Mention of 'battery pack' in iOS 14.5 beta stokes rumors of new MagSafe accessory

Last updated 3 years ago

Code in the latest iOS 14.5 beta suggests Apple is working on a new accessory for iPhone 12 that could take advantage of the new MagSafe wireless charging protocol.

A new "Mobile Charge Mode" feature in the second iOS 14.5 beta references a "battery pack" that some believe is an unannounced MagSafe device.

Discovered by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser, the code string makes no mention of "MagSafe," though it also fails to name existing portable charging hardware like the Smart Battery Case. The wording points to a charger more in line with a MagSafe add-on than a traditional case, Moser suggests.

Interestingly, the unnamed "battery pack" keeps iPhone charged at around 90% to "improve charging efficiency" and "maximize battery life," the code reads.

Whether Apple is working on a MagSafe charger for iPhone 12 remains unknown.

Third-party makers have developed battery packs that attach to the handset magnetically, though they do not charge at MagSafe's 15W rates.