My favorite kind of software update is the one that reveals hidden hardware features, and the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack is the latest surprise — after installing firmware update 2.7, you'll be able to cordlessly charge an iPhone at a faster 7.5 watts instead of the original 5 watts (via 9to5Mac).
You may either wait for an over-the-air update or connect a Lightning to USB cord from the pack to a connected Mac or iPad to receive the repair, and then you're off to the races, as they say. And yet, to be fair, I wouldn't install the update yet though; instead, I'd wait to hear from Apple (or reviewers) about whether it will affect how warm the battery gets.
You see, I purchased a MagSafe Battery Pack for my iPhone mini last year, but I quickly returned it. As previously stated, the Mini-MagSafe combo felt uncomfortably warm without a case — but even with a case, the MagSafe Battery Pack felt a little too loose and slid around while I held it. (Yes, I was using Apple's own Clear Case with MagSafe, not a knockoff from a third party.)
So you can understand why I'm having difficulty visualizing things better now that the MagSafe Battery Pack has more energy. In our evaluation of the MagSafe Battery Pack, Dieter said that the 5W charging speed was meant to decrease heat and improve battery life.
Apparently Apple has made other changes that will eliminate the heat issue — for example, the corporation may have adjusted the frequency and duration of the charging. Perhaps if it charges at 7.5W for short periods of time, it will need to charge less frequently, and it will be less unpleasant for those of us who carry it around all day. If that's the case, I might buy one again. I've contacted Apple, and I'll let you know what they say.
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