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Hands-On With Apple's iPhone 12 and 12 Pro MagSafe Cases

Ok, so this looks very apple like, and it's cool factor is a 10/10...but...

What is the advantage of this compared to just playing the iPhone on a normal Qi Charger? In fact, wouldn't it be easier to take the iphone off the charger WITHOUT a magnet?
 
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Hieveryone said:
Ok, so this looks very apple like, and it's cool factor is a 10/10...but...

What is the advantage of this compared to just playing the iPhone on a normal Qi Charger? In fact, wouldn't it be easier to take the iphone off the charger WITHOUT a magnet?
Click to expand...

As mentioned above, it's likely Apple want to go port-less and this is why we are yet to see a USB-C on the iPhone which is long overdue. The likelihood is they'll get rid of the charging port altogether in the next iPhone update or the one after. This is just about prepping consumers.
 
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SuperCachetes said:
MR has really doubled down on the "we don't have all the parts, but here's how this one component functions without much context" videos.

I mean, I'm super-excited for all of this new stuff, too - but these premature puff pieces run the risk of crowding out meaningful stories as we scroll through the MR feed. Ah well.

Edit: and I keep seeing these videos of people slinging attached phones around by the MagSafe cord to prove the magnetic strength... Are we just trying to prove that the cord will fail and that it should've been detachable? Lol.
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I don’t think of these examples as bad because the iPhone detaches from the charger. I think the reviewers are trying to demonstrate the strength of the magnets. That’s it. Decide for yourself.
I‘m glad that the charger doesn’t have too strong of a hold. I only charge my phone while I sleep. I set it down on a charger, and my OCD kicks in because I know it has to be pretty much centered on the charger. I have wished that the charger would attach similarly to the Watch charger. Once in a while, I will wake up and think about something that makes me want to check my phone. It seems like the MagSafe charger won’t be difficult to detach. Then, when I go to set the phone back on the charger (in the dark, without my contacts)....click! If it had a longer cord, I could pick the phone up and leave the charger attached. My one gripe with the MagSafe charger would be the length of the cord.
 
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Chrjy said:
I'm not suggesting the wallet is a good idea and works but what makes you think you won't know it's gone until it's gone. Couldn't you say the same about any wallet that doesn't have a magnet?

Unless you were holding your phone is some peculiar way I don't see how you would not know if it fell off.
Click to expand...

Watch the video of the phone/wallet combo being inserted into a pant pocket. The MagSafe wallet could easily fall to ground and you'd never know. It's just one more thing to double check. One more thing to "hold correctly" to use. I can hear it now, "Loose your MagSafe Wallet? You inserted it wrong."

In the safety aspect it's a major downgrade from any case with built in card compartment or even a standalone wallet.
 
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Darth Tulhu said:
So maybe they'll strengthen the magnets on iPhone 13? MagSafe gen 1 is DOA as far as I'm concerned, and these cases are not worth the money in my opinion.
Click to expand...

kind of what I’m thinking. After seeing how loose the wallet attachment is, I’ll likely be opting for a case style that has (a) card slot(s) built in.
 
btrach144 said:
I’m shocked to see everyone giving the wallet such easy feedback. “Well it falls off easily and I guess that’s an item wouldn’t want to lose.”

How about the wallet is a failure and does not do what it was designed for... to keep your ID and a credit card or two safe. It’s a literal piece of crap.

Stop going soft on Apple and call them out when they produce crap. They shouldn’t release the wallet IMO. It’s going to tarnish their brand (to some degree).
Click to expand...

The same people who claim it falls off are the same ones that claimed the iPhone 4 has reception issues when you cover it with both hands. It's probably fine.

Edit: I watched the video. It is fine. Works exactly as expected.
 
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ouimetnick said:
Not sure what they were going for with the MagSafe name. The whole idea is that MagSAFE is that it keeps the device safe by disconnecting should the cord be tripped over or tugged, hence the SAFE in the name. But it seems it stays attached when picking up the phone. Hopefully this so called MagSafe and the associated accessories aren’t as bad as it seems. Perhaps the phone adds more Meg Eric strength for the wallet?

Seems that the wallet should attach strongly and the charger not so much.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what we see in the video. Look at min 1:30. When they slowly pull it it stays attached but when they tug it it comes off. That's exactly what you want so that if you are laying on the couch or in bed and roll over it stays attached but if a tail hooks the cable as it runs by it disconnects. Seems to me it is working exactly as I would expect magsafe to work on a Mac. I can do the same thing with my old MacBook Air.
 
