iPhone 17 Pro and the reverse wireless charging dilemma

The iPhone 17 series is expected to arrive in September, and as usual, the rumor mill is in overdrive. Among the whispers, one stands out: the possibility that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max might finally support reverse wireless charging, a feature Android phones have offered for years. But while the idea of charging your AirPods or Apple Watch directly from your iPhone sounds appealing, the road to making it happen isn’t straightforward.

Why Apple hasn’t embraced it yet

Apple has always been cautious about introducing new features until it can deliver them seamlessly.

Reverse wireless charging often feels clunky on other devices – it’s slow, inefficient, and drains battery quickly. That hardly aligns with Apple’s “it just works” philosophy. Instead, Apple focused on MagSafe, its magnetic charging system, and more recently helped shape the Qi2 standard, which ensures faster, safer charging with perfect magnetic alignment.

But here’s the catch: the very magnets that make Qi2 so reliable also complicate reverse wireless charging. Google acknowledged this when it abandoned the feature on the Pixel 10 series in favor of its new PixelSnap magnetic system. Meanwhile, Samsung continues to offer reverse charging across its Galaxy line, but it relies on the older Qi standard, sacrificing some efficiency and convenience.

Is Qi2-compatible reverse charging possible?

All is not lost. Some companies are exploring workarounds, and a few phones like the HMD Skyline already manage to combine Qi2 charging with reverse wireless power, albeit with limitations. This shows that while challenging, the technology isn’t impossible – it just requires clever engineering and design trade-offs.

Will Apple make the leap with iPhone 17 Pro?

There are reasons to think Apple might be exploring it. Reports suggest that future AirPods Pro could move to wireless-only charging, making reverse charging from an iPhone highly practical. Imagine topping up your earbuds on the go without carrying extra gear – that’s the kind of convenience Apple users would embrace.

However, adding reverse wireless charging while keeping Qi2’s efficiency intact could force compromises. Apple may need to adjust its magnetic design, make the phone thicker, or fit a more complex charging coil – all changes that run counter to its current design priorities. That’s why many analysts believe Apple will wait until it can deliver the feature without sacrifices.

The bottom line

If reverse wireless charging lands on the iPhone 17 Pro, it would mark a major shift for Apple’s ecosystem. But given the hurdles, don’t be shocked if the feature is pushed to a later model. Apple would rather get it right than rush it out half-baked.