I meant the same type of MagSafe that the iPhone has, which the article mentioned was rumored to come to the iPad. But you're right, the iPad already has magnets used for mounting that accounts for its heavier weight (I actually have a magnetic mount too). It also has wireless charging in the form of the Smart Connector, that also does data transfer (plus it doesn't require a glass back which would make it heavier). So it essentially already has a form of MagSafe but one that makes sense for the iPad.
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Apple Reportedly Questioning Whether iPhone Should Drop MagSafe
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Rare earth minerals are needed for these magnets, and the vast majority of users are going to put a case on their phone with or without magnets. There's a significant portion of iPad and iPhone users unaware of the fact there's even magnets in the back of the device. Apple needs to save the resources and do what most Android phone brands do by just putting the magnets in the case itself. Who's using a naked phone these days, unless you plan on buying one every year?
Come on, Apple. You can't be serious. Dropping one of your superior features in favor of inferior third-party solutions. Don't do that again.
neotint
macrumors regular
Never use magsafe except in rare situations (e.g. in someones car and that's the only way to charge). Magsafe degrades the battery, charges slower, wastes energy, and overall offers too many negatives vs. marginal positives.
Simple > "Easy".
Wired charge is simple and excellent > Wireless charge is "easy" but worse.
Simple > "Easy".
Wired charge is simple and excellent > Wireless charge is "easy" but worse.
thebarrkbyte
macrumors member
Two thumbs down. If this is their plan, I will just stick to what I have and refuse to upgrade. I use Magsafe in my car, at the office and at home. This is a no go for me and I am Apple only. Magsafe is required for me.
It does not degrade battery life, I have plenty of evidence to disprove that having used the feature since it launched.
It does not degrade battery life, I have plenty of evidence to disprove that having used the feature since it launched.
Apologies if someone else has mentioned this, but we have two EVs from two different companies. Both have charging pads for your phone, and both warn you if you're about to leave it there when you turn off the car.
It's very convenient - you just put your phone down - and it would be unfortunate to lose that feature, especially when you're using CarPlay.
It's very convenient - you just put your phone down - and it would be unfortunate to lose that feature, especially when you're using CarPlay.
I wouldn't miss it. Best use case for me is a car mount. But that could still be done with the right case or a different mount.
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I sure hope not.
I charge my phone at work on a magsafe puck.
I charger my phone overnight on a magsafe puck.
I have magsafe pucks in all my cars for charging, while using wireless carplay.
I have a magsafe wallet.
Really, I've probably used the USB C plug on my phone less than 5 times-- everything is magsafe.
Anyway, I don't believe the rumor-- with Qi2 out now, that basically is magsafe, it would put the iPhone at a large competitive disadvantage compared to androids, for those who care.
I charge my phone at work on a magsafe puck.
I charger my phone overnight on a magsafe puck.
I have magsafe pucks in all my cars for charging, while using wireless carplay.
I have a magsafe wallet.
Really, I've probably used the USB C plug on my phone less than 5 times-- everything is magsafe.
Anyway, I don't believe the rumor-- with Qi2 out now, that basically is magsafe, it would put the iPhone at a large competitive disadvantage compared to androids, for those who care.
jimscard
macrumors 6502
In other words, instead of spending money developing further versions of MagSafe, and then giving it to the WPC, they’re just going to work on updated Qi standards as part of the WPC and implement those.
Effective change: labeling. Instead of “MagSafe” it’ll be Qi 2.x or 3.x, but still the same tech overall.
Effective change: labeling. Instead of “MagSafe” it’ll be Qi 2.x or 3.x, but still the same tech overall.
At some point, it will be superseded by a future iteration where we’re just walking past conductive plates everywhere and your phone will just pick up charge wirelessly. Cars will end up the same.
skymovieguy
macrumors newbie
The primary reason I didn’t get a 16e is because it didn’t have MagSafe. Plus I still wanted my 12 mini. You don’t introduce technology that people use to build their lifestyle and then just go - oopsie. Now you can get new chargers, adaptors etc.
A leaker claims Apple is currently embroiled in an internal debate over whether MagSafe should remain a standard iPhone feature.
The Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital" says that when MagSafe was first introduced, the mood inside Apple was reportedly aggressive about its expansion. MagSafe for the iPhone was introduced with the iPhone 12 lineup in 2020, bringing a ring of magnets to the back of the device for snap-on charging and accessory attachment. The ecosystem has since expanded significantly, with dozens of third-party wallets, cases, stands, and chargers built around the standard.
There were purportedly even plans to bring built-in MagSafe magnets to the iPad lineup, something the leaker previously hinted at, though those plans never materialized. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman first reported in 2021 that Apple was testing a glass-backed iPad Pro that would support wireless charging, specifically noting that MagSalfe was under consideration. A follow-up report in early 2022 suggested Apple had prototyped an iPad Pro with a large glass Apple logo that would serve as the wireless charging area, an approach aimed at avoiding the fragility of an all-glass back. Neither design made it to a shipping product. The rumors resurfaced in late 2023, with reports suggesting that the then-upcoming iPad Pro could include MagSafe support, based on information from sources familiar with Apple's magnet suppliers. The redesigned M4 iPad Pro that launched in 2024 still shipped without the feature.
