Along with the iPhone 12, Apple launched a new line of MagSafe accessories that fit on the back of the smartphone and, according to a new report, a MagSafe portable battery is under development.
According to Bloomberg, the add-on has been in development for at least a year and could very well have been launched had it not been for “software related issues” that are causing delays. One of these problems is the packaging report that it is overheating when, apparently, it is not.
The “people with knowledge of the product” who spoke to Bloomberg say another problem is making the charger work when users stop using the phone case and vice versa.
In fact, software problems have been so persistent that Apple may even dismiss the idea of the accessory altogether, reports Bloomberg. This could be another AirPower, the charging mat that Apple even announced before deciding it was too much of an engineering challenge.
Battery leader
Apple already makes MagSafe cases and traditional chargers, and there are also many MagSafe products available from third-party accessory manufacturers. Apple also makes a non-MagSafe battery case for the iPhone, but this new product is apparently just a battery without the case.
Bloomberg sources have indicated that some of the device’s prototypes have a white rubber exterior. The package simply attached itself to the back of an iPhone 12 model with magnets and started charging it, and could be a popular accessory for those who spend a lot of time on the go.
Over there were whispers of a portable battery earlier this month based on the code discovered in the beta version of iOS 14.5, and we’ve also seen patents published that Apple is busy exploring the possibilities that MagSafe technology opens up.
We’ll have to wait and see if this MagSafe battery reaches consumers, but don’t expect that anytime soon. Another tidbit of the Bloomberg report: Apple is still exploring the idea of reversible charging (charging AirPods on the back of an iPhone, for example), but it is far from becoming a reality yet.