When the iPhone 14 launched, many people were surprised that it didn't have a feature that's already widespread in the best Android phones: reverse wireless charging that you could use to top up your AirPods or AirPods Pro 2 when you're out and about.
According to a new report, Apple had actually planned to add the feature to the iPhone 14 – but it ran out of time so the feature didn't make the final cut. But development has continued, and reverse wireless charging may appear in the iPhone 15 instead.
How long has Apple been planning reverse wireless charging?
Reverse wireless charging rumours started just before the iPhone 11, so this has been a long time coming. There was wireless charging hardware inside the iPhone 12, and the MagSafe battery pack could take advantage of it: if you hooked the battery pack up to your iPhone and then plugged your iPhone into the mains, the phone would top up the battery pack.
According to the report, Apple is working on advanced two-way wireless charging for the iPhone, including a MagSafe-style interface and advanced power management. Apple had hoped to finish development in time to put it into the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, but it simply wasn't ready in time.
Don't get your hopes up just yet, however. Apple is reportedly struggling with issues around heat management and charging speeds, and that means even the iPhone 15 might not get the feature – and it's possible that if reverse wireless charging proves too complex to deliver the way Apple would like to deliver it, Apple may decide not to implement reverse wireless charging at all.
Upgrade to smarter living
Get the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products straight to your inbox.
Writer, musician and broadcaster Carrie Marshall has been covering technology since 1998 and is particularly interested in how tech can help us live our best lives. Her CV is a who’s who of magazines, newspapers, websites and radio programmes ranging from T3, Techradar and MacFormat to the BBC, Sunday Post and People’s Friend. Carrie has written more than a dozen books, ghost-wrote two more and co-wrote seven more books and a Radio 2 documentary series; her memoir, Carrie Kills A Man, was shortlisted for the British Book Awards. When she’s not scribbling, Carrie is the singer in Glaswegian rock band Unquiet Mind (unquietmindmusic).
-
iMac gets M4 upgrade plus a new mouse and keyboard
Apple's all-in-one machine is now one of the most powerful in the range thanks to the new M4 chip inside
By Mat Gallagher Published
-
M4 MacBook Air tipped for early 2025, but one M4 Mac has been delayed
Apple's moving all its Macs to the M4 processor – the first batch arrives next week
By Carrie Marshall Published
-
Apple allegedly planning major changes to App Store that make so much sense
Apple might be making a one-stop shop for its best games.
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
These dummies allegedly show the iPhone 4 SE – and there's a big surprise
Could Apple be working on two different versions of the iPhone SE 4?
By Carrie Marshall Published
-
I tried the iPhone 16 Pro on safari – now I want one for the huge camera upgrade
The iPhone 16 Pro's zoom boost is a game-changer
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Apple’s now delivering big discounts on its best iPads
The fastest M1 iPad Pro and Air models are now appearing in the Apple refurb store
By Carrie Marshall Published
-
iPhone 17 Pro and entire iPhone 18 series tipped for a very important upgrade
The next iPhone Pro / Pro Max is expected to boost speeds through extra RAM
By Carrie Marshall Published
-
All-new Apple iPad mini 7 gets a surprise announcement – pre-orders now open
Apple isn't waiting for its next event to give us the news we've been waiting for
By Rik Henderson Published