Apple Gets FCC Approval for MagSafe Duo Wireless Charger

[MTD's Mac]

My issue isn’t with price, it’s with the sorry design work by Apple. I own that watch charger and it is great, but this duo charger fails at its primary purpose. Their premier MagSafe/Watch charger lifts up when you pick up the phone. They should have went with some kind of reusable adhesive on the bottom to allow for MagSafe alignment with a normal wireless charger usability’s being able to just grab the phone.

Good point. We’ll have to see how it works in practice, as we only have a few brief hands-on videos so far. I agree that it will be annoying if there’s not an easy way to lift the phone off the mat without lifting the whole thing. But adhesives? Not a very elegant solution...

 

[Johnny907]

It’s funny because Dieter is usually ridiculously in the bag for Apple, and his review was basically “Yeah wtf, Apple? This thing sucks and is stupid overpriced.”

Now will Apple realize they messed up and adjust the price to the reasonable 79 dollars everyone expected, or stay oblivious while these things collect dust on the proverbial Apple Store shelves.

 

[Nixle]

Amazon Canada has it on pre order for a December 15 release date.

 

[OkiRun]

But I don't own an iWatch ~

 

[I7guy]

The Apple MagSafe Duo charger is overpriced and under-delivers

It’s nice, but not that nice.

www.theverge.com

Of course that’s one opinion. The sales, or lack there of will speak for itself.

 

[yegon]

Even in the context of Apple pricing, which I'm often willing to pay, the absence of a power brick makes this an absurd proposition. Were it like the fabled AirPower, bringing some degree of innovation/new function, the price would be more palatable. This is just an Apple branded Belkin-esque charger with a 50% mark up.

I own the Apple Watch charger mentioned, it's a nice product that has served me well for years.

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

So much hate for a completely optional accessory.

For some people (myself included) it’s worth paying a premium to have something that matches the Apple design language of other devices. I‘ve tried other third-party chargers and never found one where I love the look AND functionality. Those other options still exist, at lower prices, and more with MagSafe are undoubtedly on the way. But if this is an option Apple wants to offer its customers, what’s wrong with that?

I’ll be buying one as soon as they become available, and would buy two (one for home one for work) if money were no object.

whats more worth Home or office?

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

I agree with Dieter Bohn, the press molded edges look cheap. They could have followed the design language of the iPhone and made this with an aluminum band wrapping each side, with a simple hinge mechanism. As is, it just looks cheap. I can see value in its utility and would appreciate it for travel but wouldn’t buy it at that price point. Also, no included charging brick? C’mon...

Who needs a charger for a charger?
Apple Accessoires are only meant to top up Apple profits.

their Ports certification like Lightning are their moat to keep accessories makers from delivering great products.

its disgusting but it’s legal.

 

[ds2000]

I wanted this but at 150 euros they can take a jump. Thats outrageous!

 

[The Game 161]

Of course that’s one opinion. The sales, or lack there of will speak for itself.

i dunno how well it will sell but i think people who want that secure charging at night and a two in 1 it will work fine. I know people are mad at the price but generally these kind of devices are in this price range. My belkin 2 in 1 was around £100

 

[jamezr]

i dunno how well it will sell but i think people who want that secure charging at night and a two in 1 it will work fine. I know people are mad at the price but generally these kind of devices are in this price range. My belkin 2 in 1 was around £100

I have a 2 in 1 from Amazon for less than $40. Works great charges my iphone and apple watch and it came with a charging brick and cables....

 

[The Game 161]

I have a 2 in 1 from Amazon for less than $40. Works great charges my iphone and apple watch and it came with a charging brick and cables....

Yeah sorry i meant in terms of the big companies. There’s certainly some great options in that 30-50 price range on amazon/eBay e.t.c

 

[Liam Knuj]

The FCC does not approve anything. They list electronic devices. Manufacturers test devices for compliance and can either self certify that a device complies or have the device tested by an outside agency for compliance with FCC guidelines. The charger is what's called an unintentional radiator, in that any RF generated by the device was not part of the design and is, as stated, unintentional. The article should state that that Apple has an FCC listing and has received a listing ID.

