So far Apple has let down rumor mills that have been expecting the launch of the reverse charging capability in future iPhones. The tech skipped iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and now iPhone 14 series as well.
However, a new patent published by the US Patent & Trademark Office reveals that the tech giant is working on the back-to-back iPhone reverse charging feature.
With bilateral charging support, iPhone could be used to charge AirPods or Apple Watch
Starting with iPhone 12 series, Apple introduced MagSafe charging support to power up the smartphone via a wireless charger or battery pack. The company can build on the wireless charging feature to offer bilateral charging or reverse charging capability to use a device to charge another.
Spotted by Patently Apple, the new patent describes a new wireless power system based on wireless power coils in devices to transmit wireless signals and receive wireless signals. The devices compatible with the new wireless power system will be able to transmit wireless power to another wireless power device. For example, an iPhone could be used to charge another iPhone.
Patent covers a wireless power system includes electronic devices such as wrist watches, cellular telephones, tablet computers, laptop computers, removable battery cases, electronic device accessories, wireless charging mats, wireless charging pucks, and/or other electronic equipment. These electronic devices have wireless power circuitry.
A cellular telephone or other portable electronic device may, as an example, have a coil that can be used to receive wireless power signals from a charging puck or other wireless transmitting device and that can also be used to transmit wireless power to another wireless power device.
Apple mentions that the back of the iPhone would be able to reverse charge AirPods, Apple Watch, and other portable devices.
If the tech company launches the feature in future iPhones, it will be very useful because users in the company’s ecosystem usually own more than one Apple device. Thus, reverse charging will allow users traveling or running errands on a busy day can power up multiple devices via iPhone.
