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

[Phillsam_E]

I made my own and improved apples design. Really all they needed to change was a back material that increased the friction to stop the shear forces that bump magnets out of alignments.

Mine works beautifully, secures strongly, and figured it would be worth mentioning.

I added my own magnet array and shielded the cards from getting damaged.

My first version had the same issues as Apples. While it attached firmly, a bump vertically could slip the magnets out of alignment and cause it to jump off.
Magnets resist forces parallel to the magnetism really well but perpendicular forces are its downfall.

My solution was to add friction, with something called MicroSuction tape.
I purchased a sheet of this magical stuff and it has adhesive on one side (sticking to the leather) and tiny suction cup-like surface on the other.

Magnetizes strong and lightly suctions to back stoping any sliding. Still easy to overpower the magnets when intended, like when wanting to use MagSafe charge.

 

[Chrjy]

Seems strange that Apple would be promoting this kind of archaic technology, its like removing the 3.5mm jack and then designing a headphone cable tidy. I'm just waiting for a digitised driving license so I can chuck my wallet out.

You do realise there are other people in the world who do not use Apple Pay right?

 

[Johnny907]

Yup. Cancelled my order the moment I saw the GMA segment where the thing was sliding all over the back of that phone with minimal pressure.
Apple really needed to let this one cook a little longer before setting it on the dinner table in front of company.

 

[LiquidJay]

After reading comments this is what I can deduce...
1. People who do not own it, hate it.
2. People who own it, don't seem to mind it.
This does not make sense IMO lol
Buy before you fry

I'll be getting it for the Pro Max and update with fair criticism/praise

 

[yossi]

I can only dream of a future where all businesses support Apple Pay and where you can have an ID on your phone and avoid carrying any wallets all together. Maybe someday.

This will NEVER happen because it would mean handing a cop your phone if you get pulled over, and you would have to be insane to do that.

 

[Jett0516]

This is probably one of the worst products Apple has released in my opinion. Asking to be lost. Even if it were perfect I would not want to keep all my eggs in 1 basket.

Nah. There's tons of these phone wallet on amazon and it means people are buying them. I always forget my wallet but I never forget my phone. I like mine and it works great..if you know how to put it in your pocket.

 

[myrtlebee]

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

Am I not allowed to rephrase something to fit my sentence?

 

[zidarko]

At least in Singapore, this is a useless gimmick because every place that accepts cards (I.e. contactless payments) can do Apple pay as well.

Carrying bits of plastic is so 90s...

 

[zamboni52]

I just picked one up. Yes, it is not permanently attached and you can knock it off if you’re not actively thinking about it. I plan on using it for the gym or for nights when I don’t want to bring my wallet and just carry a driver’s license and a credit card. At the gym, I have my iPhone, AW and APP, attaching my small AW makes it easy to carry a few cards. We’ll see how well it fits in my pocket with the 12 Pro Max...my wife is getting my 12 Pro on 13 Nov...

 

[w5jck]

Wow, major fail! I’m not surprised because whenever form is put before function, bad things can happen.

 

[G4R2]

It seems to me the proper use of this wallet isn’t to have it stuck to the phone all the time. Rather, it seems better to use it as a mini bill fold, kept in a back or front pocket separately from the phone most of the time, and attached only in certain circumstances. I would think it would be fine for that type of use.

The problem is that the expectations of how this product is supposed to be used wasn’t clearly spelled out, thus the criticism.

 

[carrrrrlos]

You’re putting the wallet in you pocket wrong.
Too late?

 

[FunkyTang]

Apple is clueless with the magnetic wallet. You’d think they would have tested this with all the tight slacks seen during the iPhone 12 keynote.

 

[genovelle]

I can only dream of a future where all businesses support Apple Pay and where you can have an ID on your phone and avoid carrying any wallets all together. Maybe someday.

I tend to frequent places that accept Apple Pay, many times to the surprise of the employees. Even Target and CVS came around leaving Walmart as on of the few major stores that blocks it. Most small stores had to upgrade for compliance for chip cards and many of those devices support NCF payments which supports Apple Pay.

 

[Chrjy]

At least in Singapore, this is a useless gimmick because every place that accepts cards (I.e. contactless payments) can do Apple pay as well.

Carrying bits of plastic is so 90s...

Good for you...

 

[macduke]

I’m curious whether the addition of a micro suction pad on the rear of the wallet would make it adhere more effectively? Could help with the up and down aspect of motion, which is where magnets suffer.

 

[HullKR105]

Who carries Phone and 3-4 cards that this would even be useable. Here in Australia - well my part, my credit cards are on my iPhone, my debit card is on my iPhone, my drivers licence is on my iPhone, my transit card is on my iPhone. So really its my keys iPhone and money clip is all i need. Yes i do have other cards I do take with me - but i would use this if i was going out to a bar etc and that ship has sailed with me as I dont need this add on.

 

[HullKR105]

Who carries Phone and 3-4 cards that this would even be useable. Here in Australia - well my part, my credit cards are on my iPhone, my debit card is on my iPhone, my drivers licence is on my iPhone. So really its my keys and phone is all i need. Yes i do have other cards I do take with me - but i would use this if i was going out to a bar etc and that ship has sailed with me.

At least in Singapore, this is a useless gimmick because every place that accepts cards (I.e. contactless payments) can do Apple pay as well.

Carrying bits of plastic is so 90s...

Agreed!

 

[Jett0516]

Samsung is gonna copy this.

 

[yojason]

the wallet isn’t designed to stay attached to the phone like a case that has a slot for cards. The hole in the back shows that you’re supposed to take it off to remove your card when you need it. If you expect to be careless and not lose your cards, this is not the wallet for you. Buy something else so that you don’t complain about this one.

 

[yojason]

Who carries Phone and 3-4 cards that this would even be useable. Here in Australia - well my part, my credit cards are on my iPhone, my debit card is on my iPhone, my drivers licence is on my iPhone. So really its my keys and phone is all i need. Yes i do have other cards I do take with me - but i would use this if i was going out to a bar etc and that ship has sailed with me.

Agreed!

I guess this wallet is not for you.

 

[yojason]

I’m curious whether the addition of a micro suction pad on the rear of the wallet would make it adhere more effectively? Could help with the up and down aspect of motion, which is where magnets suffer.

It would make the wallet harder to use if you did that. it’s supposed to be easily-removable from the phone because it’s a wallet, not a phone case.

 

[MacFro_Bro]

This seems to me to be the preferred way that it would function. I don’t want the wallet to always be connected to the phone. I want to sometimes leave the wallet in my pocket and other times have it connected. I don’t see the design as a negative, failure, or mistake. It’s how I want it to function.

 

[boss.king]

Even if it didn't fall off this easily, it only holds like three cards. I don't know how this ever made it out the door.

 

[HullKR105]

I guess this wallet is not for you.

No. Get with the program and look at why you need it