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Hands-On With Apple's MagSafe Charger for iPhone 12

twanj said:
So then they could make iPhone 11 (and earlier) cases that support this just by adding magnets, it sounds like.
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I guess...some companies are probably already working on that. But then again, why has no other product like that come to market over the years? Anyone could have made a case with a magnet and and magnetic charger if that was a simple thing to do with existing phones.

Somehow I think MagSafe is a bit more proprietary than that and is going to require and iPhone 12 to work properly.
 
MacRumors said:


Alongside the new iPhone 12 models, Apple introduced a MagSafe charger that attaches to the back of the iPhones using magnets embedded both in the charger and in the iPhone. It allows for speedier charging and paves the way for a portless iPhone in the future. MagSafe chargers are shipping out and are in some Apple retail locations now, and we picked one up to check it out.


MagSafe isn't a new word for Apple -- it's what the magnetic MacBook chargers used to be called before Apple swapped over to USB-C. MagSafe in its current incarnation is totally different from the original MagSafe chargers, but the common theme is the magnetic connection.

The puck-shaped MagSafe charger looks like a larger Apple watch charging puck, featuring a circular design with a cord at one end that plugs into a power adapter. The charger is designed to snap on to a ring of magnets built into the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro, for a perfect alignment without any hassle.

magsafe1.jpg

When you order a MagSafe charger from Apple for $39, you get just the charger, which has a cord with a USB-C connector at the end. It needs to be paired with a USB-C power adapter, and Apple recommends its $19 20W USB-C option. The cord attached to the MagSafe charger is non-removable, and the charger itself is made from aluminum, but the front middle section has a grippy, rubber-like feel to it.

magsafe2.jpg

Apple's MagSafe chargers line up right with the charging coil inside the iPhone 12 models, and can provide up to 15W of power. That's double the charging speed you're able to get with the 7.5W Qi wireless chargers, which makes this a much more appealing wireless charging option.

magsafemain.jpg

If you're wondering if the MagSafe charger works with older iPhones, the answer is yes. It is compatible with all iPhones that support wireless charging, which includes the iPhone 8 and later. When used with an iPhone 12, the charger snaps onto the back of the device with what appears to be a strong magnetic connection, but the older iPhones don't have that same magnetic ring so it the MagSafe charger can't connect in the same way.

We don't have an iPhone 12 model on hand yet to see the actual difference between the magnetic connection of one of the new models and an existing iPhone, but just based on the marketing materials Apple has released, that magnetic ring in the iPhone is an important factor when it comes to the strength of the connection.

magsafeotterbox.jpg

Even using a MagSafe-compatible iPhone 12 case from OtterBox results in a connection that's not super strong, and it appears that OtterBox, at least, has just stuck a couple of magnets in a little insert in the case to add MagSafe functionality. Presumably, the MagSafe ring built into the iPhone 12 models makes the connection between MagSafe charger and iPhone much stronger, and Apple's own cases may also be more magnetic.

insidemagsafeotterbox.jpg

While the iPhone 12 models can charge at 15W using the MagSafe charger, it's not yet quite clear how fast it can charge older iPhones, so there may be some speed limitations involved when using it with non-iPhone 12 models. As mentioned before, there's no strong magnetic adhesion, so the non-iPhone 12 models just rest on the charger like your basic Qi charger.

The MagSafe charger is also able to charge Qi-based Android phones as well as the AirPods, but unsurprisingly, it is not compatible with the Apple Watch.

We'll have an iPhone 12 and 12 Pro on Friday to test out with the MagSafe charger, so make sure to tune in to MacRumors later in the week to see our iPhone 12 hands-on with more detail on using the MagSafe charger with an iPhone that has the built-in magnetic ring.

Article Link: Hands-On With Apple's MagSafe Charger for iPhone 12
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Would it really have killed you all to have waited until you had actually had the new iPhones in hand so that you could have made a video that's useful?
 
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That case in the video didn’t look like a lot of effort went into the design. I hope the Apple cases will look, and function better. Then again we have come to expect superior design and functionality from Apple.
 
I'd like to know how far the charger can be from the phone and still charge at 15w. Would be great to install some of these into a desk / table / bedside table under the wood. Would 3mm be enough perhaps?
 
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No wall connector in a $39 wireless charger.

Also - its important to point out the hypocrisy of apple ditching wall chargers ”for the environment” and then pushing the inefficient wireless charging which results in power loss and therefore more power needed to charge the device. Wireless charging is “bad for the environment” by Apples logic.
 
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Didn’t they show a MagSafe charger that works with Watch and iPhone at the same time? When is that one coming out?
 
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Ugh. Dislike the idea of portless device, esp since I often need to connect to various audio devices for playback. It's one thing to remember to keep track of the friggin' dongle for 1/8" wired devices, it's another to need a bluetooth adapter for everything (and deal with inherent bluetooth connectivity issues). I suppose for those operating in a 100% Apple ecosystem this isn't an issue, but lots of us simply can't do that.
 
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I am starting to worry Apple didn't make the magnets strong enough. Are the Magnets in the phone, or in the charger with just a metal ring in the phone? I hope the later, that way phone mount companies, etc. can design mounts with really strong rare earth magnets to get a decent hold. If not, we basically just have a magnet strong enough to align a charger like the watch or loosely attach a wallet.
 
As far as I can tell, this is not much more wireless than using a regular charging cable. People who prefers this new magsafe, what do you consider the benefit of using this magnet on the back over the lightning port?
 
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xmlninja said:
As far as I can tell, this is not much more wireless than using a regular changing cable. People who prefers this new magsafe, what do you consider the benefit of using this magnet on the back over the lightning port?
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Just the flexibility. I have a stand on my desk that I plug the phone into. Would be much nicer and cleaner to just have a stand with a magnet and the cable attached to the base. Car mount where you don't have to fiddle with plugging in and unplugging your phone.
 
The stuff Apple showed in their video never gave me any indication that the case would be removable via the MagSafe charger.. it just seemed more like a visible expanded view, that should the phone, case, and charger separate and then putting them all together.

Odd choice that he would say that the video gave him the impression that the charger would also remove the case.
 
SSDGUY said:
Ugh. Dislike the idea of portless device, esp since I often need to connect to various audio devices for playback. It's one thing to remember to keep track of the friggin' dongle for 1/8" wired devices, it's another to need a bluetooth adapter for everything (and deal with inherent bluetooth connectivity issues). I suppose for those operating in a 100% Apple ecosystem this isn't an issue, but lots of us simply can't do that.
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OT, but if Apple really do go portless with the next generation, they're going to have several million unhappy CarPlay-using customers on their hands over the next few years unless we're going to see data-over-magsafe.
 
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