Apple is Reportedly Developing a MagSafe Battery Pack for iPhone 12

Apple is reportedly working on designing and developing a MagSafe battery pack accessory for the iPhone 12.

According to a new report from Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple has been working on developing a MagSafe battery pack for the iPhone 12 for “at least a year”.

The battery pack would attach to the back of an ‌iPhone 12‌ using the MagSafe system, which all the new phones use for charging and pairing other accessories like cases and wallets. Some prototypes of the battery pack have a white rubber exterior, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the product isn’t yet public. The new accessory would differ from Apple battery add-ons for previous iPhones in that it only provides additional battery life and doesn’t serve as a full protective case.

Sources have told Gurman that the device has been developed with the intention of releasing “in the months following the release of the ‌iPhone 12‌ line”. However, Apple has experienced development hurdles that may impact the release.

One hurdle that Apple appears to have crossed is the weight capacity of the MagSafe magnet. Some consumers have pointed out the strength of the MagSafe magnet used on the iPhone 12. The leather wallet attachment had given some users issues when it was unable to stay securely attached. However, Gurman suggests Apple has been able to successfully test the battery pack and ensure its strong enough to stay in place when in use.

The issues Apple is said to be from a software perspective. According to Gurman, the battery pack has caused the iPhone 12 to read a false error that the battery is overheating. Apple has also experienced issues when the user transitions from using the battery pack.

Sources suggest Apple is also discussing other accessories that utilize the iPhone 12’s MagSafe magnet. A proposed car attachment was brought to the table. However, this specific product has not made it to the development phase quite yet.