According to a new patent, the iPhone 12 could be Apple's first iPhone with reverse wireless charging.

The patent, filed with the USPTO and published on April 9, 2020 (via TechRadar), describes "inductive charging between electronic devices." This is a feature found in Android devices that allows smartphones like Samsung's Galaxy S20 and Huawei's P40 Pro to provide power from their batteries to another smartphone or accessory like an earphone or smartwatch.

Apple has offered wireless charging with its iPhones since the iPhone 8 and iPhone X launched in 2017. However, no company product offers wireless power charging, although Apple appears to be working on reviving its canceled AirPower charging mat.

As can be seen from the figure, Apple may introduce reverse wireless charging for iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks, allowing multiple devices to be stacked and charged simultaneously. The patent also suggests that the technology could be used to charge a laptop with a cell phone, but given the power required for a laptop to operate, this would probably not be an efficient use of the cell phone battery.

Earlier reports in 2019 claimed that the iPhone 11 series was supposed to feature reverse wireless charging, but this feature was disabled in the phone's software because Apple was not satisfied with the performance. It is possible that Apple will turn on the feature as part of an iOS update or debut it in an upcoming device like the iPhone 12.

If Apple is indeed planning reverse wireless charging, we may hear about it at the WWDC 2020 online event in June or at the iPhone launch event that Apple usually holds in September WWDC will be held in June as a live stream only show. but no announcement has yet been made as to whether the coronavirus outbreak will affect the event, which is scheduled for September.