My favorite type of software update is the one that unlocks secret hardware features, and the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack is the latest surprise – you’ll be able to wirelessly charge an iPhone with faster 7.5 watts instead of the original 5 watts , once you apply firmware update 2.7 (via 9to5Mac).
You can wait for an update wirelessly or connect a Lightning to USB cable from the package to a connected Mac or iPad to get the fix, and then you’re up and running.
But to be honest, I would not install the update completely yet – I can wait until we hear back from Apple (or reviewers) if it will affect how hot the battery gets.
You see, I even bought a MagSafe Battery Pack last year for my iPhone mini, but I returned the package pretty quickly. As I have written, the Mini-MagSafe combination felt uncomfortably hot without a case – but with One case, the MagSafe Battery Pack felt a bit too loose and tended to slip around while I held it. (Yes, I used Apple’s own Clear Case with MagSafe, not some third-party knockoff.)
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And then you can understand why I have a hard time imagining it better now that the MagSafe Battery Pack releases more juice. In our review of the MagSafe Battery Pack, Dieter pointed out that the 5W charging speed was designed to minimize heat and preserve battery life.
Now Apple may also have made other adjustments that will eliminate the heat issue – the company may have changed the frequency and duration of the charge. Maybe if it charges at 7.5W for short periods, it needs to be charged less often and it can be even less annoying for those of us who carry it around all day.
If so, I can actually buy one again. I’ve contacted Apple and I want to tell you what the company says.