Still lagging behind Android smartphones: iPhone 17 to feature 35w charging, iPhone 17 Pro may get reverse wireless charging

Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 series will support wired charging up to 35 watts, according to MacRumors, citing analyst Jeff Pu from GF Securities.

For context, the current iPhone 16 Pro flagships support charging at up to 30 watts, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max can reach 37 watts with Apple’s 140-watt USB-C adapter. However, independent tests reveal that in practice, the stable charging power of the iPhone 16 rarely exceeds 20 watts.

Despite this modest improvement, the iPhone 17 will still trail behind most competitors. For instance, Chinese flagships have long supported 90-120W charging, while Samsung and Google devices achieve 45W and 37W, respectively.

iPhone 17 Pro May Introduce Reverse Wireless Charging

Another potential feature for the iPhone 17 Pro is reverse wireless charging—a capability Android smartphones have offered for years. According to MacRumors, Apple is testing reverse charging at 7.5 watts, which could allow users to charge their AirPods, Apple Watch, and possibly a new MagSafe power bank.

Rumors about this feature have been circulating for some time. In 2021, Apple launched the iPhone 12 with MagSafe charging, which could power a proprietary battery pack. With the introduction of USB-C in the iPhone 15, users gained access to wired reverse charging at 4.5 watts.

However, full-fledged wireless reverse charging has yet to materialize, despite numerous leaks. In 2022, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed Apple was developing an updated USB-C power bank, a report later corroborated in 2023 by Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, though without specific timelines.

It remains unclear whether reverse wireless charging will make it to the final version of the iPhone 17 Pro or stay in the prototype stage. The official unveiling of the new iPhones is expected in September 2025.

It’s worth noting that Android smartphones have offered reverse wireless charging for quite a while. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S10, released in 2019, could wirelessly charge other devices at 4.5 watts.