Apple’s iPhone, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max handsets look as if they may include the required hardware for a two-way charging feature that was rumored for the devices, but Apple has apparently disabled the feature in the near term.
This rumor stems from a tweet by reliable leaker and source Sonny Dickson, whose connections and blogging have proven reliable at times in the past. Dickson had early line of sight on the AirPower’s development challenges, for example, and the wireless charging mat was eventually canceled.
Months ahead of the 2019 iPhones’ unveiling, the handsets were rumored to feature a Qi-based device-to-device charging feature, which would allow the iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, and other devices to charge on the back of the iPhones. The feature was expected to be similar to Wireless PowerShare on Samsung’s Galaxy S10.
Only hours before Apple’s “By Innovation Only” media event last week, noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that this feature appeared to have been canceled. Kuo is quoted as saying the feature was possibly abandoned because “the charging efficiency may not meet Apple’s requirements.”
Forthcoming teardown of the iPhone 11 handsets will reveal whether the two-way charging hardware is in fact present in the new handsets. The iPhone 11 handsets will be available in stores come Friday, September 20.