Hands-On With Apple's iPhone 12 MagSafe Wallet Attachment

[daddyd302]

Why wouldn't you turn your iPhone around the other way? With the wallet toward your body? I still won't be getting this but just wondering.

I'm guessing you didn't watch the video at all? It was shown in the video what happens when you did it the way you suggested. The wallet fell out of the case and luckily it was still in the pocket.


I personally think this is a stupid idea. Think about it, thieves nowadays don't bother with your wallet, they just go for your phone and sell it to someone who will ship it over seas. Now you can lose your phone and wallet at the same time, a bonus for thieves!

 

[ghostface147]

The whole iphone release this year is a fail imo
o the 12 pro isnt that impressive
o the sizes are stupid (i didnt want to go smaller and I didnt want to go bigger).
o the camera in low light still sucks (it really does)
o the video camera stutters because that night mode garbage is on by default
o the magsafe is stupid because the magnets arent strong enough
o no leather case on release day (i mean REALLY??)
o the scrolling in some apps on ios14 still stutters (its like fix this... is this android or iphone)
o paying $62 for magsafe plus adapter is BAT S%#T CRAZY
and on and on....

Too bad all the reviewers only want to kiss Apples butt and not do honest reviews.

So it’s only honest if they agree with your viewpoints?

 

[dojoman]

Whoever came up with this accessory should be fired! No excuse!

 

[myrtlebee]

This is one of those "they can, but they shouldn't" product development situations. It's not practical.

 

[Piggie]

Why wouldn't you turn your iPhone around the other way? With the wallet toward your body? I still won't be getting this but just wondering.

Simple answer to this one.
I would always have the screen towards my body as it protects the screen if I knock against anything.
Far better for something to bump into the back of the phone in your pocket than the front.

 

[az431]

I don’t understand how any rational person could really expect something attached solely with a magnet to stay attached when slid between two pieces of fabric with zero space between them.

But hey, maybe I’m nuts.

 

[az431]

The whole iphone release this year is a fail imo
o the 12 pro isnt that impressive
o the sizes are stupid (i didnt want to go smaller and I didnt want to go bigger).
o the camera in low light still sucks (it really does)
o the video camera stutters because that night mode garbage is on by default
o the magsafe is stupid because the magnets arent strong enough
o no leather case on release day (i mean REALLY??)
o the scrolling in some apps on ios14 still stutters (its like fix this... is this android or iphone)
o paying $62 for magsafe plus adapter is BAT S%#T CRAZY
and on and on....

Too bad all the reviewers only want to kiss Apples butt and not do honest reviews.

what does any of this nonsense have to do with the subject of the article?

 

[Piggie]

This is one of those "they can, but they shouldn't" product development situations. It's not practical.

You mean................

 

[ebika]

I’m baffled as to why they didn’t make a folio case that uses magnets. It could have the sweet wake-on-open, room for cards in the lid, like a mash up of the iPhone XS folio and the iPad Pro folio case that attaches via magnets.

 

[Henry S]

The only use I've found for MagSafe so far is that I can stick the phone to the refrigerator so I can read a recipe while cooking. It doesn't seem like it will fall off, but it slides down very slowly if I don't put a fridge magnet under it.

 

[photoneffect]

The annoying thing about MagSafe is that now that they put magnets on the back of the phone you have to shield any wallet that you want to attach to the back as to not deactivate the CC’s inside. I currently use a wallet that looks exactly like Apple’s, but adheres via 3M adhesive (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N9K2HQS). It never comes off in my pocket (not designed to) and I can wirelessly charge with it on. I carry two cards and two bills folded in thirds and the phone doesn’t even get hot during wireless charging. Now, if I get the 12 I can’t do that. If I get the same case, I run the risk of demagnetizing my cards. If I get an Apple Wallet it falls off when I put it in my pocket. If I get an adhesive case that is shielded I can’t wirelessly charge.

And this concession assumes that I want MagSafe anything which I’m not sure I do. Faster wireless charging is neat and all, but I don’t know if it’s necessary. If I want as much power as I can get quickly the cord will always be the way to go. If I am charging overnight I don’t care about the speed.

Guess this is how things go, but kind of a bummer for me since I think my current solution is far better than Apple’s for my particular use case.

 

[Antes]

Personally I don’t think it would be much of an issue for me.

I never put my phone in my pocket like the videos thumbnail pic. It’s always camera first with my hand gripping the bottom and my index finger sliding into the pocket. I look forward to trying it out!

I got the wallet and have had no issues with it because this is how I put the phone in my pocket. Common sense- open your pocket up a little when putting your phone in. People just want to nag.
the bigger issue is the practicality of this wallet- you detach it off the phone to take a card out but pulling the card out requires two hands so you have to put your phone away or juggle with three things for a few seconds. It’s manageable but looks like a total flex gone wrong when the cards just don’t want to come out and your holding up the only line open at CVS.

 

[Piggie]

Perhaps as hinted at in the video review this is actually part of Apple's master plan.
They deliberately designed it in this way to create worry and fear in Apple's users minds about losing their credit cards etc.
Then a few weeks later launch the Apple Air Tag's which you can then stick onto the back of the wallet which is stuck onto the back of your phone, so you will get an alert from the airtag as you walk away leaving your credit cards on the ground

 

[Jim Lahey]

I think the entire concept is a fool’s errand, and this wallet must surely be the worst accessory ever.

