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Apple's Design Guidelines Give Accessory Makers Specific Details on Making MagSafe Products

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Apple's iPhone 12 models have a built-in ring of "MagSafe" magnets that make them compatible with magnetic accessories like cases, chargers, and wallets. Apple makes MagSafe accessories, but third-party companies are also able to design MagSafe products.

magsafeguidelines1.jpg

As highlighted on Twitter, Apple has an Accessory Design Guideline [PDF] that goes into great detail on the kinds of magnets accessory makers can use, the orientation, and other design specifics Apple is requiring.

Cases that have a MagSafe magnet, for example, must enclose the device, have a maximum thickness of 2.1mm, and must firmly attach to the device without relying on the magnets, which means no magnetic snap-on cases that won't otherwise stay attached to the iPhone.

Apple's own iPhone 12 ad has a scene where a case appears to "click" on using the MagSafe magnets, but first and third-party cases in reality don't work that way, and Apple doesn't intend them to.


The design document is extensive and has specific placement, dimension, and polarity instructions so that all MagSafe accessories can magnetically self align "within a 1.55mm radial maximum. Cases with magnet arrays must not interfere with either wireless charging or magnetic stripe cards in an attached iPhone Leather Wallet, and Apple has special testing protocols for vendors to use.

magsafeguidelines2.jpg

There are also recommended magnet array vendors and requirements for the magnets used, with Apple requiring them to be N45SH NdFeB with a 7 μm - 13 μm NiCuNi plating finish. Magnetic force required to dislodge a MagSafe accessory has specific guidelines. Apple says a case attached to an iPhone 12 should take a minimum of 800 gf (gram force) to dislodge and a maximum of 1100 gf.

Accessory makers that want to have a label that denotes their accessory as a MagSafe-capable device must comply with Apple's guidelines. Those interested in reading more on Apple's guidelines can check out the full PDF document.

Article Link: Apple's Design Guidelines Give Accessory Makers Specific Details on Making MagSafe Products
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/11/02/apple-magsafe-design-guidelines-accessory-makers/
I’m puzzled right now. If the magnets are no intended to keep the accessories attached...what’s the point of the “orientation magnet” besides to screw with multi-coin wireless chargers? Is not like that you can put a case upside down??!! Seems a waste of resources to put this extra magnets in magsafe cases. The puck neither uses it as well.
 
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I’m pretty sure the only point of this new MagSafe feature is to condition the end customer to “prepare” for an iPhone with out a lightning port. Nothing magical or game changing about this except that it charges faster than the traditional 7.5W Qi charging standard with magnets to ensure it is properly placed (rather than be improperly placed at night and not charge through the night).
 
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ouimetnick said:
I’m pretty sure the only point of this new MagSafe feature is to condition the end customer to “prepare” for an iPhone with out a lightning port. Nothing magical or game changing about this except that it charges faster than the traditional 7.5W Qi charging standard with magnets to ensure it is properly placed (rather than be improperly placed at night and not charge through the night).
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You might be right here, I'll be slightly disappointed though. Corded charging is still faster and more efficient (and also ubiquitous). I also wonder about CarPlay on cars that don't support wireless Carplay.
 
"Cases that have a MagSafe magnet, for example, must enclose the device,"

Doesn't that mean Apple's own Magsafe wallet is not compliant since it just slaps on to the back of the phone?
 
mattster16 said:
I also wonder about CarPlay on cars that don't support wireless Carplay.
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Clearly if you're in this situation you need to buy a new car. /s
I guess someone might make a wireless dongle for a car to add wireless Carplay capability.

Dictating platement, number, and even the very type of magnets used... One deliberate side-effect of Apple being so heavy-handed about how third-party accessory makers add Magsafe to their products is now no third-party accessory can be made that performs better than Apple's own wares.
 
