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

[ignatius345]

Not seeing the issue. By virtue of it working with Qi at all, we can assume it meets the “normal” minimum coil size.

The issue with using a Qi charger that tiny is that you're balancing your phone on something quite small. And if you've ever used one, you are aware that correct alignment is all-important.

Not hard to imagine that a tiny puck + no magnets = a very fiddly experience getting it lined up. And that's not even touching on the fact that if your pre-12 iPhone better not get jostled at all since it's got no magnets to keep it in place.

Although, at that point I guess you could just lie your phone face-down and put the puck on top of it. Fun!

 

[TheWatchfulOne]

Finally, a way to charge your phone and output wired audio at the same time! No more scrambling to charge before plugging into the sound desk for pre/post show music!

This has been possible since iPhone 8 and iPhone X

 

[AdonisSMU]

Finally, a way to charge your phone and output wired audio at the same time! No more scrambling to charge before plugging into the sound desk for pre/post show music!

Good point!

 

[AdonisSMU]

This has been possible since iPhone 8 and iPhone X

No it hasnt. The wireless charging was so slow and you had to place it on the charging matt in just the right spots in order for it to work. The magnet plus the higher watt charging makes this much more usable.

 

[TheWatchfulOne]

What's the safe part of MagSafe this time around?

The original intention of MagSafe was that the adherent tolerances of the magnets were just enough that too much force would release the charger from the laptop so it wouldn't go flying.

These seem pretty strong, so if someone catches your charge cable, that puck is taking you phone with it.

Safe.

The 30 pin and lightning connectors have the same problem. So would USB-C if they went with that.

 

[ani4ani]

The 30 pin and lightning connectors have the same problem. So would USB-C if they went with that.

Indeed, but none of those methods claim to be “safe” like the original aims of the original product that was discontinued. “This” MagSafe has none of those attributes, indeed it exacrebates the very issue the original MagSafe overcame.

 

[DotCom2]

.

 

[ts1973]

Finally, a way to charge your phone and output wired audio at the same time! No more scrambling to charge before plugging into the sound desk for pre/post show music!

What’s the difference between this and any other Qi charger ? Just put it on any Qi pad and wire it to play audio or am I missing something ?

 

[Lamente]

With the magnetic attachment will the charger need to be physically removed when you lift up the phone after a charge? Will be kinda lame if you have to detach it. Prohibits the 1 hand usage.

 

[MrCrowbar]

Yikes Otterbox... your magnet sticker is coming off on the first day of testing.

 

[123]

I don't know why people keep repeating this nonsense. Wireless means nothing to plug in, no that there are no wires at all.

Exactly, nothing to plug, not like strong magnets latching onto each other in a very specific manner. Got it? Finally??? The Magsafe mechanism is a plug. Therefore stretching the wireless term.

 

[Mr.Blacky]

How would they possibly own all these existing 20W USB-C blocks?

The “30 existing USB blocks” that vast majority of people own won’t work with MagSafe. You fail to remember that USB-A is what Apple has included with devices over the last 10+ years. But now they are literally forcing them to buy a USB-C charger if they want to use this new MagSafe charger.

In fact, MagSafe won’t even work with the 18W USB-C chargers that came with the newer iPad Pros and iPhone 11 Pros! Considering how MagSafe caps at 15W of wireless charging, this makes absolutely no sense, other than prompting customers to spend another $19 on a 20W adapter.

I can't find anything saying you can't use these 18W chargers. Could you post a link?

 

[123]

New magnetic functionality has utility. It's nowhere close to 100% waste.

No, it's only 30% waste, on every charge.

 

[Caliber26]

I can't find anything saying you can't use these 18W chargers. Could you post a link?

Nothing anywhere specifically states that. However, the product description on Apple's website states that the 20W adapter is sold separately, which prompted some to believe it would only work with 20W adapters.

Another poster in this thread has shared screenshots of their chat with Apple Support where they inquire about this, and were told the 18W adapter is compatible too.

 

[Craiguyver]

What’s the difference between this and any other Qi charger ? Just put it on any Qi pad and wire it to play audio or am I missing something ?

The MagSafe charger will deliver 15 W charging to an iPhone. Qi will only deliver 7.5 W. Actively using your iPhone while using Qi 7.5 W charging usually results a net loss of battery percentage.

 

[recoil80]

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.

I hope that at least they can improve the efficiency of the Qi charger since it is perfectly aligned by the magnet. It won't be as efficient as a cable plugged into the phone though, so you're right about the impact on the environment.

 

[iTone]

Ok but will regular wireless chargers still work with the 12?

 

[Craiguyver]

Yikes Otterbox... your magnet sticker is coming off on the first day of testing.

It's a rather pathetic build quality. Hopefully they up their game with MagSafe accessories moving forward...

 

[ani4ani]

The MagSafe charger will deliver 15 W charging to an iPhone. Qi will only deliver 7.5 W. Actively using your iPhone while using Qi 7.5 W charging usually results a net loss of battery percentage.

There are plenty of Qi chargers that are higher than 7.5W, e.g. Samsung sell a 15w Qi charger [and higher power, e.g. up to 60W to come from some of the Chinese brands in the near future]. I don't know whether the 7.5W that Apple mention is a limiation of an iPhone, but it certainly isn't a limitation of Qi technology? I wonder if Apple limit the power intentionally due to generally having some of the smaller batteries in their phones?

 

[SimonJHarris]

Confirming the official case does not have a weird paper/card insert. Phone arrives Friday.

 

[jerry333]

If the cable is the same as other Apple cables and is also not removable, you're going to be purchasing a new charger about once a year because the insulation will start to come off. Don't know why Apple can't fix this problem that's plagued the iPhone charging cables forever.

 

[SuperCachetes]

The issue with using a Qi charger that tiny is that you're balancing your phone on something quite small. And if you've ever used one, you are aware that correct alignment is all-important.

Not hard to imagine that a tiny puck + no magnets = a very fiddly experience getting it lined up.

Yes, I’ve got Qi chargers at home.

No, I haven’t purchased a MagSafe puck.

Therefore I’m not going to “imagine,” and I’ll wait and see what people who are actually using them say.

 

[Mavman]

I can't find anything saying you can't use these 18W chargers. Could you post a link?

Jesus this has already been discussed and posted before. YEA you can use an 18W or even a 15W charger on the MagSafe and you can use it on the IPhone 8 and anything newer

 

[MoreRumors?]

For $39 and power adapter not included, at least make the cord more durable. I can see the cord at the charging end will see more wear and tear and the least they could have done was make it a braided to make it more durable.

 

[Michael Scrip]

This doesn't inspire a lot of confidence with the wallet...

https://imgur.com/jdMz0M8