I think you're forgetting what the 'safe' part of magsafe is suppose to do. With the original laptop magsafe chargers, if you accidently tripped over the wire it would disconnect from the laptop, saving the laptop from being flung and getting damaged. That is likely the reason why the magnet is not super strong, more like a post-it note stickiness.

If the magnet was stronger it wouldn't have made sense to use the magsafe branding again.
 
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Well. This is insanely disappointing. I ordered the MagSafe wallet day 1. I usually use a wallet on the back of the phone. Just easier. Was really looking forward to this with my new 12Pro. And I NEVER get the Apple stuff. I honestly thought this was a great idea. But it’s a No go if the wallet comes off that easily.
Do we think they will fix it and that’s why there is a delay? Or should I cancel the order!?
 
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Luckily when it comes to magnets, there are multiple variables when it comes to strength that an accessory maker can tweak to fine tune their product.
 
Chrjy said:
As mentioned above, it's likely Apple want to go port-less and this is why we are yet to see a USB-C on the iPhone which is long overdue. The likelihood is they'll get rid of the charging port altogether in the next iPhone update or the one after. This is just about prepping consumers.
Click to expand...
So many Apple Carplay users need to hard wire to the car. This would be a disaster.
 
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Why is everyone claiming how horrible all of this is based off a review that seems to be missing a key piece of equipment that all of this is meant to support....just sayin. I'm a little disappointed in MR's rush to review.

"We don't have an iPhone 12, and the iPhone 12 has its own magnets and is a key part of how these cases and attachments work, so keep that in mind when watching our video."
 
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Chrjy said:
As mentioned above, it's likely Apple want to go port-less and this is why we are yet to see a USB-C on the iPhone which is long overdue. The likelihood is they'll get rid of the charging port altogether in the next iPhone update or the one after. This is just about prepping consumers.
Click to expand...

Ok, but how is this prepping consumers? Like just getting them used to charging via MagSafe instead of lightning?
 
Hieveryone said:
Ok, so this looks very apple like, and it's cool factor is a 10/10...but...

What is the advantage of this compared to just playing the iPhone on a normal Qi Charger? In fact, wouldn't it be easier to take the iphone off the charger WITHOUT a magnet?
Click to expand...

15w charging vs. 7.5w charging, at least without plugging in.

Braderunner said:
I don’t think of these examples as bad because the iPhone detaches from the charger. I think the reviewers are trying to demonstrate the strength of the magnets. That’s it. Decide for yourself.
Click to expand...

Except I can't decide anything related to any of this because the magnets in the phone are part of the whole system. What magnetic strength the case has by itself is meaningless, since in all almost every practical application, there will be an iPhone inside it that will make the case perform differently - whether with the puck, wallet, or other.

At least some of the reviewers in the videos posted elsewhere have got real live iPhone 12s inside the cases and are showing usable information. MKBHD in particular demonstrated what happens with the wallet, for better or worse...
 
If the magnet is as weak as MKBHD demonstrated, there will be no possibility of using a MagSafe attachment to anchor your phone in your car to use it for navigation. I have CarPlay, but for those who expected this functionality, I don't see how that would be possible without MUCH stronger magnets than we see in the video.
 
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By the way, what's the point of having magnets in a case? Does magsafe not work with a regular case? At this point I don't see the point other than charging a higher premium just to say 'this is a magsafe case'.
 
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JMO1 said:
Why would you want this? It’s a two handed operation. I understand a charging mat where you can set all your accessories down but this seems rather ridiculous.
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Basically it‘s the love-child of plugging in the lightning port and wireless charging. The convenience of plopping your phone on a “mat” and the convenience of using your phone while it’s charging on the “mat.”

Regular wireless charging ”mats” are for charging only for the most part.
MagSafe also won’t wear out over time like the corrosion you get on the lighting pins.
If you like the standard wireless ”mats” you can continue to use them and not even bother with MagSafe.
I‘m not buying a MagSafe because I already have a “mat” at my office, and I use a 2m lightning at home (would need to buy an extension and a MagSafe), and my car uses wired CarPlay, so lightning there.
 
Totally personal and unfiltered opinion, but it's criminal that Apple didn't release the iPhone 12 itself in this orange. I love it.

I only wish my fingers were sufficiently long enough to hold the iPhone mini with a case.
 
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