Apple is expected to see modest growth by leveraging its dominance as all iPhone models support the feature.
The adoption of wireless charging smartphones is gaining significant momentum, with shipments projected to increase by 14.2 percent year-over-year (YoY) in 2024. Furthermore, the market share of wireless charging smartphones is expected to exceed 31 percent in 2024, potentially reaching nearly 50 percent of the global smartphone market by 2029. Wireless charging smartphones are gaining traction as the feature boosts user convenience and is a key marketing tool for OEMs, especially in flagship models.
Reverse wireless charging is a technology that enables your phone to function as a wireless charging pad for other devices. For instance, you could place a smartwatch on the back of your phone, and your phone would wirelessly transfer some of its battery power to charge the smartwatch. The speed of reverse wireless charging differs between phones but is generally quite slow. Even high-end models like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra are capped at just 4.5W of power.
According to a report by Counterpoint Research, leading OEMs are progressively incorporating reverse wireless charging into their flagship devices. Apple is dominant in the reverse wireless charging smartphone market, with hardware support for this feature available on all iPhone 12 models and newer. However, Apple has not yet fully realized the potential of reverse wireless charging, as its functionality is presently restricted to powering the MagSafe battery pack.
Moreover, the Cupertino tech giant is expected to see modest growth by leveraging its dominance as all iPhone models support the feature. However, growing adoption by Samsung and Chinese OEMs like Huawei, Xiaomi, and OPPO is expanding the market and gradually reducing Apple’s share. Xiaomi and OPPO, traditionally holding smaller shares, are now integrating the feature into flagships and planning to extend it to mid-range devices.
The report added that reverse wireless charging in smartphones is rapidly advancing, fueled by consumer demand and innovation in flagship models. Its market share is set to rise from 95.6 percent in 2023 to nearly 100 percent by 2026, signaling widespread adoption. Smartphone shipments with this feature are projected to grow at an 18 percent CAGR from 2023 to 2025.
