Apple Denies Speculation Surrounding iPhone 16e's Lack of MagSafe

[zarmanto]

Rare earth magnets cost money.

It's vaguely confusing to me that so many people don't seem to realize this... but the magnets are in the accessory, not the phone. MagSafe phones simply have a steel ring embedded in the right place. Likewise for MagSafe compatible cases.

I don't know why Apple went down this path, but it honestly feels to me more like an oversight than a malicious "removal" of a feature; I suspect they simply switched to an aluminum chassis midstream to reduce weight (and likely cost) without taking into consideration what else that might have impacted.

It appears I was mistaken -- though, I would still suggest that the magnets within the phone are almost certainly not "rare earth" magnets, but something substantially cheaper and weaker. IMHO, the end result is the same:

In any case, since the modem is unaffected by the magnets, it's clear that the solution is to simply slap one of those cheap steel rings on the back of the phone.

 

[9081094]

The SE has been discontinued by Apple but is still available at carriers and retailers. Additionally, people who may currently have an SE and are looking to get a new phone will look at Apple's least expensive current offering (the 16e) and see just how much better it is over the SE for just $120 more (with 128GB) and conclude there is no reason to spend an additional $230 above that for the regular 16.

Or they will compare it with other phone brands as Apple no longer sells them and discover you can get phones with better screens, WiFi 7, better cameras, faster charging speed, better modem, more RAM, and working voice assistants and AI for an even lower price.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Or they will compare it with other phone brands as Apple no longer sells them and discover you can get phones with better screens, WiFi 7, better cameras, faster charging speed, better modem, more RAM, and working voice assistants and AI for an even lower price.

The number of people who compare specs such as ram, wi-fi speeds and modems is so small it's inconsequential. People generally buy on what they see, feel, and experience.

Screens? Yes.. AI? Ehh, right now I don't think it matters.

 

[t0rqx]

Same excuse that only M-chips could run Stagemanager.

 

[9081094]

The number of people who compare specs such as ram, wi-fi speeds and modems is so small it's inconsequential. People generally buy on what they see, feel, and experience.

Screens? Yes.. AI? Ehh, right now I don't think it matters.

Well, I totally wish Apple would be able to mimic the possibilities with their photos app. Erase parts that you don’t want to be part of a photo or opening someone’s eyes that accidentally closed. There are really nice things that comes handy and I envy my friends who wow me every day 😊

 

[Veinticinco]

“B..bb..but Mr Cook sir, adding MagSafe will cost just 2c on each iPhone 16e…”


“A WHOLE TWO CENTS?!…”

 

[I7guy]

Well, I totally wish Apple would be able to mimic the possibilities with their photos app. Erase parts that you don’t want to be part of a photo or opening someone’s eyes that accidentally closed. There are really nice things that comes handy and I envy my friends who wow me every day 😊

Then it would be said that spoke is copying. So yeah, let’s not have Apple do anything that give fodder to the critics./s

 

[Stromos]

It's funny so many people thinking the iPhone 16e, a much less costly iPhone designed for people on a budget, should have the same set of features as an iPhone 16 Pro/Max.

Yeah... it's about Apple being greedy and gimping the phone.

It's funny so many people thinking the iPhone 16e is much less costly.

 

[jz0309]

Nobody said anything of the sort. Macrumors speculated it could be pricing and you can speculate that as well. But unless we hear from Apple directly we don’t know the actual reason.

Most likely product differentiation.
Apple is rearranging its iPhone product offerings so they must provide reasons why people still want a regular 16 over the 16E.
And they are getting out of the <$500 smartphone market…

 

[TokyoKiller]

Then why does it have wireless charging at all?

I meant MagSafe specifically. My mom, dad and most of my friends don’t care for MagSafe. Their cars have wireless charging though.

 

[Stromos]

Folks are forgetting the target market for this release. It's for those who don't splurge on a wireless charger, night stand or even possibly have a car to use a vent charger for MagSafe. It's a budget phone for folks who need a phone and don't necessarily spend more to accessorize or make it more luxurious. It hits the spot and delivers performance people expect in 2025 without all the extra things they don't need or want that add to the cost.

Yet they raised the price. Which likely also means come fall the whole line up is going up to make this appear "cheap" in comparison.

 

[jz0309]

See the post above yours

Qi @ up to 7.5w is bordering on useless

How do for people that charge overnight? And yes, those exist, I’m one of them

 

[Stromos]

Or since it is an entry iPhone it will be compared to what the SE had and people will see that the 16e has:

Increased RAM
Better camera setup
Better chip
Better modem
Better battery
Increased max brightness
Super retina XDR display
Apple Intelligence
Dolby Vision
Dolby Atmos
Emergency SOS via satellite
Roadside assistance via satellite
Messages via satellite
Crash detection
Ceramic shield
Larger display
Greater water resistance

...all for just $120 more (with 128GB) and will conclude that there is no need to spend an additional $230 more for the regular 16.

By that logic all iPhones should go up $120 every year because they have new features right?

 

[jz0309]

See the post above yours

Qi @ up to 7.5w is bordering on useless

And then there are the countless posts on MR that state that MagSafe charging is bad for battery life/health…

 

[cdsapplefan]

and those who prefer to use without cover then?

