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

[gaximus]

I was wanting a Duo until I saw the ridiculous price, at which point I grabbed one of these and it's worked great so far.

That looks nice, But since I got the 12 Pro (coming from 11 Pro Max), I keep knocking it off my wireless Qi charger, I don't know if its because its harder to line up the coil with the camera bump on a smaller phone, or if the phone being lighter has something to do with it, but more than once I've woken up with a dead battery. So I'd really like the MagSafe charging, until then I've just gone back to lightening cable.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Steve Jobs was flawed being human but we wouldn't have any of of this if not for him. What have you done in your life that was so except bitch on an internet forum about someone you could never hope to be close to in accomplishments?
By the way it was jobs who's aid the first mac should be much cheaper, Sculley upped the price. I can give you tit for tat on every one of your dumb points.

Then do so.
Tell me why going from iPod touch OS 1.1.2 to 1.1.3, not even a full six months after the product was released, should’ve costed $19.99.
Tell me why Apple tried tricking the customers into paying an additional $140, just for a snow leopard reinstall disc that wasn’t actually necessary, and could’ve been accomplished with the regular $30 disc.
Yes, I admit that Steve Jobs was a visionary, who changed a lot of lives. But his products and company decisions were not flawless

 

[apparatchik]

For me, until every one of your gadgets is "wirelessly" charged these things are not very worthy, if you have an iPad, a Magic Mouse 2, a Magic keyboard, Powerbeats Pro, Beats etc... all of those are not wirelessly charged and you have a lightning cable permanently connected hanging around to charge that, probably on your very desk or night table right now, so... this is just added bulk imho. Of course, if you like a design this can add to your space if you're into that. In my case I would be adding bulk as many of my gadgets still depend on cables, connecting my phone versus carefully placing it above a mat is not something I would pay $130 plus taxes and import duties on my local currency...

 

[apparatchik]

Then do so.
Tell me why going from iPod touch OS 1.1.2 to 1.1.3, not even a full six months after the product was released, should’ve costed $19.99.
Tell me why Apple tried tricking the customers into paying an additional $140, just for a snow leopard reinstall disc that wasn’t actually necessary, and could’ve been accomplished with the regular $30 disc.
Yes, I admit that Steve Jobs was a visionary, who changed a lot of lives. But his products and company decisions were not flawless

Without feeding the flames, you're looking at it wrong, Apple is a for profit organization, software doesnt come free or cheap, then you can argue about the financial specifics but back in the day software upgrades were payed for, across the industry. Apple wasnt as rich either, and they were re-investing heavily on R&D as they were working on new products such as the iPhone that werent bringing silver in. Could have they been more generous, thats a resounding yes, its that what this is about? no in my view.

As long as people see value in their proposition, such as cost of ownership (Apple devices last longer, they're easier to maintain, can be sold at a better value, etc), people will keep paying for the ride. Should we expect more from them and be accountable and complain? yes, we should. One can always not buy from them.

 

[artfossil]

Just got my MagSafe Duo! I love it! Yes, it charges both my phone and Watch at the same time (phone is in a UAG case). It replaces a Belkin 2-in-1 that I bought in March ($140) that does not charge my 12 Pro Max phone.

 

[gbc204]

With an Apple employee discount, i got this for $97. That seemed more more with. Definitely wasn't going to get it for $130, but for less than $100... why not.

 

[SAIRUS]

In a product org like Apple, engineers don’t get to just make stuff up. They build according to the requirements and nothing more. They can be as creative as they want within the confines of what the business demands.

....yup...hehehe ooooh I should shut up before I get in trouble.

 

[dvdlovr24]

With an Apple employee discount, i got this for $97. That seemed more more with. Definitely wasn't going to get it for $130, but for less than $100... why not.

Usually I get 10% through the Apple EPP store, but for some reason they aren’t discounting the duo yet.

 

[jcshas]

Just received my MagSafe duo this morning. So much more elegant looking than my previous nomad base station charger and it takes up a lot less space on my nightstand. Phone is really easy to pick up without picking up the entire charger. Very happy with it so far.

 

[The Game 161]

Just got my MagSafe Duo! I love it! Yes, it charges both my phone and Watch at the same time (phone is in a UAG case). It replaces a Belkin 2-in-1 that I bought in March ($140) that does not charge my 12 Pro Max phone.

