Hands-On With Apple's New MagSafe Duo Charger for iPhone 12 and Apple Watch

[farewelwilliams]

No it picks up the charger

as you're gripping the phone with your right hand, your thumb shoves the side of the charger to detach the charger. either that or your middle and ring finger shoves the charger back while your index and thumb fingers lift the phone off the charger. this is a non issue.

likewise, my current magsafe, I use my middle finger to slide off the magsafe as I grab my phone.

 

[strayts]

$129 for that is just absurd.

 

[farewelwilliams]

For the price is should be 15w I brought the normal MagSafe and double side tape and it stays on my desk

makes no sense. you're arguing that your phone is going to charge to 100% 2-3 minutes slower while you sleep...?

i dont know why you did that. simply use your middle finger as you grab the phone to slide the magsafe out from behind.

 

[tekchic]

I use the $39 MagSafe puck infrequently -- almost every day but only for about 15-20% of my battery charge. Overnight I still slow charge on a Qi puck. I like slow charging overnight, and I like that I can just lift it off the puck with one hand when I get up.

Love the concept and potential travel convenience of the Duo, but it's far too expensive for me to justify, and I don't know if it'll work with Series 7 watch, iPhone 13, etc. By the time I'm able to travel again, it might be obsolete.

 

[djr7572]

I know I'm not saying anything new here, but Apple has legit lost their mind. They aren't even trying to offer some level of 'value' to their customers. Not like they have to - a large percentage of Apple fans will happily pay whatever the asking price is on any Apple product without hesitation. Apple doesn't even have to compete, it seems like.

$129 for this silly thing, and you're on your own to buy a power brick if you don't already have one.

ludicrous.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I use the $39 MagSafe puck infrequently -- almost every day but only for about 15-20% of my battery charge. Overnight I still slow charge on a Qi puck. I like slow charging overnight, and I like that I can just lift it off the puck with one hand when I get up.

Love the concept and potential travel convenience of the Duo, but it's far too expensive for me to justify, and I don't know if it'll work with Series 7 watch, iPhone 13, etc. By the time I'm able to travel again, it might be obsolete.

Why travel, when you can work from your luxurious tekchic home and have all your Apple toys at arms length?

 

[LargeSizedMan2020]

I'll stick to charging my devices normally thank you. Seems like a massive waste of money.

 

[Devin Breeding]

I like a lot of Apple products. But I’ll take my $25 Anker. Doesn't fold but I can pick up my phone without taking the charger with me.

 

[jaybar]

How many people who are negative about the product have actually tried one at home?

I got mine today and I really like it. I expected it to be lighter (weight) than it actually proved to be. The phone attaches easily. It is easier to get the phone off the Duo, when you want the phone. In fact, way easier than with the MagSafe puck.

One of the things I really like about the Duo, is the compact power plug from Apple. I have had the Belkin and Mophie multi device chargers and there power adapters can be HUGE. Moreover, the fact that you are using one compact power source, rather than two, can be important if you live in an older dwelling where outlets and access to them can be severely limited. For me, that is why I purchased the Duo. Same can be said for office charging. Well spaced and easily accessible outlets are not always possible, when doing wireless charging


And about the price? People can spend well in excess of a $1000 for a phone and yet quibble about the Duo being $30 to $60 over-priced. I don’t get it.

And about charging speed? If you put your phone and watch on the charger and then go to sleep, is charging speed critical, as long as it is done by when you get up.

The negativity here can be significant.

 

[MTD's Mac]

Mine just arrived and I have it set up at home. I like the look and feel of it, much more consistent with Apple devices than any third-party charger I've used or considered. So design alone would make it worth it for me.

I think there are several use cases for this device, including travel, but here's mine: I have lightning cables at home and work, just sort of hanging there to charge whatever (AirPods, iPhone, Apple TV remote, Magic Trackpad, etc.). Now I will carry this portable charger back and forth, set it up wherever I am, and be able to charge my watch too from the same cable. It avoids needing to buy one or two Apple Watch Magnetic Chargers (what are those, $70 each? It's a much closer comparison than the Apple Watch charging puck) and when I travel I only need one adapter/cable for both of my devices.

If you prefer to save money, or have a preferred third-party multi-device charger, go for it. But for me, this is the best option and I'm very pleased Apple (eventually) released it!

P.S. You just "peel" the phone upward instead of lifting it straight up. The charger stays where it was, the phone comes with you. Revolutionary.

 

[alee]

This is the travel solution I’ve been waiting for. Just dropped one in each of my travel bags, and couldn’t be happier.

 

[The Barron]

At $129 sans charger block for the included cord is a total deal-breaker! They ned to drop the price by about $40 if they expect to sell many.

