I love my Apple Watch, but for the love of everything holy, I hate that I need a specialized charger for it. What’s the point of a power bank or a wireless charger if I now need one with a special charging zone for the Apple Watch JUST because the damned thing has a proprietary dock design? It’s probably the one frustrating thing about the Apple Watch, after the Watch’s underwhelming 2-day battery life… but it seems like the latest iPhone may fix that. Rumors and leaks are suggesting that not only will the iPhone 17 series get bumped up to Qi2.2 charging, it will also get a highly sought-after Reverse Wireless Charging feature (like the one on Samsung’s Galaxy phones). This means that you can potentially place your Apple Watch or even your AirPods on the back of your latest iPhone, just to have it charge normally. No cable, no dock, nothing.
What’s particularly exciting is how these advancements could fundamentally alter our relationship with power management. The days of carrying multiple chargers and cables might soon be behind us. Instead, the iPhone 17 Pro will become a power hub for your Apple ecosystem, addressing one of the most persistent pain points in modern tech: keeping everything charged without turning your bag into a cable management nightmare. At this point, I might just excuse Apple for flopping on the AirPower Mat if my iPhone itself can become a wireless charger!
The star of the show is undoubtedly the new reverse wireless charging capability. Your iPhone 17 Pro will function as a portable charging pad for accessories like AirPods and Apple Watch. This feature has existed on Android devices for years, but Apple’s implementation appears more refined, with stronger magnetic alignment and more efficient power transfer. Imagine being at dinner when your Apple Watch battery indicator turns red. Simply place it on the back of your iPhone, and you’ll have enough juice to get through the evening. The feature leverages the existing MagSafe system for precise alignment, ensuring optimal charging efficiency rather than the hit-or-miss experience seen on competing devices. The power transfer is reportedly limited to 5W for accessories, which is adequate for emergency charging situations without excessively draining your phone’s battery. It’s also heavily speculated that the Pro models will exclusively get the Reverse Wireless Charging feature… not the base models.
On the receiving end, the iPhone 17 lineup will support wireless charging speeds of up to 50W through the new Qi2.2 standard. This represents a massive leap from the current 15W limitation and approaches the speeds typically associated with wired charging. A full charge could take just over an hour wirelessly, compared to the 2+ hours required by current models. Apple has reportedly redesigned the internal coil structure and improved heat dissipation to handle the increased power without thermal throttling. The charging speed increase addresses one of the most significant criticisms of wireless charging: that it’s too slow to be practical for daily use.
The new charging capabilities complement the iPhone 17’s refreshed design language. The lineup introduces the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air (just 5.5mm thick and weighing 145g) alongside the standard, Pro, and Pro Max variants. The Air model features a 6.6-inch display but comes with a smaller 2800mAh battery, making the improved charging speeds particularly valuable for extending its usability throughout the day. Meanwhile, the Pro Max variant boasts a 4700mAh battery, the largest ever in an iPhone, paired with the new A19 Pro chip and vapor chamber cooling system for sustained performance.
Color options are expanding too, with the base models receiving fresh purple and green finishes, while the Pro models will feature a sophisticated sky-blue option inspired by the M4 MacBook Air. The Pro models are shifting from titanium to aluminum frames, resulting in lighter devices without compromising durability. All models will feature 120Hz ProMotion displays, ensuring smooth visuals whether you’re gaming or simply scrolling through social media.
The iPhone 17 lineup is expected to debut in September 2025, with pricing likely to remain consistent with current models despite the significant technological advancements. These charging improvements, combined with the design refinements and performance upgrades, position the iPhone 17 as a compelling upgrade even for those who typically sit out a generation or two.
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