Have you noticed your MagSafe Battery Pack charging your iPhone at only 5W? Apple recently released a firmware update that boosts the charging speed to 7.5W, on par with the fastest standard Qi wireless charging. Updating is simple and only takes around 5 minutes when connected to a Mac or iPad.
Note: Most of the time, the MagSafe Battery Pack will be updated automatically when connected with the iPhone. So, there is a good chance that your device is already running the latest version.
Regardless, there is a way to manually update the firmware to unlock faster speed.
First, Check the Current Firmware Version
The first step is to check what firmware version your MagSafe Battery Pack is currently running. To do this:
- Attach your MagSafe Battery Pack to your iPhone using the MagSafe charger
- Open the Settings app and go to General > About
- Scroll down to the MagSafe Battery Pack section
- Note down the number next to Firmware Version
You need version 2.7.b.0 or later to get the faster 7.5W charging speed. If your battery pack is running an earlier firmware version, follow the steps below to manually update it.
How to Manually Update the Firmware
While the MagSafe Battery Pack will eventually update automatically, you can speed up the process by manually updating the firmware using a Mac or iPad. Here’s how:
- Connect your MagSafe Battery Pack to a Mac or iPad using an Apple Lightning to USB cable.
- The firmware update will now start to install. The update process takes around 5 minutes.
- When the update completes, disconnect the cable.
That’s all there is to it! The manual update process is very quick and simple.
Benefits of Updating to the Firmware
Once updated to version 2.7.b.0 or later, your MagSafe Battery Pack unlocks the following improvements:
- Faster 7.5W iPhone charging – This is the key benefit, bringing charging speed up to par with the fastest standard Qi wireless charging.
- Still supports 15W wired charging – When connected to a 20W+ power source, your battery pack maintains 15W charging for a wired iPhone.
- Enhanced performance and convenience – In addition to raw charging speeds, the firmware update also improves issues some users experienced around battery pack performance and charging reliability.
Updating your MagSafe Battery Pack is highly recommended to get the best charging experience. Use the steps in this guide to check your current firmware version and manually update if needed.
Photo: Lester Chan
