'iPhone 13' predicted to have reverse wireless charging & larger charging coils

Apple's "iPhone 13" may include a larger wireless charging coil than in the iPhone 12, a rumor claims, one that could offer reverse wireless charging as well as faster overall recharging times.

The MagSafe wireless charging system allows up to 15W of power to be delivered to a supporting iPhone, far above the levels of non-MagSafe wireless charging. However, Apple could increase that 15W to higher levels in the next generation of iPhone.

According to sources of Max Weinbach through EverythingApplePro, Apple could use a much larger wireless charging coil in the "iPhone 13." The larger coil will increase the surface area of the region used for wireless charging itself, which provides a number of benefits.

This includes making it easier for the iPhone to manage heat buildup from the component, as well as allowing for higher wattages to be used.

The size of the charging coil may also enable the iPhone to recharge other devices in a reverse wireless charging mode. This could potentially allow an iPhone to recharge products like an AirPods wireless charging case from the back of the iPhone.

In June, Bloomberg sources claimed Apple was keen on bringing wireless charging to the iPad Pro, and could also include "bilateral" wireless charging at the same time. AirPower, Apple's multi-device charging mat, was also seemingly still being worked on.

Apple has also been experimenting with high-output wireless power technology. In 2017, Apple acquired the startup PowerbyProxi, which offered a system that allowed 100 watts of wireless power to be transmitted with a 65mm coil.

Keep up with everything Apple in the weekly AppleInsider Podcast — and get a fast news update from AppleInsider Daily. Just say, "Hey, Siri," to your HomePod mini and ask for these podcasts, and our latest HomeKit Insider episode too.

If you want an ad-free main AppleInsider Podcast experience, you can support the AppleInsider podcast by subscribing for $5 per month through Apple's Podcasts app, or via Patreon if you prefer any other podcast player.

Latest Exclusives

Latest comparisons

5 Comments

lukei 388 comments · 13 Years

About 3 years ago

Given the long battery life of AirPods and the limited capacity of an iPhone battery this makes little sense?

Charging your iPhones from an iPad? Makes some sense

avon b7 8011 comments · 20 Years

lukei said:

Given the long battery life of AirPods and the limited capacity of an iPhone battery this makes little sense?

Charging your iPhones from an iPad? Makes some sense

Think about it another way. If your (or a friend's) AirPods and case are almost out of juice and you only have an iPhone with you. Reverse charging would get you out of a pickle.

It's a nice option to have.

Wired reverse charging is also nice to have.

Also not to be overlooked is that some competing flagship phones have had the capability for years and currently offer far higher wireless charging speeds than even wired iPhone charging.

DangDave 98 comments · 8 Years

lukei said:

Given the long battery life of AirPods and the limited capacity of an iPhone battery this makes little sense?

Charging your iPhones from an iPad? Makes some sense

The AirPod battery has roughly 1% of the capacity of an iPhone battery, so it would make sense to charge them from your iPhone if you didn’t have your charging case with you.

DangDave said:

lukei said:

Given the long battery life of AirPods and the limited capacity of an iPhone battery this makes little sense?

Charging your iPhones from an iPad? Makes some sense

The AirPod battery has roughly 1% of the capacity of an iPhone battery, so it would make sense to charge them from your iPhone if you didn’t have your charging case with you.

So for clarity this is a use case where you are carrying your airpods around, loose not in their case.

I see well that makes perfect sense /s

pmh 18 comments · 6 Years

DangDave said:

lukei said:

Given the long battery life of AirPods and the limited capacity of an iPhone battery this makes little sense?

Charging your iPhones from an iPad? Makes some sense

The AirPod battery has roughly 1% of the capacity of an iPhone battery, so it would make sense to charge them from your iPhone if you didn’t have your charging case with you.

Airpods cannot charge inductively, airpod cases _can_.

As for the use case on being able to charge an airpod case from an iphone, it's a lot easier to see the battery state on an iPhone than it is on an airpod case. Every so often I will miss the orange led on the case telling me that the case needs a recharge so I find out when the Airpods beep their ow battery state. Being able to use my iPhone to juice the Airpods would indeed be occasionally useful.