You’re out at a concert or stuck at the airport. Your friend’s phone is at 2%, and they’re panicking because their Uber is ten minutes away. You’ve got a full charge on your iPhone 16 Pro. You think, "Hey, can't I just press them together and share some juice?"
It seems like a no-brainer. Android users have been doing the "PowerShare" back-to-back dance for years. But if you try that with two iPhones, you’re going to be waiting a long time for absolutely nothing to happen.
The short answer is yes, can iPhone charge another iPhone, but it’s probably not the way you imagined. Apple hasn't flipped the switch on reverse wireless charging yet, even though the hardware might technically be sitting right there under the glass.
The USB-C Revolution Changed Everything
If you’re carrying an iPhone 15, 16, or the newer 17 series, you have a powerhouse in your pocket. Literally. When Apple ditched the Lightning port for USB-C, they didn't just satisfy EU regulators; they turned your phone into a portable battery pack.
Basically, if you have a USB-C to USB-C cable, you can plug two modern iPhones into each other. The software does a quick "handshake." It looks at both battery percentages and decides that the phone with more life will feed the one that's dying.
It’s automatic. No settings to toggle. No weird menus. Just plug and play.
But what if you’re rocking an older model? If you want to charge a friend's iPhone 13 using your iPhone 15, you’ll need a USB-C to Lightning cable. It still works! The USB-C iPhone acts as the boss and sends power down the line to the Lightning device. Honestly, it’s a lifesaver when you’re nowhere near a wall outlet.
Why You Can’t Just "Touch" Them Together
Reverse wireless charging is the "Holy Grail" for iPhone users, but we aren't there yet. Apple is famously protective of battery health. Wireless charging generates a ton of heat. Heat is the absolute enemy of lithium-ion batteries.
If Apple let you charge a friend's phone wirelessly, both phones would get incredibly hot. This degrades the battery chemistry faster than a standard wired charge. Plus, wireless transfer is inefficient. You might lose 30% of your battery just to give your friend 10%.
Apple’s philosophy is usually "if it isn't a great experience, don't ship it." Right now, 4.5W wired charging is reliable. Wireless sharing? Kinda messy.
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The Technical Reality: Wattage and Speed
Don't expect your iPhone to be a "Fast Charger" for another device. When you connect two iPhones, the output is capped at about 4.5 watts.
To put that in perspective:
- Standard Wall Brick: 20W to 30W.
- iPhone-to-iPhone: 4.5W.
It is slow. Very slow. You aren't going to get a full charge during a lunch break. You’re looking at a "survival" charge—enough to get them through a phone call or a navigation route. If you’re charging AirPods or an Apple Watch from your iPhone, the speed feels fine because those batteries are tiny. But for another phone? It’s a trickle.
One weird detail: if you plug two USB-C iPhones together and they have almost the same battery level, the "negotiation" can be a bit random. Usually, the one you plug in first becomes the host, or the higher percentage wins. If it doesn't start charging the right way, just unplug and try again.
Breaking the "No-Cable" Myth
A lot of people think MagSafe means you can share power wirelessly. Nope. MagSafe is great for receiving power from a puck or a battery pack. But your iPhone won't act as the puck for someone else.
There was a brief moment of hope with the old MagSafe Battery Pack. If you plugged your iPhone into a wall, it could actually pass power through its back to charge the battery pack wirelessly. That's technically "reverse wireless charging," but it's restricted to that one specific scenario. You can't do it phone-to-phone.
Is It Bad for Your Battery?
You might worry that being a "power donor" will ruin your own phone's longevity.
In the short term, no. It’s just like using your phone normally. However, every time you drain your battery to charge someone else's, you're completing a "charge cycle." iPhone batteries are generally rated for 1,000 full cycles (on newer models) before they drop to 80% capacity.
If you do this every day, you'll hit that limit sooner. But for an emergency? Don't sweat it. Your phone is a tool; use it.
How to Actually Do It (Step-by-Step)
If you're ready to share some juice, here is the hardware breakdown you need.
- Identify your port: If you have an iPhone 15 or newer, you have USB-C.
- Grab the right cable: * USB-C to USB-C for two new iPhones.
- USB-C to Lightning for a new iPhone charging an old one.
- The Connection: Plug into your phone first, then the "victim" phone.
- Check the icon: The receiving phone should show the green lightning bolt. If it doesn't, ensure your own phone has at least 20-30% battery. Apple sometimes cuts off external power output if your own battery is too low.
What About Android Phones?
Here's a fun fact: you can actually charge an Android phone with your iPhone. Since both now use the USB-C standard, the same rules apply. You can even charge a Samsung or a Pixel.
Sometimes the Android phone might try to charge your iPhone instead. If that happens, you usually have to go into the Android's USB settings and change the mode from "Charge connected device" to "Just receive power." It's a bit of a tug-of-war between the two operating systems.
Actionable Next Steps
If you find yourself frequently needing to charge other people's devices (or your own accessories), don't rely solely on iPhone-to-iPhone charging. It’s a backup, not a primary strategy.
- Get a dual-ended cable: Keep a high-quality USB-C to USB-C cable in your bag. It’s the universal key for 2026.
- Watch the heat: If your phone is already hot from gaming or being in the sun, don't try to charge another device. It will likely throttle the speed to nearly zero to protect itself.
- Battery Widget: Add the "Batteries" widget to your home screen. It will often show the charge status of connected devices more clearly than just looking at the tiny icon in the corner.
While we wait for Apple to eventually (maybe) give us true "contactless" power sharing, the USB-C port is your best friend. It’s not magic, but it works when you’re in a pinch.