Bloomberg: Apple Working on MagSafe Battery Pack for iPhone 12

Apple is working on a magnetic battery pack attachment for iPhone 12, according to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

magsafe charging brick feature

Apple has been developing the attachment for at least a year and it has been scheduled to launch in the months following the release of the iPhone 12 line, according to people with knowledge of the product. The iPhone 12 models were introduced in October.

The battery pack would attach to the back of an iPhone 12 using the MagSafe system, which all the new phones use for charging and pairing other accessories like cases and wallets. Some prototypes of the battery pack have a white rubber exterior, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the product isn’t yet public. The new accessory would differ from Apple battery add-ons for previous iPhones in that it only provides additional battery life and doesn’t serve as a full protective case.

Some MagSafe users have criticized the strength of the magnets used by Apple in the ‌iPhone‌ 12 for their perceived weakness and inability to keep ‌MagSafe‌ accessories like Apple's leather Wallet firmly attached, but Apple has reportedly tested to make sure the battery pack's magnetic attachment system is strong enough for the charging unit to stay in place.

However, the accessory's development has reportedly been hindered by software issues, such as the attached ‌iPhone‌ indicating in error that the battery pack is overheating. Apple has also been working to fix problems that arise when the user switches between using the device when a case is on the ‌iPhone‌ and when the case is removed.

In light of these developmental hurdles, the battery pack could ultimately be delayed or scrapped, according to Gurman's sources.

Potential evidence of a future ‌MagSafe‌ battery accessory was recently discovered by MacRumors in a non-specific reference to a battery pack in the latest iOS 14.5 beta. "To improve charging efficiency and maximize available battery life, the battery pack will keep your phone charged at around 90%," read the text.


According to Gurman, Apple has also weighed up the possibility of other ‌MagSafe‌ accessories internally, including the potential for an in-car attachment, although that product reportedly hasn't made it to formal development.

Apple remains guarded about announcing charging accessories after the AirPower vaporware debacle. Apple publicly announced the device in 2017, but the product never materialized because of problems in development. Apple ultimately cancelled ‌AirPower‌ in March 2019 and apologized that it was unable to deliver a version of the product that achieved its "high standards."

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Top Rated Comments

Abstract Avatar
60 months ago
Or just make the iPhone 1mm thicker. ?

Jony Ive is gone. Go nuts.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PBG4 Dude Avatar
60 months ago
Neat idea, but with 20-25% energy loss during the induction process, would a wired connection honestly be a bad thing?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
contacos Avatar
60 months ago
probably delayed until this years iPhone with a stronger magnet. However, I am still stunned about the lack of 3rd party mag safe accessories in the meantime.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
giggles Avatar
60 months ago
iPhone 12S is rumored to have stronger magnets, I wonder if they were made stronger following issues with this battery accessory.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TechRemarker Avatar
60 months ago
Let's just hope it's availlable for the Mini. I've used the Pro's for so long and can't remember the last time I ran out of a charge during a normal day. With the mini I constantly need to recharge later in the day, sometimes early. Overall the smaller form factor is absolutely amazing, and so still worth it, but the battery issue because of the obvious smaller size, it's the only issue I constantly run into. It's not too bad since I work from home, so can easily charge but if I were on the go a lot would be more of an issue, and thus a native battery option would be great since I don't mind the phone being thicker, I just don't want it taller/wider since I always do it one handed (even with the pros except those I had to always use reachability.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BeefCake 15 Avatar
60 months ago

Nah thanks. The iPhone is thick enough.
Thickness comes with weight and the 12 Pro Max is already too heavy.
Gotta ask...

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)