Apple has released an update for the MagSafe Battery Pack that allows it to charge compatible iPhones faster than before. Here's how to download it.
Apple has released an update for the MagSafe Battery Pack that allows it to charge a compatible iPhone faster than before. Following the launch of MagSafe with the iPhone 12 series, a number of manufacturers have tried to bring similar technology to Android smartphones. Among them is ZTE whose Nubia Z40 Pro smartphone supports 15W magnetic wireless charging.
The MagSafe Battery Pack was announced in 2021 as one of the numerous MagSafe accessories made for iPhone. Compatible with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups, the MagSafe Battery Pack is actually a power bank that charges the iPhone 12 or iPhone 13 wirelessly via built-in magnets when attached to the back of the phone. The battery pack has a $99 price tag which is a bit steep. However, there are several third-party alternatives that are not only cheaper but also have a larger battery capacity.
A new update rolling out to the MagSafe Battery Pack will now allow it to charge an attached iPhone faster. When the MagSafe Battery Pack was first announced, it could only charge the iPhone 12 or iPhone 13 at 5W speeds, slower than the 7.5W speeds obtainable when using a Qi wireless charger. With the new update, the MagSafe Battery Pack can now charge a compatible iPhone at 7.5W, matching wireless charging speeds.
The MagSafe Battery Pack automatically updates when attached to an iPhone. However, this method is slow and Apple states that it can take about a week to complete. Users can check the firmware version of their MagSafe Battery Pack to confirm the update has been completed. To do this, go to Settings on the iPhone, select General, then About. Tap on MagSafe Battery Pack to check the firmware version, which should be 2.7.
A faster method to update the MagSafe Battery Pack is by using a Mac or iPad. To do this, plug a Lightning cable in the battery pack and plug the USB end into a Mac or iPad. The update should begin to download. This method is significantly faster as Apple claims it takes about five minutes to update. Users can confirm that the Battery Pack has been updated by following the method detailed above to check the firmware version on an iPhone.
After the update has been downloaded, the MagSafe Battery Pack will be able to charge the iPhone at up to 7.5W on the go. While this is a small increase over 5W, it should still translate to noticeably faster charging. Unfortunately, the update doesn't increase the charging speeds beyond the maximum 15W when a power adapter (20W or higher) is connected to Apple's MagSafe Battery Pack.
Source: Apple
