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Rumor: iPhone 13 to Feature Larger Wireless Charging Coils, Possibly for Reverse Wireless Charging

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Apple plans to include a "slightly bigger" wireless charging coil in this year's iPhone 13 lineup, which will not only yield improved heat management and higher wattage, but could be paving the way towards reverse wireless charging, according to a new rumor from Max Weinbach (via EverythingApplePro).

iphone-13-wireless-charging-coil.jpeg
Image Credit: EverythingApplePro​

According to the rumor, Apple plans to make the physical wireless charging coil in this upcoming iPhone larger, which would increase the surface area of where wireless charging can be induced. Weinbach had previously reported that the 2021 iPhones will feature stronger MagSafe magnets, which in today's rumor, he reiterates could be a reason behind the increased coil size.

Weinbach also speculates that the increased coil size could be used for reverse wireless charging, which would enable users to charge wireless charging compatible devices, such as AirPods, by placing them on the back of the iPhone.

In February, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman stated that reverse wireless charging capabilities are unlikely to come to the iPhone in the "near future." Despite Apple holding off on officially announcing the feature, FCC filings for the 2020 iPhone revealed earlier this year that all models of the iPhone 12 lineup include the ability to reverse wirelessly charge other devices, such as AirPods (second generation), AirPods Pro, or newer Apple Watch models.

More recently, Bloomberg reported that Apple is planning reverse wireless charging capabilities for the next-generation iPad Pro in 2022. Reverse wireless charging does significantly drain a device's battery, and Apple may feel as though that the feature would make more sense in an iPad Pro, thanks to its larger battery, compared to an iPhone.

Article Link: Rumor: iPhone 13 to Feature Larger Wireless Charging Coils, Possibly for Reverse Wireless Charging
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/07/04/iphone-13-larger-wireless-charging-coil/
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I use cases on my phones that I don’t even use wireless charging if it’s available, let alone reverse wireless charging. I wonder how many people have actually used reverse wireless charging on a regular basis.

I hope those extra space for those coils is not being used as an excuse to minimize battery capacity.
 
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iPhone 13 is gonna be hard sell for many unless Apple can get those remaining pesky X and XS users such as myself to upgrade. It’s also obvious there still a high percentage of iPhone 6s users out there why they are still supporting iOS 15 on it.

But iPhone 13 is sounding more like this years XS. Not much to really justify this on either 11 or 12 to upgrade. 2022 iPhone is likely gonna see substantial changes, likely faster 5G modem, while 2023 will come with the overhaul, which I suspect will be no ports.
 
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What a nightmare at Apple.
Now their reverse product managers have gain further ground against the only efficient and fast charging with cables.
Instead of a battery larger in dimension and capacity, those cable haters put in a larger coil. That is absurd!
I fear those managers with deep expertise in energy efficiency are shaking their heads if they are still there....

The issue of device space: If you do not want to integrate promising periscope telecameras and instead add cheap super wide-angle lenses, then this is really not a step forward. I had expected more from Apple. And now even the RWC freaks are getting a kick out of it. Very unpleasant stagnation at Apple.
 
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I still don't see any significant upgrades from the 12 to 13 (non-Pro)?
  • A15 and improved 5G modem
  • Slightly bigger battery
  • Better camera system
  • Smaller notch
  • Reverse charging
All pretty tiny upgrades, no? So the question would be whether these improvements are worth $100, assuming Apple keeps the 12 in the lineup.
 
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boak said:
I still don't see any significant upgrades from the 12 to 13 (non-Pro)?
  • A15 and improved 5G modem
  • Slightly bigger battery
  • Better camera system
  • Smaller notch
  • Reverse charging
All pretty tiny upgrades, no? So the question would be whether these improvements are worth $100, assuming Apple keeps the 12 in the lineup.
Click to expand...
What you listed outside of the rumored reverse charging is typical Apple spec bumping. For many, that equates to a very modest increase over what is currently owned. And for others, such would be a much bigger increase in value and use.
 
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boak said:
I still don't see any significant upgrades from the 12 to 13 (non-Pro)?
  • A15 and improved 5G modem
  • Slightly bigger battery
  • Better camera system
  • Smaller notch
  • Reverse charging
All pretty tiny upgrades, no? So the question would be whether these improvements are worth $100, assuming Apple keeps the 12 in the lineup.
Click to expand...
A15, better 5G modem
better battery, even larger than the 11 pro max for example
better camera
smaller notch
120hz display

This will be a no brainer for those with iphone Xs or older models and maybe for the 11 pro series users...
 
