Apple has been granted a patent for a reverse wireless charging technology for its iPhones. Apple introduced wireless charging with the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X in 2017, long after Android devices started shipping with the feature. MagSafe technology arrived in 2020, to offer perfect alignment between the phone and the wireless charging pad for optimal charging. However, reverse wireless charging is still conspicuous by its absence on iPhones, even though it has been available on Android devices for a few years.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted Apple a patent that features ‘Bimodal Magnetic Alignment Components for Alignment of Devices.’ As explained by Patently Apple, the new technology will allow the flat surface on the back of an iPhone to charge other devices wirelessly, including an AirPods Pro wireless charging case or an Apple Watch, without any issues with the alignment. The patent could finally bring reverse wireless charging to the iPhone lineup, but it’s not immediately clear if that will happen with the iPhone 15.
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Reverse Wireless Charging In iPhones
A form of reverse wireless charging is available on some recent iPhone models, albeit in a highly-restricted manner. The feature is available with the iPhone 12 series and newer that come with MagSafe for wireless charging. However, it is only available with Apple’s MagSafe battery pack with a Lightning port for wired charging. The device can be attached to compatible iPhones using the MagSafe connection while the phone is connected to the wall socket. Doing so will enable both devices to charge at the same time.
According to a patent published in Dec. 2021, Apple is also working on another reverse wireless charging technology that will enable users to wirelessly charge other devices through the display rather than the back cover. This feature will require an area of the screen to be reserved exclusively for reverse wireless charging, while the rest may be used for display purposes.
It will be interesting to see if reverse wireless charging will come to the iPhone 15 lineup in any form. If it does, it will join the growing list of new features and functionality that is expected to be added to the next-gen iPhone devices. One such feature is the Dynamic Island, which is expected to be present on all iPhone 15 models instead of just the two ‘Pro’ variants. Next year’s iPhone lineup might also ship with USB-C ports following the EU’s new legislation.
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