A new report from Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman says Apple is working on a MagSafe battery pack attachment for iPhone 12.
Apple has been developing the attachment for at least a year and it has been scheduled to launch in the months following the release of the iPhone 12 line, according to people with knowledge of the product. The iPhone 12 models were introduced in October.
The battery pack would attach to the back of an iPhone 12 using the MagSafe system, which all the new phones use for charging and pairing other accessories like cases and wallets. Some prototypes of the battery pack have a white rubber exterior, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the product isn’t yet public. The new accessory would differ from Apple battery add-ons for previous iPhones in that it only provides additional battery life and doesn’t serve as a full protective case.
Apple has reportedly taken steps to ensure that the battery pack’s magnetic attachment system is strong enough for the charging unit to stay in place.
The accessory project has reportedly been hit with software issues, including inaccurate reporting of battery pack overheating, as well as issues that arise when the user switches between using the device when a case is on the iPhone and when the case is removed.
The issues faced by the project could ultimately lead to the project being delayed or completely canceled, say Gurman’s sources.
Gurman says Apple has also considered the possibility of in-house development of other MagSafe accessories, such as an in-car attachment, although formal development has not yet been initiated.