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The Game 161 said:
I could see this happening and maybe bigger batteries means apple may release this.

cant Say I’ve used this once on my s21 ultra but nice to have if you need it for your air pods or a friend or family member needs more juice
Click to expand...
If the rumor becomes reality, I think a lot of people wouldn't use the feature at all in a real life situation. I see it more as media gimmick to help sell more phones.
 
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boak said:
I still don't see any significant upgrades from the 12 to 13 (non-Pro)?
  • A15 and improved 5G modem
  • Slightly bigger battery
  • Better camera system
  • Smaller notch
  • Reverse charging
All pretty tiny upgrades, no? So the question would be whether these improvements are worth $100, assuming Apple keeps the 12 in the lineup.
Click to expand...
Not every iPhone users have iPhone 12. Many are still on the X, 8, 7, or even 6s and 6. Someone coming from an iPhone 6s or 7 will see the iPhone 13 as a huge upgrade.
 
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I understand the huge upgrade from older iPhones. But the rumoured regular 13 so far lacks a special selling point (on top of spec bumps) over the the previous generation to "justify" the price delta (at least $100) since they will likely compete against each other.

7 -> 8: Wireless charging(?)
8 -> XR: Form factor, inc. Face ID
XR -> 11: Night mode photography
11 -> 12: 5G
12 -> 13: ?

12 Pro -> 13 Pro: ProMotion
 
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The Game 161 said:
I could see this happening and maybe bigger batteries means apple may release this.

cant Say I’ve used this once on my s21 ultra but nice to have if you need it for your air pods or a friend or family member needs more juice
Click to expand...
I would like to have for my AirPods because a few times Ive left the house with completely dead AirPods. I don't always leave the house with my S21 ultra but I always have my iPhone.
 
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Morgenland said:
What a nightmare at Apple.
Now their reverse product managers have gain further ground against the only efficient and fast charging with cables.
Instead of a battery larger in dimension and capacity, those cable haters put in a larger coil. That is absurd!
I fear those managers with deep expertise in energy efficiency are shaking their heads if they are still there....

The issue of device space: If you do not want to integrate promising periscope telecameras and instead add cheap super wide-angle lenses, then this is really not a step forward. I had expected more from Apple. And now even the RWC freaks are getting a kick out of it. Very unpleasant stagnation at Apple.
Click to expand...
Even if this is a pretty weird rumor, why are you so doom-and-gloom about a company that just put out its best phones (and cameras) ever?

- “Now their reverse product managers have gain further ground against the only efficient and fast charging with cables.” Can you please parse this into readable English for me?

- “Instead of a battery larger in dimension and capacity, those cable haters put in a larger coil. That is absurd!” Apple has been making their batteries bigger and their SoCs more power-efficient for years (with intermittent exceptions, though the massive jump from the 7 to the X was both enough to give a supermajority of users insanely good battery life, while also presumably leaving major room for future research into how much can be squeezed out of any given mAh). Next.

Energy efficiency in wireless charging is an insanely important thing to address, and unfortunately, the laws of physics kinda…don’t change. But yes, Apple are a case study in “those cable haters,” and one day a few years down the line there will be an iPhone with no ports. Keep a keen eye on the world, be two steps ahead, it’ll make reality a lot less maddening when it actually occurs.
 
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Mr. Dee said:
iPhone 13 is gonna be hard sell for many unless Apple can get those remaining pesky X and XS users such as myself to upgrade. It’s also obvious there still a high percentage of iPhone 6s users out there why they are still supporting iOS 15 on it.

But iPhone 13 is sounding more like this years XS. Not much to really justify this on either 11 or 12 to upgrade. 2022 iPhone is likely gonna see substantial changes, likely faster 5G modem, while 2023 will come with the overhaul, which I suspect will be no ports.
Click to expand...
It depends on the upgrades for me. If the camera has meaningful upgrades, outside of a better wide angle camera which I don't care about then I will upgrade. If they are just spec bumps then I might sit it out this year.
 
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Kylo83 said:
I wish magsafe would carry data so could use it for CarPlay
Click to expand...
Funny enough the proprietary power cable going into the new iMac carrys both power and data, so this may not be so far off. If Apple did manage to develop wireless charging data transfer without the use of Wifi/Bluetooth then it could have great potential security benefits for Apple devices and also be the final straw for keeping a lightning port on the iPhone
 
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