diff --git a/docs/companion_protocol.md b/docs/companion_protocol.md
index 9d45b59ef..1d9cf8264 100644
--- a/docs/companion_protocol.md
+++ b/docs/companion_protocol.md
@@ -587,11 +587,12 @@ def parse_device_info(data):
 **PACKET_BATTERY** (0x0C):
 ```
 Byte 0: 0x0C
-Bytes 1-2: Battery Level (16-bit little-endian, percentage 0-100)
+Bytes 1-2: Battery Milli Volts (16-bit little-endian)
 
 Optional (if data size > 3):
 Bytes 3-6: Used Storage (32-bit little-endian, KB)
 Bytes 7-10: Total Storage (32-bit little-endian, KB)
+Bytes 11: Charging/External Power Flag (uint8, 0=no, 1=yes)
 ```
 
 **Parsing Pseudocode**:
@@ -600,15 +601,18 @@ def parse_battery(data):
     if len(data) < 3:
         return None
     
-    level = int.from_bytes(data[1:3], 'little')
-    info = {'level': level}
+    milli_volts = int.from_bytes(data[1:3], 'little')
+    info = {'milli_volts': milli_volts}
     
-    if len(data) > 3:
+    if len(data) >= 11:
         used_kb = int.from_bytes(data[3:7], 'little')
         total_kb = int.from_bytes(data[7:11], 'little')
         info['used_kb'] = used_kb
         info['total_kb'] = total_kb
     
+    if len(data) >= 12:
+        info['is_charging'] = data[11] == 1
+    
     return info
 ```
 
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
index 87d3091a0..b933924d7 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 #include <Arduino.h> // needed for PlatformIO
 #include <Mesh.h>
+#if defined(NRF52_PLATFORM)
+  #include <nrf.h>
+  #include <nrf_soc.h>
+#endif
 
 #define CMD_APP_START                 1
 #define CMD_SEND_TXT_MSG              2
@@ -1309,15 +1313,38 @@ void MyMesh::handleCmdFrame(size_t len) {
     }
     board.reboot();
   } else if (cmd_frame[0] == CMD_GET_BATT_AND_STORAGE) {
-    uint8_t reply[11];
+    uint8_t reply[12];
     int i = 0;
     reply[i++] = RESP_CODE_BATT_AND_STORAGE;
     uint16_t battery_millivolts = board.getBattMilliVolts();
     uint32_t used = _store->getStorageUsedKb();
     uint32_t total = _store->getStorageTotalKb();
+    // Optional extra byte for companion clients:
+    // 0 = not externally powered, 1 = externally powered/charging source present.
+    bool external_powered = board.isExternalPowered();
+#if defined(NRF52_PLATFORM)
+    uint8_t sd_enabled = 0;
+    sd_softdevice_is_enabled(&sd_enabled);
+    uint32_t usb_status = 0;
+    if (sd_enabled) {
+      sd_power_usbregstatus_get(&usb_status);
+    } else {
+      usb_status = NRF_POWER->USBREGSTATUS;
+    }
+
+    // Some nRF52 boards report VBUS correctly in USBREGSTATUS while
+    // board.isExternalPowered() may still resolve false in practice.
+    uint32_t usb_power_mask = POWER_USBREGSTATUS_VBUSDETECT_Msk;
+#ifdef POWER_USBREGSTATUS_OUTPUTRDY_Msk
+    usb_power_mask |= POWER_USBREGSTATUS_OUTPUTRDY_Msk;
+#endif
+    external_powered = external_powered || ((usb_status & usb_power_mask) != 0);
+#endif
+    uint8_t is_charging = external_powered ? 1 : 0;
     memcpy(&reply[i], &battery_millivolts, 2); i += 2;
     memcpy(&reply[i], &used, 4); i += 4;
     memcpy(&reply[i], &total, 4); i += 4;
+    reply[i++] = is_charging;
     _serial->writeFrame(reply, i);
   } else if (cmd_frame[0] == CMD_EXPORT_PRIVATE_KEY) {
 #if ENABLE_PRIVATE_KEY_EXPORT
diff --git a/src/helpers/NRF52Board.cpp b/src/helpers/NRF52Board.cpp
index 1db858f50..09cc76afd 100644
--- a/src/helpers/NRF52Board.cpp
+++ b/src/helpers/NRF52Board.cpp
@@ -67,6 +67,11 @@ void NRF52Board::initPowerMgr() {
 }
 
 bool NRF52Board::isExternalPowered() {
+  uint32_t usb_power_mask = POWER_USBREGSTATUS_VBUSDETECT_Msk;
+#ifdef POWER_USBREGSTATUS_OUTPUTRDY_Msk
+  usb_power_mask |= POWER_USBREGSTATUS_OUTPUTRDY_Msk;
+#endif
+
   // Check if SoftDevice is enabled before using its API
   uint8_t sd_enabled = 0;
   sd_softdevice_is_enabled(&sd_enabled);
@@ -74,9 +79,9 @@ bool NRF52Board::isExternalPowered() {
   if (sd_enabled) {
     uint32_t usb_status;
     sd_power_usbregstatus_get(&usb_status);
-    return (usb_status & POWER_USBREGSTATUS_VBUSDETECT_Msk) != 0;
+    return (usb_status & usb_power_mask) != 0;
   } else {
-    return (NRF_POWER->USBREGSTATUS & POWER_USBREGSTATUS_VBUSDETECT_Msk) != 0;
+    return (NRF_POWER->USBREGSTATUS & usb_power_mask) != 0;
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/variants/t1000-e/T1000eBoard.cpp b/variants/t1000-e/T1000eBoard.cpp
index 0d390f798..e73e03516 100644
--- a/variants/t1000-e/T1000eBoard.cpp
+++ b/variants/t1000-e/T1000eBoard.cpp
@@ -20,4 +20,23 @@ void T1000eBoard::begin() {
   Wire.begin();
 
   delay(10);   // give sx1262 some time to power up
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
+
+bool T1000eBoard::isExternalPowered() {
+  // T1000-E exposes dedicated detect lines for external power and charge state.
+  // Use these first, then fall back to NRF52 USB VBUS detection.
+  bool externalPowerDetected = false;
+  bool chargingDetected = false;
+
+#ifdef EXT_PWR_DETECT
+  // EXT_PWR_DETECT is high when external power rail is present.
+  externalPowerDetected = digitalRead(EXT_PWR_DETECT) == HIGH;
+#endif
+
+#ifdef EXT_CHRG_DETECT
+  // Charge detect is typically active-low on PMIC status lines.
+  chargingDetected = digitalRead(EXT_CHRG_DETECT) == LOW;
+#endif
+
+  return externalPowerDetected || chargingDetected || NRF52Board::isExternalPowered();
+}
diff --git a/variants/t1000-e/T1000eBoard.h b/variants/t1000-e/T1000eBoard.h
index 492236077..aa00de5d0 100644
--- a/variants/t1000-e/T1000eBoard.h
+++ b/variants/t1000-e/T1000eBoard.h
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ class T1000eBoard : public NRF52BoardDCDC {
 public:
   T1000eBoard() : NRF52Board("T1000E_OTA") {}
   void begin();
+  bool isExternalPowered() override;
 
   uint16_t getBattMilliVolts() override {
   #ifdef BATTERY_PIN