The real reason is that the EU is about to ban MagSafe the same way they banned the Lightning Connector. You're not allowed to innovate in the EU anymore.
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Apple Provides Reason for iPhone 16e's Lack of MagSafe
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Couldn't care less. Charges slower, makes the device hotter (=kills the battery faster), is more expensive, and I can't use my phone while charging. It has literally only disadvantages.
Being expensive is enough to qualify.
The argument made is that the average buyer isn’t aware of this feature. I would however understand for the average consumer to expect any iPhone to have MagSafe even if they only find out about its existence after their grandson points it out.
I find it interesting that they know how many people would use magsafe charging on the 16e, when their previous budget phone didn't have magsafe charging. Where do they get this data from? Certainly not reality. Focus groups?
The real problem is that they released such a gimped variant of the iPhone 16. Had they kept the SE branding, this wouldn't matter. But by inserting this into the 16 lineup, it created flagship expectations that Apple has miserably failed to meet.
The real problem is that they released such a gimped variant of the iPhone 16. Had they kept the SE branding, this wouldn't matter. But by inserting this into the 16 lineup, it created flagship expectations that Apple has miserably failed to meet.
Well… THAT would be a valid reason…
My old 11 Pro got to failed its lightning charging port on its 4th year, so I had to get a wireless charging base to get able to charge it. But anyway I think that was because lightning ports due to the pins, were much more fragile than USB-C.
The 16e still has wireless charging, just not magsafe wireless.
...and as I keep posting over and and over, you can get a magsafe case.
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Too many people are still confusing MagSafe with wireless charging. Again, the 16e has wireless charging. It just doesn't have the magnets.
You clearly don't have a good grasp of Steve's product choices in his heyday. Steve was the king of gimping lower end models, sometimes even through stupid software limitations.
But Apple is not that more expensive. It's on par with comparable devices. You can argue Apple is premium brand but definitely it's NOT luxury brand.
Luxury Brand: Definition, Characteristics & Examples
A luxury brand is a brand that is characterized by a high level of quality, exclusivity and high price tags.
www.retaildogma.com
As I wrote some posts before, sadly my old 11 Pro got to failed its lightning charging port on its 4th year, so I had to get a wireless charging base to get able to charge it. But anyway I think that was because lightning ports due to the pins, were much more fragile than USB-C.
They'll never go wireless unless you give it to them first. All they are doing is trying to train people into spending more on a phone, period. Once they can do that, their options open up. On a separate note, restaurants that don't need as may customers because their prices are so high doesn't mean the food is great. If anything this will help android sales when you compare what $600 gets you.
I have found USB-C less robust than Lightning. The USB-C ports on some of my devices (including my MacBook) get looser over time, whereas this has not happened with my Lightning devices.
As mentioned earlier in the thread, the 16e has wireless.
BTW, I gave my wife a MagSafe charger in the car, but she just uses it the same way she used her Lightning cable. Attach the iPhone, and then throw it on the seat or into the centre console. I even bought a mount for it and she refuses to use it. And she never uses MagSafe in the house, nor has she asked for a MagSafe charger to use in the house. It's clear that some people just don't care as much about MagSafe as many of us here do.
And also as mentioned, you can get MagSafe cases for non-MagSafe iPhones anyway.
To the Apple beans counters: I’m barely using speaker in my iPhone. Sometimes don’t even call in weeks. This is just idea for what you could remove in 17e.
Please don’t tell me this… I was pretty confident that USB-C was much more robust than lightning. 😢
I will take in account your advice, so I will be much more careful with my cable and the port of my 16 Pro.
Thank you 🙏🏻
I got my stuff from a South Korean family - two brothers called Sam and Sung (... yes I'm stealing Romesh Ranganathan's joke, sorry)
End of day, it is all about margins. Also, that segment was never given access to MagSafe. How will they use an unavailable feature?
Apple has offered a reason why the iPhone 16e doesn't include MagSafe, one of the more notable omissions from its latest entry-level smartphone.
