Apple is working on a MagSafe compatible battery pack for the iPhone 12, which will be paired with the iPhone 12 models unlike previous Smart Battery Cases for earlier iPhones with magnets.
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The battery can be easily bounced on and off the iPhone, and because it is easily removable, it will not be as bulky or uncomfortable as previously designed Apple options. The MagSafe battery pack is not yet available, but this guide contains everything we’ve heard so far.
Current rumors
Signs of a MagSafe Battery Pack were first noticed in code in the iOS 14.5 beta, which referred to an unannounced “battery pack”. The name was notable because there is no current product that Apple calls a battery pack, as Apple Battery Cases used to be called Smart Battery Cases.
After code is found in the beta, Bloomberg Apple’s work on a MagSafe battery pack, which has reportedly been developed for at least a year, confirms this.
Design
The MagSafe battery pack is attached to the back of a iPhone, and some prototypes have a white rubber exterior.
Previous Smart Battery cases were available in white, along with black and blush pink, so we could see the same color options with the MagSafe battery. It’s likely that the MagSafe battery pack will have a silicone layer similar to Apple’s silicone iPhone case.
There is no word yet on the size of the battery nor how thick it will be, but again the Smart Battery Case gives some clues.
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Apple’s Smart Battery Case ‘
All the smart battery cases have a bump on the back where the battery was, so we could see the MagSafe battery pack work the same way, and it could be the same size as the Leather Wallet attachment, another MagSafe accessory on the back ‘ n MagSafe iPhone.
Magnetic strength
According to Bloomberg, Apple has extensively tested the magnetic strength of the MagSafe battery pack to make sure it stays firmly in place during charging.
Loading speed
A MagSafe battery can charge the perhapsiPhone 12 models at the same speed as a standard MagSafe charger, although this is not guaranteed, and charging may be slower due to the lack of a power adapter. The MagSafe charger charges the iPhone 12, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max at a maximum of 15W and the iPhone 12 mini at a maximum of 12W, but the charging speed may not be necessary for a battery attached to the back not from the phone while on the go.
Development problems
Apple was already working on the MagSafe battery pack before the iPhone 12 models were introduced, but Apple experienced issues with the software that delayed the launch of the accessory.
Apple is trying to resolve an issue that causes the iPhone to incorrectly report that the battery pack is overheated, and there are also issues when a user switches between using the MagSafe battery pack when installing a case and when removing the case.
That there are issues may not come as a surprise to those who own Apple’s previous Smart Battery Cases, as there have been issues with some of them. Apple launched a Smart Battery Cases replacement program in 2020 designed for the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR, as some of these cases had charging issues.
Alleged features
Leaker Jon Prosser, who has a mixed record with predicting Apple’s plans, says the MagSafe battery pack will be two versions, one of which contains ‘reverse charge’.
It is not clear what “reverse charge” means in this context. It could possibly charge more than one device at a time, such as charging the AiriPhone Air and the AirPods at the same time, or it could refer to the iPhone that can charge the battery when plugged into a lightning cable.
Alternative options
Other businesses are developing MagSafe compatible battery options. Anchor, for example, introduced the PowerCore Magnetic 5K Wireless Power Bank, which is designed to hold to the back of a MagSafe iPhone using the magnetic connection.
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Anker’s Magnetic PowerCore Power Bank is not designed using Apple’s official MagSafe system and is only capable of charging a WiPhone with a maximum of 5 W.
Issue Date
Due to the development issues encountered by Apple, it is not clear when the MagSafe battery pack will be released, and Bloomberg said there is a chance it could eventually be delayed or canceled.