MagSafe Battery Air doesn't charge iPhone 17 Pro

Apple has released a new accessory — MagSafe Battery for the iPhone Air, but as it turns out, it’s nearly impossible to use with other iPhone models.

Why the battery only works with the iPhone Air

The accessory turns out to be very thin, almost 5 inches long. The key feature — is the offset placement of the magnets. While standard MagSafe accessories have them closer to the top of the case, the new battery has them in the center. This is to ensure that the accessory attaches correctly to the iPhone Air with its tall camera module.

On other models, such as the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the battery rests against the camera when the magnets are properly aligned. The device recognizes the accessory and even detects a weak charge through the air gap, but it’s not possible to use this option in real life.

«Crutches» for other iPhones

Technically, the battery can be attached sideways — in that position, MagSafe continues to work. But it’s not convenient to use the phone with the accessory in your hand, so the only option is to actually place the smartphone with the battery attached on a table.

There is another option — use the battery wirelessly via USB-C. In that case, it can recharge an iPhone or AirPods. But connecting it to an iPad Pro or MacBook will have the opposite effect: the accessory will start charging from the device.

Characteristics of MagSafe Battery for iPhone Air

Despite its limited compatibility, the battery is impressive in its parameters:

capacity — 3149 mAh (double the 1460 mAh capacity of the original MagSafe Battery Pack),
Additional charge for iPhone Air — 65%
Apple’s estimated video battery life — up to 40 hours

For the iPhone 17 Pro Max and other models, the novelty is almost useless — it has too little effect on their batteries. Owners of these devices will have to look for alternative external batteries.