An apparatus for powering a wireless peripheral includes a controller and a power management circuit. The controller is configured to determine the strength of wireless signals received by the peripheral. The power management circuit selectively powers the peripheral with either an external power source or a combination of the external power source and an internal power source included in the wireless peripheral. If the wireless signal strength is weak, the power management circuit uses both the internal an external sources to power the peripheral. This allows the wireless peripheral to boost its transmit power, even though its power requirement may exceed that available from the external source. If the wireless signal strength is strong, the power management circuit uses only the external source to power the peripheral. When this occurs the internal power source may also be simultaneously charged by the external power source.