More smartphones these days are arriving with support for reverse wireless charging. What this means is that users will be able to use their own phones to wirelessly charge another device that supports wireless charging, like another smartphone or a case for their wireless earbuds, which is a pretty useful feature to have.
Apple’s iPhones have come with support for wireless charging for a while now, but with the launch of the new iPhone 12, Apple has included new hardware to support the company’s new MagSafe wireless charging feature. However, it turns out that MagSafe in the iPhone 12 might be hiding an unactivated feature.
There is a lot of confusion surrounding Apple’s new MagSafe charger. Apple claims that the device allows users to charge the new iPhone 12s at speeds of up to 15W, twice the charging speed compared to regular wireless charging on current iPhones. However, recent tests have found that using it with an older iPhone charges it at insanely low speeds of 2W.
Advertising
If you plan on buying and using Apple’s new MagSafe charging system for the iPhone, you might want to take note that by using the new charger, it could actually leave imprints on your iPhone’s leather case. This is according to a warning by Apple in a support document that mentions this potential issue.
So while Apple’s AirPower charging mat might really be dead, the company isn’t done trying its hand at wireless charging, and so with the new iPhone 12, the company introduced MagSafe. This is a new magnetic wireless charging system developed by Apple that they claim faster than regular wireless chargers.
A lot of our devices are headed down the wireless charging route these days, and as such, finding a mat large enough to charge multiple devices at once is a good thing. In fact, if you’re after such a device, you might be interested to learn that Mophie has since taken the wraps off its new 4-in-1 Wireless Charging Mat.
During Apple’s iPhone 12 announcement, they also revealed a new wireless charging system for the iPhone 12 where the company decided to reuse its MagSafe branding. They also revealed that third-party accessory makers such as Belkin would be working on similar accessories for those who wanted more options.
We had recently heard the rumors that Apple was looking to revive the MagSafe branding, which in the past was typically reserved for the company’s laptop chargers. Turns out the rumors were correct because at Apple’s iPhone 12 event, the company has announced a new magnetic wireless charging system for the iPhone 12 which they are calling MagSafe as well.
According to a leak from last month, it was suggested that Apple could be looking to introduce a new wireless charging accessory for the iPhone. However, it will not necessarily come in the form of the AirPower charging mat we saw before. Instead, it will be a circular device that attaches to the iPhone magnetically on the back.
Ever since Apple introduced USB-C to their MacBook laptops, they pretty much ditched the MagSafe chargers, much to the dismay of many a MacBook owner. However, it appears that the company could be looking to bring back the MagSafe branding, but unfortunately it might not be in the way many are hoping for.
According to the rumors, Apple is said to be working on a new accessory called the AirTags. For those unfamiliar, this is basically a tracking accessory similar to the Tile tracking accessory where users can put them in bags, wallets, hang off their keychains, and more. Apple has yet to officially announce anything, but could they be hinting at it?
A report from earlier this year from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed that Apple could be working on a small wireless charging mat. It is unclear if this is Apple’s alternative to the failed AirPower charging mat, or if it could be another separate accessory entirely, but now a video has surfaced that supposedly confirms the existence of the device.