According to Apple representatives who spoke to Daring Fireball's John Gruber, MagSafe is not included in the iPhone 16e because "most people in the iPhone 16e's target audience exclusively charge their phones by plugging them into a charging cable."
These users apparently tend not to use wireless charging at all, and when they do use it, Apple believes the slower 7.5W Qi charging speed compared to MagSafe's faster rates isn't a deciding factor for the customer segment it is targeting with the more affordable device.
Introduced with the iPhone 12 lineup in 2020, MagSafe uses magnets embedded in the back of compatible iPhones to align wireless chargers and attach accessories. The technology allows for faster wireless charging (up to 15W on most models and 25W on newer Pro models) compared to standard Qi wireless charging, which is limited to 7.5W on iPhones.
Apple has developed a whole ecosystem of MagSafe accessories including cases, wallets, battery packs, and mounts. The magnetic alignment ensures an optimal charging position and makes attaching accessories more convenient.
When the iPhone 16e was announced, there was some speculation that its new C1 modem might have interfered with MagSafe functionality, but Apple has already confirmed that this wasn't the case. Backing up Apple's claim, a prominent iPhone case manufacturer also told MacRumors that its testing confirmed that MagSafe cases don't impact the C1 modem's performance.
The iPhone 16e continues the trend set by its predecessor, the now-discontinued iPhone SE, which also lacked MagSafe connectivity. However, the 16e is the first iPhone in Apple's flagship smartphone lineup to omit this feature since its introduction. For users who prefer the convenience of MagSafe, some third-party iPhone 16e cases include built-in magnets, but they won't enable faster charging speeds.
Interestingly, IT Home reports that Apple retail stores have had to create a workaround for displaying the iPhone 16e with wireless charging that prevents the device from slipping off its display dock. Apple is using a special docking station that includes a bottom groove that holds the device upright, enabling wireless charging during demonstrations. This custom dock only activates charging when the phone is placed vertically – if you place it horizontally, the iPhone falls off.
Apple's decision to exclude MagSafe from the iPhone 16e may be a cost-cutting measure. But as Gruber notes, "I think Apple knows the 16e's intended audience better than I do," suggesting the company has done its market research on what features matter most to the target buyers of this device.
Article Link: Apple Provides Reason for iPhone 16e's Lack of MagSafe
If Apple is going to sell a phone for $200 less than the iPhone 16, they are going to remove some features. I think we can all agree that is unavoidable. It seems like the two biggies are: no MagSafe and only one camera lens. On the other hand, they didn’t skimp on the processor and apparently battery life is suppose to be very good.
Did Apple make the right trade-offs for the target market? Time will tell. But, I assume they did some research on the topic.
Did Apple make the right trade-offs for the target market? Time will tell. But, I assume they did some research on the topic.
It's the Apple upgrade ladder they've used for decades. When you get a $599 device upsold to a $799 device because of a feature, well, you might get someone to go up another rung for the better screen and upgraded camera again on a Pro.
Between the wallet and a nightstand for the admittedly weak use of the Standby feature, that's been my draw to magsafe, not the charge speed.
My favorite don't explain why or how you offer the best customer experience possible but why you don't.
Apple is right to focus on the experience customers want at the most affordable price.
iPhone 16e is a remarkable device at an unbelievable price. Apple could only achieve this by making refinements tailored to the exacting demands of the budget smartphone market.
I see iPhone 16e as a bases-loaded, home run.
iPhone 16e is a remarkable device at an unbelievable price. Apple could only achieve this by making refinements tailored to the exacting demands of the budget smartphone market.
I see iPhone 16e as a bases-loaded, home run.
I live in the US and know MANY people with iphones and very few people use Magesafe that I know (I only know one person that actually does). I know there are people that do use it, and the people on this site are not typical of the average iphone user, but I don't see the lack of Magsafe on the 16e as an issue for many people.
The SE didn't even have magsafe. It only had wireless charging. So they literally have no way of knowing unless they have sales data for 3rd party cases.
Really the problem is releasing a phone in the flagship 16 lineup that's missing so many features.