Rumors about an Apple iPhone 12 battery accessory are starting to gain traction. Apple offered a smart battery case for several previous iPhones, but this year, Apple could leverage the MagSafe system to provide a unique experience for iPhone 12 users … what do you want to see from Apple?
The rumor
Bloomberg reported today that Apple is developing a new magnetic battery accessory for the iPhone 12. The report explains that Apple has been developing this new accessory “for at least a year”, and was “scheduled to be released in the months following the launch of the iPhone 12 line. ”
The report explains:
The battery would be connected to the back of an iPhone 12 using the MagSafe system, which all new phones use to charge and pair other accessories like cases and wallets. Some battery prototypes have a white rubber exterior, said one person, who asked not to be named because the product is not yet public. The new accessory would be different from Apple’s battery add-ons for previous iPhones as it only provides additional battery life and does not serve as a complete protective case.
In terms of magnetic strength, the report states that the MagSafe battery “proved to be strong enough that the charging unit remains in place”.
Said that, Bloomberg warns that the development of the MagSafe battery has been slowed down by peculiarities of the software. Specifically, a bug causes iOS to erroneously indicate that the package is overheating.
History class
How Bloomberg notes, this new MagSafe battery would be a departure from Apple’s previous Smart Battery Case design. It would not offer any protection for the iPhone, for example, although it could be used with a separate MagSafe case.
Here’s Apple’s story with the smart battery covers for iPhone:
- Smart battery cover for iPhone 6s – December 8, 2015
- Smart Battery Cover for iPhone 7 – September 14, 2016
- Smart Battery Cover for iPhone XS – January 15, 2019
- Smart Battery Cover for iPhone 11 – November 20, 2019
The iPhone 12 was released later than iPhones usually do, with Apple scaling the launch between October and November. This could mean that the iPhone 12’s MagSafe battery was released later than previous versions, or that Apple rejected the project because of the development obstacles mentioned above.
What do you want from the Apple battery accessory for the iPhone 12? Do you prefer a traditional Smart battery or a MagSafe battery? Let us know in the poll below and in the comments!
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