Wait until 3-4 years when the new 19e or 20e will certainly have MagSafe. 🧲

 

[7thson]

I’m not in the market for this iPhone, but if I was I’d rather they omitted the Action Button in favor of MagSafe and the old Mute switch.

 

[Spock]

Definitely cost cutting and it also tells me that they don't make enough money from the MagSafe market to be worth adding to every phone.

 

[windywalks]

It's vaguely confusing to me that so many people don't seem to realize this... but the magnets are in the accessory, not the phone. MagSafe phones simply have a steel ring embedded in the right place. Likewise for MagSafe compatible cases.

I don't know why Apple went down this path, but it honestly feels to me more like an oversight than a malicious "removal" of a feature; I suspect they simply switched to an aluminum chassis midstream to reduce weight (and likely cost) without taking into consideration what else that might have impacted.

In any case, since the modem is unaffected by the magnets, it's clear that the solution is to simply slap one of those cheap steel rings on the back of the phone.

You're absolutely wrong.
It's a two way array of magnets on both the phone and the device connected to it.
Here's a guide from 2022 posted on MacRumors:

MagSafe: Everything About Apple's iPhone Charging Technology

MagSafe is now a universal name that Apple uses for both iPhone and Mac charging. There are MagSafe charging pucks for the iPhone, and MagSafe 3...

www.macrumors.com

 

[TokyoKiller]

Yet they raised the price. Which likely also means come fall the whole line up is going up to make this appear "cheap" in comparison.

I ain’t here to debate Apple’s pricing, I am looking at what this product replaces and who it’s targeting and that’s all.

Apple is going to do what has does for years, so me personally chiming in about it is irrelevant. On this matter I choose to vote with my wallet when I feel I need to.

 

[Timpetus]

It takes up too much space. Being that much thinner devices are on the way, I’m guessing the MagSafe format is on the way out across the board.

But wouldn't a thinner, lighter phone require less powerful (and thus, smaller) magnets? I seriously doubt Apple's ever going to get rid of MagSafe entirely, unless they can figure out a better replacement for the functionality.

 

[Neil J. Squillante]

I don’t get it. Can you not just use a case with a strong magnet in? Qi charging is still supported.

I've never used an iPhone case, which significantly adds to the size and weight of the iPhone (I find it ironic how many people get cases and still manage to crack their iPhone screen). I've had the iPhone, 3G, 3GS, 4S, 5, 5S, 6, 6S, 7, X, XS, 11 Pro, and 13 mini (current). I was quite the enthusiast for many years.

At this point, I care about specs when it comes to the iPad and Mac but not the iPhone anymore. I'm not a photo bug. I was all set to give up on a smaller display and buy the 16e. It didn't cross my mind that it might lack MagSafe. I have 2 MagSafe charging stands, a 3-in-1 MagSafe travel charger, a MagSafe car mount, and a MagSafe battery. MagSafe is amazing, a textbook example of Apple's pioneering work with magnets. I'm not going back to the stone age.

Onward to the 17 series. I will finally upgrade then to something (probably the base 17 unless the rumored Air comes in a smaller size).

 

[webkit]

Or they will compare it with other phone brands as Apple no longer sells them and discover you can get phones with better screens, WiFi 7, better cameras, faster charging speed, better modem, more RAM, and working voice assistants and AI for an even lower price.

People who currently have and/or have been shopping SE are more likely to stick with the lowest priced iPhone especially when they see just how much better the 16e is for only $120 more (with 128GB). They won't see a reason to spend an additional $230 more for the regular 16.

Similar is even true with higher prices phones. A reason people buy the 16 over the 16 Pro is because they don't see a reason to spend an additional $170 (which is even less than the difference between the 16e and 16) to get the Pro. Buyers of entry level phones (the target of the 16e) are likely to be even more reluctant to spend up, specially seeing everything the 16e has to offer.

 

[Joshuaorange]

But wouldn't a thinner, lighter phone require less powerful (and thus, smaller) magnets? I seriously doubt Apple's ever going to get rid of MagSafe entirely, unless they can figure out a better replacement for the functionality.

When you’re talking about a phone that’s just a few mm thick, you don’t have room for magnets even .5mm thick. That’s just my guess.

 

[webkit]

By that logic all iPhones should go up $120 every year because they have new features right?

Wrong. This is not an "every year" situation here as the SE 3 is a much smaller phone that's based on the old iPhone 8 (from 2017), a chip from 2021, etc.

 

[9081094]

People who currently have and/or have been shopping SE are more likely to stick with the lowest priced iPhone especially when they see just how much better the 16e is for only $120 more (with 128GB). They won't see a reason to spend an additional $230 more for the regular 16.

Similar is even true with higher prices phones. A reason people buy the 16 over the 16 Pro is because they don't see a reason to spend an additional $170 (which is even less than the difference between the 16e and 16) to get the Pro. Buyers of entry level phones (the target of the 16e) are likely to be even more reluctant to spend up, specially seeing everything the 16e has to offer.

That maybe true when you go to an all Apple shop. But here in the EU there are all sorts of mobile phones laying next to each other so customers can compare them 😊

The whole iPhone lineup looks kind of pale to what others have to offer (hard- and software). But time will tell…