Do iPhone Have Reverse Wireless Charging? Everything You Need to Know

Running out of battery on the go is annoying, especially since your phone holds maps, tickets, messages, and payments. Reverse wireless charging can help with that. It lets a phone share its battery with other devices through wireless charging.

Many Android phones already have it, and a lot of iPhone users are now wondering about the same thing. The big question is: do iPhones have reverse wireless charging?

In this blog, we explain what reverse wireless charging means, if iPhones support it right now, and how it compares with Android phones. We also share simple, practical tips for charging your iPhone or accessories wirelessly while you’re out. Let's get into it!

What Is Reverse Wireless Charging and Why Would You Need It?

Reverse wireless charging turns a smartphone into a portable charging pad. Instead of receiving power, the phone transmits it from its own battery to another device.

This feature is primarily designed for small accessories or a quick top-up for another phone when you’re stuck. It is useful in specific scenarios:

• Emergency Top-ups: Giving a friend’s dead phone enough juice to make a call.
• Accessory Charging: Powering wireless earbuds or a smartwatch when you don't have a cable.
• Convenience: Reducing the number of cables you need to carry for short trips.

Do iPhones Have Reverse Wireless Charging?

The short answer is no. Even after years of rumours and patents, iPhones still don’t let users reverse wireless charge other devices.

The newly released iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro haven’t changed that. Some older iPhones seemed to have the hardware for reverse charging, based on teardowns, but Apple hasn’t switched it on in the software, so the feature stays unavailable.

So, why hasn't Apple enabled it? There are a few likely reasons for this decision:

• Charging Efficiency: Wireless transfer is inefficient and generates heat, which can degrade battery health over time.
• Charging Speed: Reverse wireless charging is typically slow (often around 5W), which Apple may deem below their user experience standards.
• Battery Capacity: iPhone batteries are generally smaller than some Android competitors, leaving less excess power to share.

What About the MagSafe Battery Pack? Can iPhone Reverse Charge It Wirelessly?

Even though iPhones don’t have reverse wireless charging in the normal sense, one old accessory made things look a bit different. Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack, released in July 2021, created a special edge case that many people still remember.

That pack supported a kind of passthrough setup. When a Lightning cable was plugged into the iPhone while the MagSafe Battery Pack was attached, the iPhone charged first and then sent some of that incoming power back to the pack wirelessly. In that moment, the iPhone acted like a wireless charger, but only because it was pulling power from the wall.

Outside of this plugged-in case, an iPhone can’t refill the pack on its own battery. Apple later discontinued the MagSafe Battery Pack in September 2023 after iPhone 15 moved to USB-C, so this behaviour applies only to that older Lightning version.

What iPhone Does Offer: Wired Reverse Charging

While wireless sharing is absent, Apple introduced a wired alternative that applies to all recent models.

The introduction of the USB-C port in 2023 was the turning point for this feature. At the time, there was significant confusion, with many consumers asking do iPhone 15 have reverse wireless charging, expecting the new port to bring wireless upgrades. While the answer remains no for wireless capabilities, that port change did unlock the ability to charge other devices via a cable.

How it works:

• Small Accessories: Connect your AirPods case or Apple Watch puck to the iPhone’s USB-C port. The iPhone will charge them at about 4.5W.
• Other Phones: If you connect two iPhones, the one with the higher battery percentage will typically charge the one with the lower percentage.

Which Android Phones Have Reverse Wireless Charging and How Fast Is It?

Unlike iPhones, many Android brands already offer reverse wireless charging. You might see it called “Battery Share,” “Wireless PowerShare,” or simply “Reverse Wireless Charging.” The idea is the same: the phone can send power out to small devices like earbuds, watches, or another phone in a pinch.

That said, the speed is not something to get excited about. Reverse wireless charging is usually much slower than normal wireless chargers, so it’s best for quick top-ups, not full charges. It’s handy for emergencies, like getting enough battery to make it through a commute or a short trip.

Here are a few common brands that support it and the usual speeds:

How to Charge Your iPhone and Accessories Wirelessly

Since your iPhone can’t act like a wireless charger for your other gear, it’s better to use proper wireless options instead. These are easier, faster, and don’t drain your phone when you need it most.

Use a wireless charger at home

For a desk or bedside setup, a multi-device station is the simplest choice. The Anker Prime Wireless Charging Station Qi2 25W is a good example. It uses the newer Qi2 standard, so your iPhone lines up magnetically like MagSafe. You can charge your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch together in one spot, with no cable mess.

Use a wireless magnetic battery pack on the go

When you need power while travelling, a magnetic battery pack is much more useful than trying to share battery from a phone. The Anker 633 Magnetic Battery is designed for this. It snaps magnetically to the back of your iPhone, providing a substantial battery boost. Instead of draining your main phone, it adds power to your day, so your essentials stay running longer.

Conclusion

So, do iPhones have reverse wireless charging? No, they don’t. Even with the latest iPhone 17, you can’t place AirPods on the back to charge them. Apple sticks with wired power sharing through USB-C and expects people to use MagSafe-style accessories for wireless charging. For now, the safest fix is still a cable or a magnetic battery pack in your bag, for example, a reliable Anker MagSafe-compatible power bank.

FAQ

Does the iPhone 17 have reverse charging?

No, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro do not feature reverse wireless charging. You cannot place another device on the back of the iPhone 17 to charge it. However, the iPhone 17 does support wired reverse charging. This means you can connect a USB-C cable from your iPhone 17 to another device, such as AirPods or another phone, and it will output power to charge that connected device at approximately 4.5 watts.

Which iPhone allows reverse charging?

Currently, no iPhone model supports open standard reverse wireless charging (where you place a device on the back of the phone). However, all iPhone models with a USB-C port (iPhone 15 lineup, iPhone 16 lineup, and iPhone 17 lineup) support reverse wired charging.

How do I activate reverse charging on iPhone?

For wired reverse charging on USB-C iPhones (iPhone 15 and later), there is no setting to activate. It works automatically.

Simply plug a USB-C cable into your iPhone and connect the other end to a device like an AirPods case or a second phone. The iPhone will detect the connection and begin sending power.

Since reverse wireless charging is not a supported feature on iOS, there is no toggle or menu option to enable it in the settings.

Can an iPhone wirelessly charge another iPhone?

No, an iPhone cannot wirelessly charge another iPhone. The internal wireless charging coil in the iPhone is designed only to receive power, not to transmit it to other smartphones.

To charge one iPhone using another, you must use a cable. Connect the two phones via a USB-C to USB-C cable (or Lightning adapter for older models). The iPhone with the higher battery level will automatically begin charging the iPhone with the lower battery level.

Which phones have reverse wireless charging?

Reverse wireless charging is a feature primarily found in flagship Android smartphones. Major models that support this include the Samsung Galaxy S series (S20 and later), Google Pixel phones (Pixel 5 and later), and various premium devices from Huawei and Xiaomi.

These phones have a "Battery Share" or similarly named option in their settings that allows them to charge Qi-compatible devices like earbuds or smartwatches when placed on the back of the handset.