The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack hasn’t been the most loved iPhone accessory. Of course, the idea behind it is good, but the power bank could only offer 5W of wireless charging to iPhones at launch. Because of this, along with the relatively low battery capacity, the power bank was bound to get resistance. However, Apple has decided to fix one of the issues partly. The MagSafe Battery Pack can now wireless charge iPhones at 7.5W. While this may not be the fastest charging speed, it certainly brings the battery pack to the same level as some popular third-party power banks.
If you buy a new MagSafe Battery Pack, you will get the 7.5W charging speed right out of the box. But if you already own it, you can upgrade its firmware to get the faster-charging speed. The quickest way to update your battery pack is to use a USB-C to Lightning cable and attach it to a Mac or iPad. It will take about 5 minutes, but you can leave it for a slightly longer duration to be sure.
If you don’t have access to a Mac or iPad, you can also attach it to your iPhone and get the new firmware. But the firmware update using this method can take over a week.
The new firmware version of the MagSafe battery pack is version 2.7.b.0. You can check the firmware information while the pack is attached to your iPhone by going to Settings > General > About > MagSafe Battery Pack.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack price, how to buy
The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack costs $99, and you can buy it from Amazon or any other major retailer. However, you won’t get any cables or power adapter in the box. Instead, you can use any USB-PD capable 20W or higher-powered charge to juice it up. I have handpicked the best chargers that you can use. In addition, you will also need a lightning cable. My best lighting cables buying guide can help in this regard. Or you can use the cable that you got with your iPhone.
FAQs
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack works best with iPhone 12 series and 13 series models. It uses Apple’s MagSafe technology to attach on the iPhone using magnets, similar to how the MagSafe charger does.
- It can provide about 70% charge to iPhone 12 mini or 13 mini, about 60% charge to iPhone 12, 12 Pro, 13, or 13 Pro, and about 40% charge to iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max.
- While the regular charge rate is 7.5W, you can increase the charging speed up to 15W by plugging the battery pack to a power adapter. This way, both your MagSafe Battery Pack and the iPhone get charged simultaneously.
It’s important to note that if you charge your iPhone and MagSafe Battery Pack simultaneously, your iPhone might charge to 80% or higher before your MagSafe Battery Pack begins charging.
If you are looking for Apple MagSafe Battery Pack alternatives, check out my recommendations for the best power banks.