Apple enables faster on-the-go charging with MagSafe Battery Pack

By Trevor Mogg Published April 21, 2022

Wish you could have faster cordless charging for your iPhone than the measly 5 watts you get with Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack? Well, now you can.

Thanks to a firmware update rolled out by the tech giant this week, you’ll now get a not-quite-as-measly 7.5W, enabling a slightly faster charge time for your iPhone.

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In order to get 7.5W charging on the go, you’ll need to update your MagSafe Battery Pack to firmware version 2.7. In a support document on its website, Apple says that the quickest way to update the firmware is by using a Mac or iPad. To do so, plug one end of a Lightning-to-USB cable into the Lightning connector on your battery pack and the other end into your Mac or iPad, and the process should finish in about five minutes.

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You can check that the update is complete by heading to Settings on your iPhone, then General > About > MagSafe Battery Pack. The firmware version should show as 2.7.

Apple MagSafe Battery Pack — Apple’s MagSafe battery pack Image used with permission by copyright holder

If connected to a 20W or higher power source, Apple’s $99 MagSafe Battery Pack can charge a compatible iPhone with up to 15W of power, double that of what you now get with its on-the-go charging.

Apple launched its mobile MagSafe technology with the iPhone 12 in October 2020. It uses a magnet inside the phone so you easily attach it to a compatible charging device, a process that involves a satisfying “snap” sensation as the phone connects with the charger.

Besides the battery pack, Apple also offers a $35 wired MagSafe Charger, various MagSafe-enabled silicone iPhone cases starting at $39, and a range of $59 leather wallets that snap onto the back of your iPhone using the MagSafe technology.

Third-party companies also offer alternative chargers and other accessories that utilize MagSafe. Check out Digital Trends’ carefully curated selection of some of the best MagSafe products currently available.

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Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

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