Hands-On With Apple's New Find My-Enabled MagSafe Wallet

[rldunn]

I have never gotten the concept. Why would anyone want a mini wallet that can fall off of your phone? Why would you want to flash your wallet every time you take your phone out of your pocket?

I've had the original MagSafe wallet for a full year (with 12 Mini), and the next time it falls off the phone will be the first. I took a flyer and got it, assuming it would be too limited and that I would either return or use only in very specific circumstances. But, instead, it's my regular wallet that's only been used twice in that time.

I have my driver's license, credit card, and work ID as my 3 cards. I've discovered I really don't need cash on me, and I don't need all of these other cards that get used once a year. When I go to Costco - I swap the work ID for my (separate) Costco credit card. When I stay at a hotel, I swap my work ID for my hotel key.

It's been nice to travel so light!

 

[paulovsouza]

Lost my AirPods Pro recently. It told me last place they were connected. Obviously I remember last time I took off my AirPods and put them in their case. I wanted to know when and where it feel out of my pocket, I couldn’t even make them make a noise because they weren’t connected. The only thing that’s useful about the wallet is having your contact information.. that an ID or having your number written somewhere could do.

 

[NightFox]

Ditto. I don't understand why this is a software thing either, with the exception that the NFC chip in the Wallet would be able to provide contact information. But aside from that, it would seem useful that 1st gen wallet would be "given" the feature that if the wallet detaches from the phone, the last location would be marked.

Because without the NFC/RFID chip in the wallet to identify itself to the phone, your iPhone has no idea what that MagSafe item you just attached and then removed was - it could have been a wallet, it could have been a powered-down charger, a third-party case or an in-car holder. It needs the hardware in the new wallet to tell the phone "Hey, I'm a wallet and I've just been attached. Make a note of the location when you notice me being removed".

The official Apple MagSafe cases for the iPhone 12 already have this - you can see when you put the phone in the case you get an animation on the screen that matches the colour of the case.

 

[Stiksi]

Vegan leather, please. There's so many good options for that now for shoes for example – why not also for the Apple wallet?

Wow, so many defensive responses to a post that only asks for a non-leather OPTION. Who pissed in these guys’ beef cereal? Is a non-flesh wallet such a threat to masculinity that it must be silenced at any cost? Just let them have the plastic wallet for pete’s sake!

 

[greenhut]

Ordered the Magsafe Walllet from Amazon. How can you tell if it supports Find My - different part numbers? Concerned I may have received the older version.

 

[Moonlight]

I wonder, what would George Costanza say? Gimme some quotes that might come out of his mouth!

George: George is getting angry! I got a new iPhone today, but the magsafe wallet is too small for all my stuff.

Jerry: Why do they call it Magsafe anyway? Its not keeping anything safe.

George: You just think you are so clever. Anyway... When I went to buy it the Apple store was angry that day, my friends - like a Airline passenger trying to stop his Samsung phone from catching fire mid flight.

 

[lazyrighteye]

It's right there in the article: "compared to last year's version, there doesn't appear to be an improvement in magnetic strength."

Yep. More curious if we'd heard anything "official."

 

[jcshas]

I impulse bought the wallet when I heard Find My support, ordered it alongside my new 13. By the time I actually read about how it is supposed to work, it was too late to cancel. Its sitting at my house right now. As I already have the first MagSafe wallet, it will be getting returned.

I actually really like the MagSafe wallet... as a slim wallet. Most of the time it lives in my right pocket and my phone is in my left pocket. I keep my state ID and two CC in it. The only time I will attach to my phone is if I am paying at a sit down restaurant and waiting for the waiter to bring my card back. The most use I get out of the MagSafe function is that I have a metal shelf right near my front door that I stick it to when I get home.

I use mine almost the same. My MagSafe wallet lives in my back pocket most of the time. I‘ve used other wallet/folio cases but I found them to be too bulky an inconvenient; especially when taking photos.

 

[4jasontv]

Wow, so many defensive responses to a post that only asks for a non-leather OPTION. Who pissed in these guys’ beef cereal? Is a non-flesh wallet such a threat to masculinity that it must be silenced at any cost? Just let them have the plastic wallet for pete’s sake

I think they want one made from three cactus leaves, not plastic.

 

[Xarthan]

I had my wallet fall off once. And that was inside of my pocket. Then again, I don’t wear tight pants. They’re on their way out anyways, so there shouldn’t be any “problems” moving forward.

Pants are on their way out?

 

[rldunn]

Because without the NFC/RFID chip in the wallet to identify itself to the phone, your iPhone has no idea what that MagSafe item you just attached and then removed was - it could have been a wallet, it could have been a powered-down charger, a third-party case or an in-car holder. It needs the hardware in the new wallet to tell the phone "Hey, I'm a wallet and I've just been attached. Make a note of the location when you notice me being removed".

The official Apple MagSafe cases for the iPhone 12 already have this - you can see when you put the phone in the case you get an animation on the screen that matches the colour of the case.

The phone knows that the MagSafe item is the 1st get wallet, since that's what the animation when you connect it shows. All the NFC chip is doing is telling the phone *which* wallet is attached, and associating a phone number to that wallet. But I could certainly live without that, so it does seem it would possibly be handy to know when/where the wallet was last removed

 

[CARIB_APPLE]

So Ideal situation.... You have your ID in your Wallet App so you don't need the physical card anymore and the only card you have in your MagSafe wallet would be your Apple Card which doesn't have any use for someone if they find it on the street because there is no CC info just your name.