 

[alee]

At $129 sans charger block for the included cord is a total deal-breaker! They ned to drop the price by about $40 if they expect to sell many.

People said that about $1200 phones and look at where we are today.

 

[Devin Breeding]

How many people who are negative about the product have actually tried one at home?

I got mine today and I really like it. I expected it to be lighter (weight) than it actually proved to be. The phone attaches easily. It is easier to get the phone off the Duo, when you want the phone. In fact, way easier than with the MagSafe puck.

One of the things I really like about the Duo, is the compact power plug from Apple. I have had the Belkin and Mophie multi device chargers and there power adapters can be HUGE. Moreover, the fact that you are using one compact power source, rather than two, can be important if you live in an older dwelling where outlets and access to them can be severely limited. For me, that is why I purchased the Duo. Same can be said for office charging. Well spaced and easily accessible outlets are not always possible, when doing wireless charging


And about the price? People can spend well in excess of a $1000 for a phone and yet quibble about the Duo being $30 to $60 over-priced. I don’t get it.

And about charging speed? If you put your phone and watch on the charger and then go to sleep, is charging speed critical, as long as it is done by when you get up.

The negativity here can be significant.

I assume they are negative about it because it is something that you can basically get for $30 sans magsafe.

 

[spezaled]

My older Nomad watch/iphone Pod Pro charger still works perfectly and is just as convenient, possibly more so. Sad they no longer make it. For now, this overpriced Apple solution is definitely a hard pass.

 

[artfossil]

My MagSafe Duo arrives tomorrow. I’ll use it by my bed and also as a travel charger. I’m excited to receive it as it’s a great solution for me.

 

[Mr. Awesome]

At the $129 price point, the MagSafe Duo really should have come with a power adapter rather than just a USB-C to Lightning cable. A standalone Apple Watch charging puck is $29 and a MagSafe Charger is $39 for a total of $68, but Apple is charging close to twice that to connect them together.

I agree that the Duo should come with a USB-C adapter, but I don’t think your price analysis works well. The MagSafe Duo offers the experience of the Watch Magnetic Charging Dock, not the charging puck itself. It should look more like this:

MagSafe Charger: $39
Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock: $79
Total: $118

MagSafe Duo: $129

Apple is basically charging an $11 fee for the convenience of having the Watch dock and MagSafe in one portable package.

 

[kycophpd]

I’ll take my bashing but I love mine. Just got it today and it fits great on my nightstand. I’ve been frustrated with 3rd party chargers that don’t seem to work properly. It takes less room and DOES NOT lift up when I pick up my phone. I’m not sure where everyone keeps getting that from. When I travel, it will be nice to unhook and throw in my bag. I already have a usb-c to lightning cable in there so I can remove my watch charger and charging block for good!

 

[FangRock]

This is dreadful. A wireless (with a wire) charger, without a charger. Sir Jonathan Paul Ive KBE HonFREng RDI wouldn’t have let this out of the door.

 

[Mr. Awesome]

The pattern here so far is that most people are complaining about the price and lack of power brick, but the people who actually purchased it love it.

 

[MTD's Mac]

I agree that the Duo should come with a USB-C adapter, but I don’t think your price analysis works well. The MagSafe Duo offers the experience of the Watch Magnetic Charging Dock, not the charging puck itself. It should look more like this:

MagSafe Charger: $39
Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock: $79
Total: $118

MagSafe Duo: $129

Apple is basically charging an $11 fee for the convenience of having the Watch dock and MagSafe in one portable package.

Yes, this is the best comparison in terms of price.

I suspect not many people have used the Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock, which has the look and feel of a much more premium product. It's like a relic from when Apple was positioning the Watch as a fashion accessory. Didn't it even come with the Edition models at one point?

The current strategy for charging seems to be three tiers:
1. the bare-bones solution (cable only) that comes in the box
2. optional upgrades (iPhone MagSafe cable/puck, Watch puck with longer cable, fast charge-capable power adapters)
3. premium/luxury options (Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock, Mag Safe Duo)

 

[SVTmaniac]

Am I the only person that uses their phone all day then charges it at night while I sleep? I feel like I am listening to these comments. It can charge as slow as it wants while I sleep as long as it’s full when I wake up. 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[Radeon85]

$129 is taking the piss 😄, this is a $50 product max.

 

[IsaacM]

This is ridiculously overpriced. Apple needs to chill.

 

[walstib]

I’ve been looking forward to this device since the day it was announced.

I plan to use it as a travel charger. It folds up nicely, and I only need one charging brick, and one cable. That’s way simpler than bringing a setup for my phone, and another for my watch.

I ordered the 30w, $49 charger to go with the duo. Yeah, it’s pricier than I would like, but it simplifies my life in an elegant manner.

If paying less for things was all that important, I would be an Android user.