 

[RamGuy]

Why does it use Lightning for its input? It seems utterly pointless to release peripherals in Late-2020 that is using Lightning.

We won't see USB-C on the iPhone's ever. I get that. But it will go portless at some point. Apple sticking to Lightning on peripherals don't really provide any benefits at this point. Why do I have to use Lightning for my AirPods, AirPods Pro, Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, Magic Mouse and now this MagSafe Duo?

Apple used to be all about the details. But currently, they are pushing half of their product line towards USB-C only, the other half to wireless charging and yet they keep on releasing peripherals that for some reason is still relying on using Lightning?

My MacBook Pro is USB-C only. How does it make any sense that my peripherals need Lightning for charging? They are clearly pushing the iPhone towards a portless and wireless-only design. You can say whatever you want about this whole idea but why do they keep on releasing peripherals using the one standard that is going to go away as soon as the iPhone goes portless?

If I travel with this MagSafe Duo + my MacBook Pro or my iPad Pro I will have to bring extra cables with me for no apparent reason. If they had just gone with USB-C as its input I could bring my 61W power adapter, my USB-C cable and my MagSafe Duo. When I need to charge my iPad Pro or my MacBook Pro I simply unplug the MagSafe Duo and plug the cable into my iPad Pro or MacBook Pro. Now I need to remember to still keep dragging my Lightning cable with me.

How come this company keeps being this disconnected between its own product lineups? They go USB-C only on the M MacBook's before anyone else in the industry really pushing USB-C adoption. They also start pushing their iPad lineup towards USB-C. But at the same time, they keep sticking Lightning on all peripherals?


Keep on using Lightning on the iPhone. But it's about time you start killing it off everywhere else. The entire Mac lineup, the entire iPad lineup and all peripherals should be heading towards USB-C only while the iPhone is going wireless. They should also consider adding wireless charging to additional devices such as the iPad's. Sure it won't charge fast, but I would be neat to not keep having to have separate kind of charging for all of these devices.

 

[G5isAlive]

My issue isn’t with price, it’s with the sorry design work by Apple. I own that watch charger and it is great, but this duo charger fails at its primary purpose. Their premier MagSafe/Watch charger lifts up when you pick up the phone. They should have went with some kind of reusable adhesive on the bottom to allow for MagSafe alignment with a normal wireless charger usability’s being able to just grab the phone. As a nightstand charger any Qi device beats this in usability.

That plus this thing isn’t even going to be charging at 15w since it is powered by the same overpriced 20w wall wart and has to charge the watch at the same time.

Although Apple doesn't come right out and say so, the best use of this is NOT for routine applications like bedside or work (where adhesive might apply), but for travel. Road warriors look for light, compact, and rugged. For the few days a month I will use it, I don't care if I have to hold the thing down with a finger while picking up my phone. I do care if it packs up nicely in my overnight bag.

 

[routine_analyst]

This thing is absolutely hideous! Who on earth would pick this over some of the multi chargers that already exist. Is this what the AirPower mat morphed into? How sad!

 

[bbmertz]

Amazon Canada has it on pre order for a December 15 release date.

I was hoping the MagSafe Duo would be available for pre order today in the US when the Apple Store went live after the Mac event, but no such luck. It seems overpriced to me but I'm still tempted to buy it for convenience, especially when I start to travel again in the future.

 

[flynz4]

Although Apple doesn't come right out and say so, the best use of this is NOT for routine applications like bedside or work (where adhesive might apply), but for travel. Road warriors look for light, compact, and rugged. For the few days a month I will use it, I don't care if I have to hold the thing down with a finger while picking up my phone. I do care if it packs up nicely in my overnight bag.

I agree. I spend more nights away from home than I do at home... especially now during the pandemic when I am working from home, and home can be anywhere. I’ll be buying two, one each for my wife and I. They will be in our travel bag. We have other docks at home on our nightstands.

/Jim