 

[mkoesel]

Article needs to call out that this does not work on the Apple clear cases.

Yep, that's an important detail for those with an iPhone 12 and MagSafe Clear Case.

I would love to know what the reason for this limitation is. In particular, I am extremely curious as to why this only applies to the iPhone 12 MagSafe Clear Case, and not (according to Apple's website) the iPhone 13 MagSafe Clear Case. Very peculiar. I've been unable to find any firm information on the internet about the technical reason for this - there's only speculation (and none of it particularly compelling since it cannot explain why it only applies to the 12).

At any rate, I can confirm that the iPhone 12 MagSafe Clear Case indeed prohibits the phone from recognizing the wallet. I've switched to a MagSafe Silicone Case (which was 60% off on Amazon) instead.

 

[MinimeJer05]

Kinda bummed that they weren't able to make this one a little bigger. If I could fit like 1 or 2 more cards I'd be good. Not using my wallet from last year on my 13 Pro Max. Exchanging for something a little more usable.

 

[mkoesel]

Ordered the Magsafe Walllet from Amazon. How can you tell if it supports Find My - different part numbers? Concerned I may have received the older version.

The new one introduced all new colors and retained none of the old ones (though the black color may differ only in the name "Midnight" vs. "Black").

New version with "Find My":

Apple Leather Wallet with MagSafe (for iPhone) - Now with Find My Support - Dark Cherry

Designed with both style and function in mind, the new iPhone Leather Wallet with MagSafe is the perfect way to keep your ID and credit cards close at hand. It now supports Find My, so you can be notified of your wallet’s last known location if it gets separated from your phone. Crafted from spec...

www.amazon.com

Old version:

Apple Leather Wallet with MagSafe (for iPhone) - Saddle Brown (Previous Version, Without Find My)

Designed with both style and function in mind, the iPhone Leather Wallet with MagSafe is the perfect way to keep your ID and credit cards close at hand.

www.amazon.com

 

[alex2792]

I’d rather not have my phone AND wallet lost/stolen together. I’ll stick with my ridge, thank you very much.

 

[star-affinity]

PETA is amazingly efficient at cramming as much misleading information into a statement as possible.

I knew someone would complain about PETA.

Some other links:

Vegan Leather - The Leather Sofa Alternative | of Iron & Oak

Vegan leather is environmentally friendly, available in hundreds of colors, easily cleaned, and now an option for all of Iron & Oak leather furniture.

ofironandoak.com

These Companies Are Making Vegan Leather Out of Plants Instead of Plastic

Vegan leather is traditionally made from plastic, but these six innovative companies are using plants instead.

www.greenmatters.com

What Is Vegan Leather? Is It Really Better for the Environment?

Vegan leather is a popular substitute for animal-based leather. It can be made from synthetic, plastic-based materials or plant matter such as cork.

www.treehugger.com

That last link says:

Vegan leather does not last as long as real leather; it has only one-third of the life expectancy, so keep that in mind when choosing a product to buy.

Hope they'll be able to improve the durability, and maybe it's still less of an environmental impact than leather from animals even if I but three items. Or maybe not, but breeding animals sure require a lot of resources.

 

[Ninjaman]

Most of the reviews I’ve seen of these show just how easily they fall off. Seems to high risk and have it fall out and you may. It know

 

[N1noodle]

When going outside with only limited accessories I tend to explicitly not put my phone and credit card together or the same pocket to not lose both in parallel. But maybe than I’m wearing it wrong

Same phone in my left pocket and and a cardholder in my rightpocket.

Mostly for it not to be clunky but like you say seems unwise to have wallet together with phone.

 

[macOS Lynx]

You can make leather without milk or eggs?

This is a joke right?

 

[Royksöpp]

Pants are on their way out?

Tight Pants!

 

[Royksöpp]

Ok… sure. Makes sense. Now, what I f I see an Apple MagSafe wallet at Target, how will I know if it’s the new one?

By the new colors. Most of the old ones have been discontinued.

 

[1129846]

Like others have expressed on the forums, an Airtag in the shape of a credit card would be very welcome.

God yes. If Apple would do that I would gladly swap my setup over to Air tags until then Tile is really the best option for me. I the wallets I use and own. I just need a card I can put them them. Tile currently offers that. Come on Apple

 

[CarlJ]

It still seems to me like a solution in search of a problem - “we invented a place to put your most important cards, that hangs on precariously to your phone using magnets”, followed by, “we’ve invented technology to let you know when it falls off!”

The choices aren’t just this or an enormous separate wallet - there are plenty of tiny wallets on the market. I carry my license and cards in a wallet that’s only about 1/4” thick, in a different pocket. And I basically never take it out anyway - most everything is Apple Pay, using the phone. Feels like my important cards are a lot safer if they stay in a pocket all the time, rather than coming out to visit every time I take out my phone to use for something.

 

[jazz1]

No thank you. I'll stick with my traditional wallet. Maybe stick an AirTag in it. The Apple MagSafe wallet only seems to give a false sense of security. The falling of from the iPhone as you put it in your pocket is a no sale for me.