As the smartphone market enters a period of saturation in terms of design and performance, major technology companies such as Apple, Google, and Samsung are forced to look for new breakthroughs to differentiate themselves. The race is now not only about processor speed or camera quality, but also focuses on user experience, ecosystem integration, and features that support users in their daily lives. One of the most talked about features recently is wireless reverse charging, a technology that turns the phone into a mobile charging station for accessories or even other devices.

Rumors that Apple is quietly testing reverse wireless charging on the iPhone 17 Pro have been buzzing in the tech community. This became even more interesting when Google suddenly removed the Battery Share feature on the new Pixel line in favor of a new technology similar to MagSafe called Pixelsnap. Google's decision has created many debates: is reverse wireless charging no longer valuable, or is Google just looking for another way? And more importantly, will Apple dare to "bet" to officially activate the feature that they have been quietly researching for many years? This article will analyze in depth the entire context, benefits and challenges of reverse wireless charging, and clarify the real ability of the iPhone 17 Pro to become the first iPhone to officially support this feature.

1. Apple testing reverse wireless charging feature for iPhone 17 Pro

According to a report from Fixed Focus Digital, a famous leaker on the social network Weibo, Apple has been testing the reverse wireless charging feature on high-end iPhone models, specifically the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. However, this information has not been officially confirmed by Apple and it is currently unclear whether the company will activate this feature when the iPhone 17 series is launched in September 2025.

This isn’t the first time Apple has been rumored to be experimenting with reverse charging. Patents for the technology have been around for a while, and many experts have speculated that Apple is holding back on the feature until it feels ready in terms of both technology and user experience. Apple is notorious for not rushing into trends. It has a habit of letting competitors test it first, accepting potential risks, and only launching when the product has reached its peak of perfection.

With the iPhone 17 Pro, rumors of reverse wireless charging were further reinforced when Instant Digital, another reliable source, revealed in February 2025 that Apple was testing 7.5W reverse charging. This power level is similar to the current MagSafe charging speed for accessories and seems reasonable for low-power devices like AirPods or the Apple Watch.

If this information is correct, Apple is in the final stage and evaluating the actual experience to decide whether to enable the feature in the commercial version or not. This makes the technology community even more eager to wait for the official answer in the upcoming launch event.

2. Why is Apple not in a hurry to introduce new technology?

Apple has a very unique product development philosophy. Unlike many other companies that often race to introduce new features as soon as possible, Apple always puts the user experience first. In fact, many technologies that were not invented by Apple were optimized and widely popularized by the company, typically Face ID, MagSafe or 3nm processing chip. The same can happen with reverse wireless charging.

The main reason Apple is cautious is because reverse wireless charging presents many technical challenges. When a phone has to act as a charger, it not only needs to manage heat well, but also ensure that the charging performance does not affect the main battery of the phone. In addition, Apple always wants to integrate the feature into their ecosystem in the smoothest way. They do not simply want the iPhone to charge AirPods or Apple Watch, but also possibly combine with MagSafe, display intelligent battery status, and even optimize charging speed depending on the situation.

That's why, even though competitors like Samsung have supported reverse wireless charging for years, Apple has been patiently waiting for the right moment. Google's sudden abandonment of Battery Share has made many people curious: will Apple take advantage of this gap to differentiate the new iPhone line?

Interestingly, Apple has actually been quietly implementing reverse wireless charging since the iPhone 12 (2021). According to many leaked documents, the iPhone 12 models have hardware that supports reverse charging but it is hidden in the software, only activated when used with the MagSafe battery pack. This can be seen as a silent test step for Apple to evaluate the technology.

However, by February 2023, Apple had discontinued the MagSafe battery pack, causing the feature to be no longer mentioned, further strengthening the theory that Apple was not satisfied with the technology at the time and wanted to find a better implementation in the future.

With the iPhone 15 (2023), Apple has switched to a USB-C port, allowing users to charge their AirPods or Apple Watch via a cable, instead of using the Lightning port. While convenient, this method still relies on wires and is not an ideal solution. That is why reverse wireless charging, if implemented, would be a breakthrough, making the iPhone a true power center for Apple's accessory ecosystem.

While Apple is experimenting, Google is going the opposite direction. The Pixel 10, due out in 2025, ditched Battery Share, which allowed for reverse wireless charging of other accessories and devices. Instead, Google introduced Pixelsnap, a MagSafe-like technology that focuses on magnetic connections and faster charging.

Google’s decision to abandon it came as a surprise to the community, as it was once a favorite feature of many Pixel users. However, this decision shows that Google wants to focus on the connected experience rather than just stopping at regular wireless charging. They realized that performance and charging speed are still the weak points of reverse charging, and instead of continuing to maintain it, Google chose a different path.

On the other hand, Samsung has stuck with reverse wireless charging on the Galaxy S25 series, and Galaxy users still regularly use the feature to charge their Galaxy Buds or Galaxy Watches, proving that the technology still has value when implemented properly.

Apple has a huge opportunity ahead of it. With its vast ecosystem and control over both hardware and software, Apple can redefine reverse wireless charging in its own way, integrate it deeply into MagSafe, and optimize the experience beyond what its competitors have done.

3. Potential benefits if iPhone 17 Pro supports reverse charging

If officially enabled, reverse wireless charging will bring many benefits to iPhone users:

First , increased convenience. Users can charge AirPods, Apple Watch, or even another iPhone when there is no power source, just by placing the device on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro.

Second , it adds value to the Apple ecosystem. With this feature, the iPhone will become the connection and power hub for the entire ecosystem. When combined with MagSafe, this ability also opens up innovative accessories such as magnetically attached mobile charging docks or even removable extended batteries.

Third , enhance competitive advantage. In the context of Google giving up, Samsung maintaining but not creating a breakthrough, Apple can take advantage of this opportunity to create a difference and attract attention.

4. When will Apple “reveal” this secret?

Apple traditionally holds a new iPhone launch event in September every year. Multiple sources say the iPhone 17 launch event will take place on September 9, 2025, where Apple will announce all the hardware and software upgrades, including the A19 Pro chip, next-generation power-saving displays, and possibly reverse wireless charging.

If confirmed, this would be the first time Apple has officially brought reverse wireless charging to commercial use. This is not only a hardware upgrade but also a strong statement about Apple's vision of building a complete ecosystem.

5. Conclusion

At the moment, everything is still at the rumor level. Apple may be testing it, but it may also choose to keep it for the next generation of iPhone if it is not satisfied with the experience. However, the fact that many reputable sources simultaneously mention reverse wireless charging for the iPhone 17 Pro shows that this possibility is not zero.

In the context of fierce competition in the smartphone market, Apple's addition of reverse wireless charging could be a strategic move. It not only brings convenience to users but also helps Apple increase the strength of its ecosystem, which is the company's biggest competitive advantage. All will be answered at the event in September. Until then, the technology world and iPhone users will continue to wait to see whether the iPhone 17 Pro will truly become a pioneer in bringing the perfect reverse wireless charging experience, or Apple will continue to wait another year to reach absolute perfection.