View attachment 1686684View attachment 1686685

Ha got the same Belkin case and also having same issues it charges one night but not the next

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Without feeding the flames, you're looking at it wrong, Apple is a for profit organization, software doesnt come free or cheap, then you can argue about the financial specifics but back in the day software upgrades were payed for, across the industry. Apple wasnt as rich either, and they were re-investing heavily on R&D as they were working on new products such as the iPhone that werent bringing silver in. Could have they been more generous, thats a resounding yes, its that what this is about? no in my view.

As long as people see value in their proposition, such as cost of ownership (Apple devices last longer, they're easier to maintain, can be sold at a better value, etc), people will keep paying for the ride. Should we expect more from them and be accountable and complain? yes, we should. One can always not buy from them.

but that’s not what you were arguing. You were arguing that Steve Jobs’s Apple was less greedy with their money, which is absolutely not true. They over charged, just like the current Apple does.
I guarantee you that if Steve Jobs was Alive, he would also charge $130 for a wireless charger.

 

[bluespark]

The last time I suggested in a post that I actually like this product, I received lots of negative votes. Still, though, it looks nice to me. One of my favorite Apple accessories in recent years was the round charging dock for the Apple Watch. Unlike many such products, it perfectly accommodated nightstand-mode or non-nightstand use, and the soft material is very protective of the watch. This takes that and adds MagSafe, which to me makes it much better for nightstand use than a non-MagSafe wireless charger, in that I don't have to worry about accidentally shifting the phone off the charger if I jostle it in the middle of the night. On top of all that, it folds for travel and requires only one cable to charge both devices. Seems pretty great to me.

As far as pricing, is there another cheaper product that accomplishes the above?

 

[Olympics]

Well I’d like to get the adapter replaced, that was literally being sold until last year for what it’s worth. I wouldn’t have as big of an issue if they included an adapter in the box, but Apple decided to go down this path.

Apple's own website said you get 14W charging with 27W or higher power adapters. They had no caveats or anything.

Yes, they said 27W or higher power adapters. That is why I got Apple's 29W power adapter earlier. I am really disappointed today when I see the MagSafe Duo Charger does not work on my Apple 29W power adapter.

 

[dannyyankou]

Yes, they said 27W or higher power adapters. That is why I got Apple's 29W power adapter earlier. I am really disappointed today when I see the MagSafe Duo Charger does not work on my Apple 29W power adapter.

Yeah, I don’t want to sound too much like a Karen but it really is a case of false advertising. If it were a third party adapter, I’d probably let it go. But Apple made the damn thing lol.

 

[poematik13]

Got mine yesterday along with 20w adapter (only $16 on amazon). Love it. It's one of those apple products that the internet hates irrationally but the people who actually use it find it to be pretty nicely designed. Reminds me of something from the mid-00's iPod era where Ive/Jobs were at their peak. I don't really care about the price, I saved a lot of money this year quarantining anyway.

It charges my 11 Pro and airpods pro slightly faster than the older belkin boost up i was using, and I finally have a reason to use nightstand mode with my watch.

The build quality is pretty superb. The hinge for the watch charger has lots of friction and zero play, and it's made of really nice aluminum. There's also a really satisfying magnetic click when you fold the unit together.

 

[unsynaps]

I wish I read more into this. Im a dumb dumb for ordering it but I guess I will keep it.

Why for all that is holy does the damned thing have a lightning connector instead of USB-C? Apple seems to be like Logitech and just flat out refuses to put both feet in the USB-C pool.

 

[The Game 161]

I wish I read more into this. Im a dumb dumb for ordering it but I guess I will keep it.

Why for all that is holy does the damned thing have a lightning connector instead of USB-C? Apple seems to be like Logitech and just flat out refuses to put both feet in the USB-C pool.

Not a huge surprise when the iPhone is usb c to lightening as well

 

[unsynaps]

the reason why Apple gave you a USB-C to lightning is because this product is meant for you to travel with it which means you stick the cable and the charger in your travel bag.

why they didn't give you a charging brick is because you have the option of using the 20W or the 30W. If they included the 30W, the price of the product goes up (due to the cost of the brick and as well as the product dimensions being larger). if they included the 20W, it would be cheaper, but people might end up buying the 30W to get the best experience, throwing away the 20W to ewaste potentially.

Apple's decision makes sense.

No it does not. If it had USB-C I could use my laptop charger directly with the unit to charge my phone when needed. It is what I do with my USB-C charging power bank. One small USB-C cable to charge my ear buds and wireless mouse.

