models, but it didn’t end up being a feature that Apple implemented because the company couldn’t get it to work. Two-way wireless charging would have enabled an iPhone to charge another iPhone or charge a small accessory like the AirPods.