Wondering if you read that right? Can you swap the batteries of your iPad Mini with your iPhone 5?
…Well, not quite.
But if it doesn’t happen with the iPhone 5 and the iPad Mini, it could become a reality with future versions of our favorite iOS devices because Apple has just secured a patent for a universal removable battery system that will allow you to swap batteries between devices. Endgadget reports:
“As proposed, the technique would let Apple cut batteries from lithium-polymer or similar materials into commonly sized packs that could then be swapped between devices, providing all the benefits of removable, rechargeable batteries with a longer lifespan than an old set of AAs. Batteries could have serviceable cores for when they finally give up the ghost, and computers could even alternate between charging the batteries (when plugged in) or using them to extend the runtime of MacBooks. We’d recommend against basing any purchasing strategy around Apple’s filing, though. The Cupertino team originally applied for the patent in 2010, and in turn broke out the technology from a patent it had filed in 2007 — there’s no guarantees Apple is still interested in replacing those disposables, let alone any sealed-in batteries. That won’t stop us from yearning for the day when a Magic Mouse lasts for more than a week of heavy use.”
It’s funny that Apple is working on this technology considering one of the annoyances that people have with the iPhone 5 and other Apple devices is that you can’t replace the battery yourself. Perhaps Apple does realize this and would like to make up for it in the future with this better battery system that would allow you to use batteries between devices.
For now, all we can do is hope and wait for Apple to make this a reality.
Would you welcome a universal removable battery system on your iOS devices? What other improvements would you like to see on the successors of the iPhone 5 and the new iPad? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!