Can you Charge Apple Watch from iPhone | Guide for 2024
Are you an Apple enthusiast who can't get enough of their innovative products?
If so, you're likely already familiar with the Apple Watch, a smart wearable device that has revolutionized the way we interact with our daily lives.
But have you ever wondered if your trusty iPhone could lend a helping hand when your Apple Watch is running low on battery?
In this article, we'll delve into the question that has intrigued many Apple fans: Can you charge your Apple Watch from your iPhone?
Unfortunately, while the idea of charging your Apple Watch from your iPhone sounds incredibly convenient, it's not a feature supported by Apple. As of now, you cannot directly charge your Apple Watch using your iPhone.
Get ready to uncover the truth and discover the possibilities that lie within these iconic Apple devices.
Related: How to Charge Apple Watch Without its Dedicated Charger
Can you Charge Apple Watch from iPhone
No, you cannot charge an Apple Watch directly from an iPhone. The Apple Watch has its own dedicated charger, which is a magnetic charging cable that attaches to the back of the watch.
The charger typically connects to a USB power source, such as a computer's USB port or a wall adapter. The iPhone does not have the capability to transfer power to the Apple Watch.
Apple Watch Charging Technology
To know if you can charge your Apple Watch from iPhone, you should know the underlying technology that powers your Apple Watch. The Apple Watch features a Li-ion battery like most devices nowadays.
And like most high-end smartphones Apple Watch uses a wireless charging interface. The Apple Watch features a magnetic base that is used for charging.
This magnetic charging base attaches to the dedicated charger and uses Qi wireless charging technology to charge.
So an Apple Watch needs to be in contract with a magnetic charging pad for it to charge.
This means that there are two ways the iPhone can be used to charge your Apple Watch, by either the lightning port or by the MagSafe wireless charging technology on its back.
So can you charge Apple Watch from iPhone? Learn about it in the next section.
Can you Charge Apple Watch from iPhone
The ability to charge your Apple Watch from iPhone sounds awesome as it can help you quickly charge your Apple Watch from anywhere. This can make life easier as you wouldn't have to carry your Apple Watch charger everywhere.
While this seems like a cool feature it is not available yet, you cant charge your Apple Watch using an iPhone. The Apple Watch’s charger can be powered even by laptops and power banks, but the iPhone doesn't have reverse charging capabilities that can charge an Apple Watch yet.
Reverse charging is a feature that allows smartphones and tablets to charge other smartphones. This feature is available in android flagships. Even the iPad features reverse charging.
So if your iPhone or Apple Watch is low on battery, you can plug it into an iPad with reverse charging capability to charge them. Unlike an iPad or some android smartphones, the iPhone doesn't feature reverse charging capabilities, so there is no way you can charge your Apple Watch by connecting it to an iPhone.
Even though this feature is not available for now, there have been speculations that iPhones might get reverse charging capabilities soon.
The technology has been available for Apple since iPhone 12 can reverse charge some MagSafe accessories. Apple for some reason has not made it possible for AirPods or Apple Watch’s to be charged using iPhone.
Since the technology is in place, even a software update might be enough for Apple to allow reverse charging from iPhone to Apple Watch. But for now, all we can do is wait and watch.
How to charge an Apple Watch without its dedicated charger
The Apple Watch’s dedicated charger attaches magnetically to an Apple Watch. This magnetic connection is used to charge your Apple Watch.
This technology is similar to wired charging, as the current flows through the back of your Apple Watch. But with the newer Apple Watches, Apple added support for Qi wireless charging to them. This means that Apple Watch should be able to charge with most wireless chargers.
Now that you know how an Apple Watch gets charged using the dedicated charger, let's see if you can charge without it.
You can charge an Apple Watch without its dedicated charger by using a third-party Apple Watch Charger.
There are tons of third-party Apple Watch chargers that you can find on Amazon, other online stores, and even in offline stores. You can use these to charge your Apple Watch.
They use the same magnetic charging technology and come in different shapes and sizes. Some chargers are as small as a USB drive, making them easy and convenient to carry around.