 

[Simmias]

The fact it has a cutout on the back suggests Apple made it this way on purpose so it's relatively easy to remove from the back of your device so you can slide out a cards because otherwise it would be really difficult to try and get any cards out from the top of the wallet

I really don't see much of an issue with this.

This is exactly right. Everyone is missing the obvious fact that the wallet is meant to easily detach to be used. I get that YouTubers and bloggers are having fun dunking on Apple for such a “stupid” design decision. You get to make a fun video with a shocked “face palm” reaction shot of yourself and a click bait title like “Has Apple finally lost it?”. “SEE, IT fAlls rIght off yer pHOne, dur hur”.

I’m looking forward to getting the wallet and trying it for myself. My suspicion is that it will be just sticky enough to keep my phone + essential cards together in my pocket or on my dresser, and then easily detach for use. Losing it likely won’t be an issue, just like losing my Airpods hasn’t been an issue despite all the fuss when those were released. I mean, my current wallet doesn’t stick to my phone AT ALL and I’ve managed to avoid losing that. I’m willing to find out myself rather than listen to internet pundits taking cheap shots. Being easy to take on/off is the whole point of magnets.

 

[4jasontv]

Products should be designed around people, not the other way around. Asking people to fiddle with their pockets is the equivalent of "you're holding it wrong." I don't wear tight jeans but even I'd be afraid of my credit cards and ID falling off just because I accidentally knocked it when putting it in my pocket. If I have to introduce anxiety to an otherwise mundane activity (putting my phone in my pocket) it's a fail.

Again, it's how I already put things in my pocket. So... it's designed for people.

And products frequently ask customers to learn how to use the product. Ask anyone learning to use a computer how they feel about QWERTY. That's not normal for people who don't type, but it's accepted because those of us who do type are familiar with it.

Many people use their finger to put the phone in their pocket to ensure the item ends up inside. It's a fairly normal behavior.

 

[Yojimbo007]

Will go down in history as one of the Worst Thought Out Apple products ( along with the original pencil charging solution on the ipad ) mind boggling it was approved for release.....or even considered a viable idea! 🤦🏼‍♂️

 

[Apple_Robert]

What that wallet needs is some Gorilla Glue.

 

[Chrjy]

This is exactly right. Everyone is missing the obvious fact that the wallet is meant to easily detach to be used. I get that YouTubers and bloggers are having fun dunking on Apple for such a “stupid” design decision. You get to make a fun video with a shocked “face palm” reaction shot of yourself and a click bait title like “Has Apple finally lost it?”. “SEE, IT fAlls rIght off yer pHOne, dur hur”.

I’m looking forward to getting the wallet and trying it for myself. My suspicion is that it will be just sticky enough to keep my wallet + essential cards together in my pocket or on my dresser, and then easily detach for use. Losing it likely won’t be an issue, just like losing my Airpods hasn’t been an issue despite all the fuss when those were released. I mean, my current wallet doesn’t stick to my phone AT ALL and I’ve managed to avoid losing that. I’m willing to find out myself rather than listen to internet pundits taking cheap shots. Being easy to take on/off is the whole point of magnets.

I agree. I'm not an Apple fanboy and will just praise everything Apple designs (butterfly keyboard, 1st gen Apple Pencil charging, I'm looking at you) but I honestly don't see this being the enormously massive fail everyone is referring to. I take my wallet anyway and it goes in the opposite pocket, with this wallet it will just sit along side my iPhone. Job done.

 

[Rocko99991]

This is a fail. We will just have to just keep using that archaic invention created over 400 years ago, a wallet.

 

[djc6]

it's better to have an accessory than to not have anything. You are not forced to buy this accessory and I just see people whining for the sake of whining.

I really think in the case of the wallet, its better to not have the option and to use a normal wallet. Apple should recall these and discontinue the product. Its going to result in ID theft, credit card theft, etc..

 

[s66]

Credit cards storage near a magnet -facepalm-.
Even if it's shielded inside, the cards getting too close to magnets is asking for the magnetic stripe on the card to get wiped.

Anyway the whole magsafe idea is flawed for that same reason: it'll wipe your cards. And if you live in Europe you'll not notice the magstripe being wiped as they're not used out here anymore - till you travel to e.g. the US and can't get gas anymore as your cards are now all wiped.
I'll stick to my X till this fad goes away.

 

[ruka.snow]

Seems like a solution looking for a problem. You pull the cards into Apple Wallet then shove them in a drawer. No need for a wallet of any kind now.

 

[JosephAW]

Be sure to put in a phone number card when someone finds it

 

[saltsworth]

My favorite phone setup I’ve ever had was the 2016 iPhone SE in a magnet-backed case that had a detachable magnetic wallet folio. When I was carrying the phone in my hand or it was in a gym bag or on my dresser, the phone and wallet were always attached together, and I never lost my wallet (as opposed to seemingly misplacing it every day lately). Whenever I had the phone in my pocket, I always pulled the phone and wallet apart and kept them in separate pockets like separate tools. While I may not necessarily go for the Apple wallet (might hold out for a folio), I am pumped for the option of repeating my same favorite setup but this time without even needing a magnet-backed case. Anyway, it never even crossed my mind to try to keep the wallet on the phone while in my pocket. Not sure what Apple was thinking when they created it, but I have my own use case that is ready to be satisfied as soon as I can get the iPhone 12 mini.