MacRumors said:
Cases that have a MagSafe magnet, for example, must enclose the device, have a maximum thickness of 2.1mm, and must firmly attach to the device without relying on the magnets, which means no magnetic snap-on cases that won't otherwise stay attached to the iPhone.
Click to expand...
I believe you are misinterpreting the information. They are talking about the magnet array assembly itself not the accessories that contain them.

For example the magnet array has to be securely attached to the inside of the case by more than just the magnetic properties of the array itself. For example screws/glue/mechanical clips, etc... are required. It has nothing to do with the case having to firmly attach to the phone.

When they say it must enclose the device, they are saying the accessory case must fully enclose the magnet array as to be not visible, removable etc... They're not talking about the case enclosing the phone - they're talking about the case enclosing the magnet array.

The 'device' here is the magnet array assembly not the phone. Does that make sense?
 
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Does anyone think MagSafe Pocksockets will be a successful thing? I was so looking forward to them, but now I feel like it will be a complete failure. No point if the phone falls off over and over again when using it.
 
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SashJ said:
Does anyone think MagSafe Pocksockets will be a successful thing? I was so looking forward to them, but now I feel like it will be a complete failure. No point if the phone falls off over and over again when using it.
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Will be totally possible, will just have a thin circular 'base plate' that magnetically attaches to the phone so that your fingers will wedge between the base plate and the pop socket preventing your fingers from dislodging the accessory instead of between the phone and the pop socket which would potentially pull it off easily. No big deal, will definitely happen and sell millions.
 
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SashJ said:
Does anyone think MagSafe Pocksockets will be a successful thing? I was so looking forward to them, but now I feel like it will be a complete failure. No point if the phone falls off over and over again when using it.
Click to expand...
Why would the phone fall off over and over again? 800 gram-force would seem to be sufficient.

I think some are underestimating the ecosystem that is/will be developing around MagSafe. I think it’s going to be a huge success. Is it royalty free?
 
diego.caraballo said:
I’m puzzled right now. If the magnets are no intended to keep the accessories attached...what’s the point of the “orientation magnet” besides to screw with multi-coin wireless chargers? Is not like that you can put a case upside down??!! Seems a waste of resources to put this extra magnets in magsafe cases. The puck neither uses it as well.
Click to expand...
The magnets are intended to keep accessories attached.
 
diego.caraballo said:
I’m puzzled right now. If the magnets are no intended to keep the accessories attached...what’s the point of the “orientation magnet” besides to screw with multi-coin wireless chargers? Is not like that you can put a case upside down??!! Seems a waste of resources to put this extra magnets in magsafe cases. The puck neither uses it as well.
Click to expand...
For things like the wallet that have an intended orientation
 
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Gjwilly said:
Those magnet arrays are available on eBay right now. They might not be to spec but I was amused to see them at all.

www.ebay.com

Wireless Charging Magnet Magsafe for Iphone 12, Iphone 12 Pro and IPhone Pro Max | eBay

Condition is "New".
www.ebay.com
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There are many available on direct-from-China websites. Some look pretty rough even in their own promotional photos but a) they might work effectively anyway; b) better ones will surely be on the way.

[Adding]

Forgot to say, they are (as you've probably already realised) much less expensive than eBay.
 
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canʻt ppl build really powerful magnets that arenʻt to appleʻs specs, but just not have them have the apple-blessed certification? seems like a car mount would be perfect that way, but the magnets will have to be more powerful, beyond the specs in appleʻs guidelines.
 
kugino said:
canʻt ppl build really powerful magnets that arenʻt to appleʻs specs, but just not have them have the apple-blessed certification? seems like a car mount would be perfect that way, but the magnets will have to be more powerful, beyond the specs in appleʻs guidelines.
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About two weeks ago, on 20th October, I posted: Accessory Design Guidelines for Apple Devices

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/accessory-design-guidelines-for-apple-devices.2261930/

I have been considering buying some small magnets to play with. Readily available and inexpensive ones tends to be discs. But I can't see that they wouldn't work.Maybe I will see if I try some... ?
 
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