Next iPad Pro to Feature Both Wireless Charging and Reverse Wireless Charging Capabilities

Apple is developing a new iPad Pro that will feature wireless charging capabilities, reports Bloomberg. The upcoming ‌iPad Pro‌ will debut in 2022, following the updated M1 11 and 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ models that launched in May 2021.

iPad Pro USB C Feature Purple Cyan 1
For the new ‌iPad Pro‌, Apple is testing a glass back instead of an aluminum enclosure, which would allow for the wireless charging capabilities. Apple first implemented wireless charging with the glass-backed iPhone 8, ‌iPhone‌ 8 Plus, and ‌iPhone‌ X in 2017, and every flagship ‌iPhone‌ since then has supported wireless charging.

Current iPads still charge over USB-C or Lightning, but enabling wireless charging would bring the ‌iPhone‌ and iPad closer in functionality. Work on the new ‌iPad Pro‌ is still in the early stages, and Bloomberg warns that Apple's plans could change or be canceled before next year.

Most wireless chargers are sized for the ‌iPhone‌, so a wireless charging feature for the ‌iPad‌ might require specialized charging options, but Apple is rumored to be planning to use MagSafe if it does indeed opt for wireless charging for the ‌iPad Pro‌. Wireless charging will likely be slower than charging through the USB-C/Thunderbolt port, which is expected.

Apple is also working on reverse wireless charging for the new ‌iPad Pro‌, which would allow users to charge their iPhones, AirPods, and other accessories by laying them on the back of the ‌iPad‌. There were rumors that the ‌iPhone‌ 11 would feature bilateral wireless charging, but it didn't ultimately happen. Bloomberg says that Apple did indeed explore the feature for the ‌iPhone‌, however.

Along with ‌MagSafe‌ charging for the ‌iPad‌ and reverse wireless charging capabilities, Apple is still working on a future wireless charging solution that works similarly to the abandoned AirPower charger, but it's not clear if and when such a product might launch. For further in the future, Apple is investigating long-range wireless charging methods that work at greater distances than a standard inductive charging solution.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Related Forum: iPad

Top Rated Comments

one more Avatar
37 months ago
While a glass back might look sleek, it will also add quite a bit of weight to an iPad, which is not so welcome for a portable device, IMO.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
37 months ago
Glass doesn't sound good on the iPad Pro. Maybe if they only use it in the Apple logo for charging passthrough. Glass is heavier, thicker, and easier to break—and all of those things are especially true when you massively increase the surface area like on an iPad Pro. I have no desire to have wireless charging on my iPad, especially because the Thunderbolt port isn't going anywhere due to the nature of the device.

Reverse charging sounds neat but I wonder how many people will actually use it. I think reverse charging on the iPhone, which is already glass, for the AirPods or Apple Watch seems a lot more useful. I'm more likely to run low on charge if I'm traveling and the iPhone comes with a USB-C to Lightning cable so you can just plug that into your iPad Pro to charge. I feel like a lot of people don't realize that.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Serban55 Avatar
37 months ago

I found out these iPads put out more RF Radiation than sitting at your iMac all day.
Macbook = 800
AirPort Extreme =600
iMac = 400
iPad = 500
Mac mini =200.

For people with Cancer or not wanting to get Cancer this is bad.

Some Day you'll care. when Cancer hits you.

I;m going with the Mac mini when the M1x model comes out.


https://www.macintoshhowto.com/hardware/emf.html
live your life, a lot of things can kill you slowly or quickly
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DribbleCastle Avatar
37 months ago
People are gonna be super excited for a glass back.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
calstanford Avatar
37 months ago

While a glass back might look sleek, it will also add quite a bit of weight to an iPad, which is not so welcome for a portable device, IMO.
Also another thing that can break. For what? putting a humongous 13" slab on a tiny wireless charger that outputs around 14W at best? The ****...
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
travelsheep Avatar
37 months ago
Apple used to identify useless features and dropped them. Now they identify useful features and drop them, all the while adding useless features. Interesting twist...
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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