According to one exemplary embodiment, a multi-mode power management unit (PMU) includes a number of switchable conductive paths, where each of the switchable conductive paths corresponds to at least one of a number of power modes. The multi-mode PMU further includes a shared inductor residing in each of the switchable conductive paths. A current can flow through the shared inductor in a same direction in each of the power modes. The multi-mode PMU further includes a controller configured to set one of the power modes using one of the switchable conductive paths. The power modes can include a battery-to-electronic system power mode and a charge-battery power mode. The power modes can further include a battery-to-electronic system/camera flash power mode, a power port-to-electronic system/battery power mode, and a battery-to-electronic system/backlight LED power mode.