Apple 's upcoming iPhone 17 Pro models may include reverse wireless charging , a feature that will make them capable of providing power to other Apple devices (e.g. AirPods and Apple Watch).
The news was reported by leaker Fixed Focus Digital. The Chinese leaker says that Apple has been testing reverse wireless charging for its new high-end smartphones , but we don't know for sure if the feature will be enabled when the devices go on sale next month.
iPhone 17 Pro: Reverse wireless charging
This is the second time we've heard about this feature in Apple's new iPhones. In February, Weibo leaker Instant Digital claimed that Apple had tested 7.5W reverse wireless charging for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, saying that it could be used to charge other Apple accessories, such as AirPods, the Apple Watch, or possibly an upcoming MagSafe Battery Pack.
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Rumors of the iPhone's reverse wireless charging capabilities finally materialized in 2021 — albeit in a limited way — when Apple released the MagSafe Battery Pack for the iPhone 12 and later. When connected to an iPhone that was charging via Lightning, the iPhone could provide power to the MagSafe Battery Pack, marking the first time an iPhone could power another Apple accessory.
Apple discontinued the MagSafe Battery Pack in September 2023 with the release of the iPhone 15 series, which replaced the Lightning cable with USB-C. iPhone 15 and later models can charge the Apple Watch, AirPods, and other smaller devices that support Power Delivery at up to 4.5 watts via the USB-C port, but reverse wireless charging for Apple devices has not been implemented since the discontinuation of the MagSafe Battery Pack.
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In 2022, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that a revamped MagSafe Battery Pack would eventually switch to USB-C, but that hasn’t happened yet. Similarly, in September 2023, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said he expects USB-C versions of the MagSafe Battery Pack to return “at some point.” But he hinted that it might not be anytime soon.
All will be revealed when Apple releases the iPhone 17 series around mid-September, with an iPhone event rumored to take place on Tuesday, September 9.
Rumors about the integration of reverse wireless charging in the iPhone 17 Pro are of particular interest, not only because we are talking about a practical feature, but also because they reflect Apple's strategy in a field where it has traditionally moved slower than the competition.
For Apple, such a move would be significant, because it further reinforces the logic of the “closed ecosystem”, where each device works as part of a single whole. The practical importance for the user is obvious: the ability to charge AirPods or Apple Watch directly from the iPhone can prove to be a lifesaver on trips or in situations where there are no chargers available. At the same time, if Apple decides to implement it with greater power and not only in “emergencies”, then we are talking about a function that could change the daily lives of millions of users.
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It's also worth noting the commercial dimension. Apple is not just a technology company, but an "ecosystem builder." If reverse wireless charging is combined with new accessories – e.g. a revamped MagSafe Battery Pack – then it could be another incentive for purchases within the Apple ecosystem.
At a time when innovation in smartphones seems to have slowed down, such "small" features take on strategic importance: they are not just technological improvements, but tools for maintaining user loyalty.
Ultimately, the point isn't whether or not we'll see reverse wireless charging in September, but that Apple seems ready to upgrade the interoperability between its devices.
