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After numerous rumors, Apple has now officially introduced the first external MagSafe battery for the iPhone 12 series. Below we have summarized all the important details about the new Apple product.
Apple yesterday introduced a MagSafe battery presented, which can be used with the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. The new charging accessory costs 109 euros and offers additional battery life for the current iPhone generation. It also has some nifty features, such as a wireless reverse charging option that allows it to be charged via the iPhone. Below you will find all the important Information onthat are currently known.
The loading speed
The MagSafe Battery features a simple rectangular design that matches the shape of the iPhone. The product is only available in Apple's familiar white option. In addition, it has been equipped with a Lightning connector. The MagSafe Battery charges an iPhone 12 model on the go at 5W. Apple has limited the charging speed due to concerns about heat generation and to extend battery life. When the accessory is attached to an iPhone and connected with a Lightning to USB-C cable connected to a 20W charger or higher, the iPhone can be charged by the external MagSafe Battery at 15W.
The loading capacity
Apple has not provided any information on how much additional battery life an iPhone user can expect with the external MagSafe battery. According to the information, it has a 7.62V, 11.13Wh battery inside, with a mAh of 1460. For comparison: The iPhone 12 and 12 Pro have a 10.78Wh battery, the iPhone 12 mini has an 8.57Wh battery and the 12 Pro Max has a 14.13Wh battery. Qi-based wireless charging is not particularly efficient - some of the battery capacity is lost in the process. Therefore, it is currently unclear how much additional battery life it actually offers, especially since the charging capacity can vary depending on temperature conditions. Roughly speaking, the MagSafe battery can probably provide a full charge for the iPhone 12 mini and a partial charge for the remaining iPhone 12 models. We will have concrete data next week at the earliest - so nothing definitive can be said at the moment and we can only speculate.
Reverse Charging – The Rumored Feature
Apple's MagSafe Battery has reverse wireless charging capability. This means that when you charge your iPhone, the MagSafe battery pack is also charged at the same time. So you can charge both the iPhone and the MagSafe charging accessory using the MagSafe Battery's Lightning port or the iPhone's Lightning port and get the same end result when both devices are full. Apple explains that this charging method is useful when the iPhone is connected to another device, such as a wired CarPlay setup or when an iPhone is connected to a Mac. However, if you charge the iPhone and the MagSafe Battery at the same time, the iPhone will first be charged to 80 percent before the MagSafe Battery is included in the charging process. Please note that a 20W or higher power adapter is recommended for charging.
Display the charging status
The MagSafe Battery level can be viewed in the Batteries widget, which can be placed on the Home screen or accessed from the Today view. The MagSafe Battery level is displayed alongside your iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, and other connected accessories.
heat and charge control
The MagSafe external battery has built-in charge control features designed to help maintain battery health in situations where the accessory is connected to power for extended periods of time. Apple emphasizes that an iPhone 12 can get warm while charging. To extend battery life, the software can limit charging to 80 percent. In this case, Apple recommends moving to a cooler location, as the iPhone will not resume charging until the temperature drops.
Force loading
When using the MagSafe accessory to charge your iPhone, you may receive a notification that your iPhone can only charge up to 90 percent. To charge beyond 90 percent, Apple recommends opening Control Center, pressing and holding the Low Power Mode icon, and then tapping "Resume." If Optimized Battery Charging is enabled, you may also see a notification on the Lock screen letting you know when your iPhone will be fully charged. To force a charge, you can tap and hold the notification, then tap "Charge Now."
Interaction with other MagSafe accessories
The MagSafe Battery Pack can be attached to a bare iPhone or an iPhone with a MagSafe case. If you're using a leather charging case, Apple warns that the case may show marks from the compression of the leather, which is normal. Those concerned about marks should use a non-leather case or avoid using a case altogether.
Compatibility
The MagSafe battery works with the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. It can also charge other devices such as the iPhone 11 series because it is wireless charging based on Qi. But only the iPhone 12 models have magnets that hold the MagSafe battery in place. In addition, iOS 14.7 or later is required. Anyone who wants the new accessory can now pre-order it from Apple Online for 109 euros. Delivery is scheduled to start on July 21st. (Image: Apple)
