Back To Back Charging

[preyan]

I was just thinking, it would be cool for one phone to charge another phone via "back2back" functionality. It's like his Android has their wifi direct functionality where you tap 2 backs together to initiate file transfer. Very often I find a friends phone almost dead and wish they could "suck some of my juice" to charge up a bit.

Oh well

 

[617aircav]

Pointless when you can get a powerbank.

 

[preyan]

Pointless when you can get a powerbank.

So carry an extra device with another cable. Ok. Who won't mind.

 

[617aircav]

So carry an extra device with another cable. Ok. Who won't mind.

Wouldn't you need a cable to connect two phones?

 

[preyan]

Wouldn't you need a cable to connect two phones?

You evidently didn't read the original post...or love making assumptions

 

[timeconsumer]

So carry an extra device with another cable. Ok. Who won't mind.

I don't mind. Whenever I am out I carry a portable charger in a backpack along with my MacBook Air. While your idea is neat, I wouldn't want to have to remove my case and then place my phone "back2back". I do however let people use my portable charger when needed.

 

[nepalisherpa]

I was just thinking, it would be cool for one phone to charge another phone via "back2back" functionality. It's like his Android has their wifi direct functionality where you tap 2 backs together to initiate file transfer. Very often I find a friends phone almost dead and wish they could "suck some of my juice" to charge up a bit.

Oh well

I believe the phone has to have this support via USB OTG, but, if manufacturers want, this is doable.

 

[iphonedude2008]

Actually the only way to do that would be if both phones had usb type c and you had a usb c to usb c cable since the current usb standards dont allow power out in large enough amounts to charge a phone.

 

[iphonedude2008]

NFC is how that back to back transfer works and if you've ever done it you'll know that its really slow. The amount of energy traveling through the air even at that short distance is very small. Wireless charging requires lots of power and looses most energy to air molecules in the form of heat.

 

[willmtaylor]

Intriguing, but not for me. With the the ubiquity of wall chargers and power banks, I just don't see the benefits outweighing the costs.

 

[617aircav]

Intriguing, but not for me. With the the ubiquity of wall chargers and power banks, I just don't see the benefits outweighing the costs.

At this point the benefit is basically zero.

 

[willmtaylor]

At this point the benefit is basically zero.

Definitely far less than other tech that Apple would spend R&D and, more importantly, valuable internal iPhone real estate on. As intriguing as it is, sounds DOA to me.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Charging every night while I sleep, I have never had to worry about running out of power with wither of my 6 or 6+.

 

[willmtaylor]

Charging every night while I sleep, I have never had to worry about running out of power with wither of my 6 or 6+.

It's generally not for me either. On a recent trip to Japan, it was an issue. Last year when I went, they had USB chargers in the backs of all of the seats, but this year, there were no USB chargers on any of my flights. I was glad that I had brought my external power supply.

 

[JohnApples]

It's a cool idea, but like others have mentioned, would be too impractical with today's implementation of wireless charging, if even possible at all.

Also, I would much rather have a portable power bank than have to keep my phone touching my friend's phone for a while. It would be too inconvenient as we'd either have to both hold our phones up back to back, or someone would have to lay their phone face down on a surface while the other sits on top and charges, rendering the bottom phone unusable.