Apple has tested a wireless reverse charging feature for its upcoming iPhone 17 Pro models that would allow iPhone users to deliver power to other Apple devices, according to the Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital.
Apple has tested the 7.5W reverse charging function on the iPhone 17 Pro. I don’t know if it will be open for use this time…
In fact, this function is very practical for emergency charging of headphones. I often use this function when I use Samsung.
The Chinese leaker claims Apple is testing the wireless charging feature for iPhone 17 Pro models, which would allow it to charge other Apple accessories like AirPods and the Apple Watch.
Apple has offered a limited version of this feature in the past, when it released the MagSafe Battery Pack, compatible with the iPhone 12 and newer models. When the iPhone was being charged via a lightning cable, it could also pass power through to the battery pack, charging it.
The MagSafe Battery Pack was discontinued in September 2023, due to the launch of the iPhone 15 lineup, which dropped the Lightning port in favor of the industry-standard USB-C port. The iPhone 15 and later models can deliver a charge to Apple Watch, AirPods, and other smaller devices via the USB-C port. However, the reverse charging feature has not yet been implemented since the MagSafe Battery Pack being discontinued.
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in 2022 predicted that Apple would eventually transition to USB-C, but that has so far failed to happen.
Instant Digital also noted that he does not know if the feature will be enabled on iPhone 17 devices when they officially launch, likely around mid-September.
