Skip to main content

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

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.

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.

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.

Editors' Recommendations

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Mophie made one of the cutest iPhone accessories I’ve ever used
Mophie Cherry Blossom 3-in-1 Travel Charger with MagSafe.

Out with the old and in with the new. Spring is finally here, kicking out old man winter and breathing some color back into nature. Plus, the National Cherry Blossom Festival has started in Washington, DC, so if you’re lucky enough to be in the area, take advantage of those gorgeous cherry blossoms!

For those of us who aren’t around for one of the biggest spring celebrations in the U.S., there are other ways to commemorate the season. For example, Mophie recently released a limited edition Cherry Blossom color for its 3-in-1 Travel Charger with MagSafe.

Read more
The DOJ has sued Apple over the iPhone. Here’s what it means for you
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro seen from the back.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro (left) and iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

If you're reading this article, chances are you have an iPhone. It's also quite likely that your friends and family members also use an iPhone. The iPhone is the smartphone of choice for millions of people in the U.S., and now, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is suing Apple over the iPhone monopoly it has established over the years.

Read more
UPS worker accused of nabbing $1.3M worth of iPhones and other Apple gear
A MacBook and iPhone in dark red light.

The desirability and high value of iPhones and other Apple devices make the gear a popular target for criminals looking to make a fast buck.

In the latest such case, a now former UPS employee is accused of stealing more than $1.3 million worth of Apple iPhones and laptops from the shipping company’s warehouse in Winnipeg, Canada, before selling them in an operation that continued for seven months, the Winnipeg Free Press reported this week.

Read more