Now, Instant Digital claims that confidence around MagSafe has given way to uncertainty. The leaker says Apple is weighing the costs of including MagSafe magnets in the iPhone against the strength of the accessory ecosystem that has grown up around the feature, though the nature of the debate and what any change might look like remains unclear.
The iPhone 16e launched without MagSafe, making it the first new iPhone in years to omit it. Many iPhone 16e owners, as well as users of older iPhones without built-in magnets, turned to third-party cases with embedded magnet rings as a workaround, though the experience is generally considered to be inferior to native MagSafe support. The decision nonetheless drew criticism, and Apple reversed course with the iPhone 17e, restoring MagSafe support when the device launched earlier this year.
There is no indication that MagSafe is at imminent risk of disappearing from the iPhone lineup. However, the upcoming foldable "iPhone Ultra" may be a different story. Dummy models of the device show no visible indentations for the internal magnet array that MagSafe requires, suggesting the feature could be absent at launch. The iPhone Ultra is rumored to be just 4.5mm thin when unfolded, and it is thought that the device may simply be too slim to accommodate the magnets. If that proves accurate, the iPhone Ultra would be both the most expensive iPhone ever, with a starting price rumored at around $2,000, and the first new high-end model to ship without MagSafe since the iPhone 11 Pro.
While the wording of Instant Digital's post is somewhat ambiguous, it raises the possibility that Apple could be at least considering pulling MagSafe from its standard iPhone models, potentially making it exclusive to higher-end devices. Recent reports suggest that the standard iPhone 18 is being downgraded to cut costs.
An alternative scenario could see Apple scale back its in-device MagSafe implementation, relying more heavily on cases with embedded magnets to provide compatibility, as many iPhone 16e users already do. Given that Qi2, the open wireless charging standard now widely adopted across the industry, is built directly on MagSafe's magnet ring specification, a full removal of the feature from the entire iPhone lineup seems unlikely.
Article Link: Apple Reportedly Questioning Whether iPhone Should Drop MagSafe
MrENGLISH
macrumors 65816
I think you might be right. It could just be them dropping the MagSafe name and the bottom alignment magnet and just moving forward with the Qi2 standard.
19callum93
macrumors 6502a
This would be a MASSIVE mistake! Single best feature ever added to iPhone. I always go caseless, and use multiple MagSafe stands/chargers around my home and in my car. I do not want to rely on a case 😭
Cesar Battistini
macrumors 6502
Insane decision. All my charging and mounting is with magsafe.
Stupid decision.
Stupid decision.
BeatsByTim
macrumors 6502
I say drop magsafe as it is on phones, and invent a usb-c magsafe thing kind of like what the laptops have.
Reverse wireless charging is the biggest reason to KEEP magsafe. I've had reverse wireless charging for years on my Android phones but never use it because of how hard it is to align devices. I feel Apple could implement it well eventually )nor sure how it could be done with airpod cases though, since they are too small.
carrrrrlos
macrumors 65816
If this has any validity to it, Apple this would continue the streak of Apple making decisions that reinforce my belief that the decision makers are making calls that. are further distancing themselves from their customer base. It's almost as if the suits at Apple have completely lost touch with their supporters and are antagonizing their customers with the mindset that we have to just bend over and take it! I'm so friggin annoyed with a lot of recent decisions such as having 4th gen Apple TV 4K's that have been ready to go and sitting in storage until they figure out how to make Siri not suck! They've been trying to do that for years; all the hardware will be obsolete by then (whenever then is...possibly never). It's just senseless to hold something that is way overdue for an upgrade for something that can be added via an update. MagSafe is a dealbreaker for myself and many others. Personally, I have a lot invested in MagSafe accessories and that move on it's own would prevent me from ever upgrading to a new iphone. Also, the lone multiport that is used for cable charging is brittle as I've had numerous iPhones that I had to replace because that connection was either loose or broke. Furthermore, they are inflating the expectations for this "upcoming" Siri so much, if it is not the revolutionary game-changing technology they are anticipating, Apple will get eviscerated!
Do they not realize that there are alternatives to everything Apple. I love my Apple products, but I have to say I have been considering jumping ship because of complacency on Apple's behalf. They have completely lost touch with what goes on outside of the Apple bubble they live in!
Do they not realize that there are alternatives to everything Apple. I love my Apple products, but I have to say I have been considering jumping ship because of complacency on Apple's behalf. They have completely lost touch with what goes on outside of the Apple bubble they live in!
Nooooooooo. I need my mag safe wallet. It's removal would make my life worse. I don't want to go back to carrying a wallet separate from my phone and I don't want a case making my phone more bulky.