Apple surprised users with its latest iPhone accessory for sale. The $99 MagSafe Battery Pack isn't the first power cell we've seen that uses Apple's new magnetic system to connect to the iPhone 12 family (Anker offers a 5,000mAh package with slower 5W charging versus $45.99), but it's a first from Apple and can charge up to 15W while plugged in.
MacRumors and 9to5Mac point to a support document that helps answer some of the questions we immediately asked about the device, including confirming that this will unlock the iPhone 12's "secret" reverse charging feature. The FCC files on the company's plan to allow you to charge accessories while the iPhone 12 is plugged in and charging, complete with diagrams that now look all too familiar.
As the Apple Support page explains:
Charge your MagSafe battery pack and your iPhone. If your iPhone and MagSafe Battery Pack both need to be charged, you can charge them both at the same time. Connect the MagSafe Battery Pack to your iPhone, then connect the MagSafe Battery Pack to a power adapter. And with a 20W or higher power adapter, the MagSafe Battery Pack can charge your iPhone with up to 15W of charging power.
You can also charge both if you connect the MagSafe Battery Pack to your iPhone, and then connect the iPhone to a power source. You may want to charge this way if you need to connect your iPhone to another device while charging, such as if you're using CarPlay wired or transferring photos to your Mac. If you charge your iPhone and the MagSafe Battery Pack at the same time, your iPhone may be charged to 80% or higher before the MagSafe Battery Pack starts charging.
Notably, reverse charging only works (so far) with this accessory, after an upcoming software update and only while the iPhone 12 is plugged in. Google's Pixel 5 can act as a Qi pad while it's plugged in, and Samsung devices have been charging anything you want to slap them on for two years, but now Apple users can enjoy a similar feature.
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