The iPhone 15 might work as a wireless charger for your Apple Watch

Reverse wireless charging could finally come to the iPhone

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One feature that select Android phones have had for years yet iPhones still lack is reverse wireless charging. This lets you use your phone as a wireless charger for other devices, and it’s something that a future iPhone – perhaps even theiPhone 15– might let you do.

That’s according to sources speaking to9to5Mac, who claim thatAppleis working on the feature. In fact, apparently it was planned for theiPhone 14 ProandiPhone 14 Pro Max, but engineering delays meant it missed the deadline for inclusion.

The sources don’t specifically say that it’s coming to the iPhone 15 series, but if it was once intended for the iPhone 14 line then that certainly seems possible. Currently though, they’re just saying it’s now planned for a future iPhone.

Whenever it does land, it sounds like it might be exclusive to theiPhone 15 Pro– or perhaps theiPhone 15 Ultraif such a phone exists.

Aspects of the current development apparently include a special user interface with on-screen animations and sound effects, so you know when reverse wireless charging has kicked in. Apple is reportedly also working on new firmware, to manage the charging speeds, heat dissipation, and charging efficiency.

Concerns about the charging speeds and heat dissipation are apparently a big part of why this feature has been held up, and the sources note that while reverse wireless charging is still being worked on, there’s a chance it could be further delayed or even abandoned. So there’s no guarantee a future iPhone will be able to wirelessly charge yourApple Watchor AirPods.

Analysis: not the first signs of reverse wireless charging

This isn’t the first we’ve heard of an iPhone with reverse wireless charging. In fact, the company has fileda number of related patent applications, with one dating as far back as 2015.

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There have also beena number of leaksaround the feature, including a claim that it was set to debut back on theiPhone 11.

That, of course, didn’t happen but there are signs of progress. For one thing, the MagSafe Battery Pack can be wirelessly charged by an iPhone – though only when the iPhone itself is plugged in.

9to5Mac’s report also notes that FCC (Federal Communications Commission) filings from 2020 suggested that theiPhone 12has some hardware necessary for wireless charging, though the feature was never activated.

It’s strange that Apple is struggling so much with a feature that many of thebest Android phoneshave had for years, but hopefully the issues will be resolved soon.

James is a freelance phones, tablets and wearables writer and sub-editor at TechRadar. He has a love for everything ‘smart’, from watches to lights, and can often be found arguing with AI assistants or drowning in the latest apps. James also contributes to 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk and has written for T3, Digital Camera World, Clarity Media and others, with work on the web, in print and on TV.

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