If you are looking for a new Apple Watch charger then, I would suggest getting something like the Anker Portable Magnetic Charger.
It is better than the dedicated charger since it doesn't use a cable and it is from a reputable brand. Here are some other good third party Apple Watch chargers
Another way you can charge your Apple Watch without using its dedicated charge is by using the hidden charging port. This method was only possible with the Apple Watch Series 1.
When the first Apple Watch was released, people noticed a six-pin port hidden at one end of the Apple Watch where you attach the bands.
This port was present on the Apple Watch for diagnostic purposes. The port allowed technicians to configure settings and software easily.
As soon as people found out about the port, they investigated and found out that it can be used for charging the Apple Watch. But since it was a port unlike any other, people had to develop new methods to use it.
Reverse Strap was a company that designed a strap that could attach to your Apple Watch and charge it at the same time. The company also claimed to offer 6-7% faster charging speeds. But Apple had to nip the project in the bud because of safety reasons.
So, you can charge your Apple Watch Series 1 without the dedicated charger but you need a Reverse Strap charger for this. With how old Apple Watch Series 1 is, this is nothing but a small piece of cool history.
And finally, the last method to charge your Apple Watch without its dedicated charger is to use a charging dock. You can read more about this in the next section.
How to charge Apple Watch and iPhone at the same time
You now know if you can charge your Apple Watch using iPhone, which is sadly a no but what about charging both your Apple Watch and iPhone at the same time.
You can charge your Apple Watch and iPhone together using charging docks. Some charging docks allow you to charge iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods at the same time. The docks feature wireless chargers for iPhone and AirPods and a magnetic charger for Apple Watch.
These come in different shapes and sizes, with some looking like a mat and some are stands, so you can pick and choose from what you fancy.
The GEEKERA 3 in 1 Wireless Charger Dock Station is one of my favorite charging docks.
It can charge iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods at the same time making it versatile. It also looks simple making it a good nightstand charger.
SO if you want to charge both your Apple Watch and iPhone simultaneously then get a charging dock. Even the MagSafe Duo is a good option for this purpose from Apple themselves.
Can I charge my Apple Watch with any adaptor?
From my experience, I was able to charge the Apple Watch with all the adaptors I used.
The only thing you need to keep in mind is if the charging adaptor has a USB-C or USB-A port. You can get the Apple Watch charger with either a USB-A or USB-C connector.
The USB-C variant features fast charging support for Series 7. To get the fastest charging speeds, you will need the adaptor to support at least 5W of power delivery.
Will Apple release an iPhone with Wireless Reverse Charging?
Apple had planned to include reverse wireless charging in the iPhone 14, but missed the development deadline, resulting in the feature's exclusion.
Reverse charging allows devices to both receive and transmit charge wirelessly. This means that with this feature you will be able to charge your AirPods or Apple Watch by simply placing them on the back of the iPhone.
Although the iPhone 12 has a basic form of reverse charging with a MagSafe battery pack, the true implementation would enable the iPhone to charge a wider range of accessories using its battery power.
Apple aims to incorporate reverse charging in a future model, but challenges regarding hardware, software, heat management, efficiency, and charging speed need to be addressed.
The feature's arrival in the upcoming iPhone 15 remains uncertain, with potential delays or even the possibility of it being scrapped entirely.
Conclusion
Can you charge Apple Watch from iPhone? At the moment the answer to that question is no. But with reverse charging becoming popular amongst high-end smartphones, sooner or later Apple will make it a feature too.
Reverse charging your Apple Watch can make it easy and convenient for you to charge your Apple Watch. You wouldn't have to carry your Apple Watch charger everywhere. While the hardware and technology for reverse charging are available on the iPhone, Apple doesn't allow it to work with Apple Watch or AirPods.
I hope that sooner or later, Apple allows for charging an Apple Watch from iPhone, this will be a feature that many will use especially people with iPhone Pro Max models that can take advantage of the larger batteries in them.
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