Now I have to carry ANOTHER adapter around with me to use this device when I could have used the one I already had in my kit.

 

[rutiger]

i was really hoping the reports about the 29w charger not working were false. but now that i received my duo i see it will only charge the first device connected be it the phone or the watch. would love to hear the reason behind this as it seems crazy i should now have to shell out another $100 to replace my two 29w chargers.

 

[G5isAlive]

The last time I suggested in a post that I actually like this product, I received lots of negative votes. Still, though, it looks nice to me. One of my favorite Apple accessories in recent years was the round charging dock for the Apple Watch. Unlike many such products, it perfectly accommodated nightstand-mode or non-nightstand use, and the soft material is very protective of the watch. This takes that and adds MagSafe, which to me makes it much better for nightstand use than a non-MagSafe wireless charger, in that I don't have to worry about accidentally shifting the phone off the charger if I jostle it in the middle of the night. On top of all that, it folds for travel and requires only one cable to charge both devices. Seems pretty great to me.

As far as pricing, is there another cheaper product that accomplishes the above?

 

[LongWayHome]

no. you’re completely forgetting the people who already have the 30w charger as well (which while traveling, is probably preferred).

So those poeple that get another one in the box are throwing their old one away? What?? In what universe is it a terrible thing to have more than one 20 or 30W charger? Apple doesn't mind shipping out the cords but they all of a sudden have a problem shipping out the chargers?

 

[GDF]

Ah yes, the same Steve Jobs who had an iPod, an iPod Mini, an iPod Nano, an iPod Touch, and an iPod Shuffle.
The same Steve Jobs who would only let people who paid for more storage get colors on their iPods.
The same Steve Jobs who introduced an iPhone with a flawed antenna design, and then when questioned about it, simply stated that “ you’re holding it wrong.”
The same Steve Jobs who charged almost $100, for a product called MagSafe, that was made for MacBooks. Yes, the single Mac cord was almost $100. People like to forget that.
The same Steve Jobs Who introduced Mac OS X snow leopard at $29, but then advertise that as an “ upgrade only” disc, and insisted for anyone who wanted to clean install, they buy a $169 reinstall version, despite the fact that the $29 disc still would let you clean install.
The same Steve Jobs who introduced A MacBook Air at $1800, that’s $2100 in today’s money, that was less powerful than the cheaper MacBook and MacBook Pro.
The same Steve Jobs who had a plastic MacBook, and an aluminum MacBook, that were both selling at a very similar price.
The same Steve Jobs who sold the first generation Apple TV at $300, then lowered it to $230, then lowered it to $100 when he realized that no one was paying $300 for the Apple TV.
The same Steve Jobs who introduced the iPod touch at $299 in September 2007, then introduced a relatively small software update in January 2008 that cost an additional $20. A software update, for an iPod, costed $20, only three months after the iPod was announced.
Stop idolizing Steve Jobs. His version of Apple was just as flawed, if not more, then the current version of Apple.
They still price gouged, they still overcharged, Waymore than they do today.
Think about this, if you bought a power Mac G5, which cost of the upwards of $3000, in 2006 while they were still being sold, it was no longer getting software updates by 2009. That’s 3 years.
If you bought the first generation iPad in April 2010, it stopped getting software updates in 2012. Two years of software support.
Meanwhile, in Tim Cook‘s apple, if you bought the iPhone 5S in 2013, it continued to get new features and software updates up until last fall, and it still gets security updates to this day. Seven years of software support.
If you bought an iMac from 2013, you’re still getting updates today.
Now tell me again, which company cares more about their customers?
The Steve Jobs apple, which was fine giving iPad customers only two years of software updates, and Mac customers three years?
Or the Tim Cook apple, which refuses to give customers any less than 5 to 7 years of software updates and tech-support.

Very stupid and ignorant post. If there was no Steve Job’s there would be no Apple. Clueless kid probably posting.

 

[Tundrok]

It's incredible how there are so many willing to defend a product that is undeniably overpriced. The sum of two independent chargers from Apple is about half of what the cost of this product is. There is no reasonable rationalization for this price point whatsoever. You have to be chugging the Apple koolaid to think this is a good product. My GOD there are too many Apple fanboys who are willing to just burn money just to have an Apple logo on something.

 

[0s and 1s]

That could be said about a lot of premium products sold by Apple, Sony, Louis Vuitton, etc. A brand new iPhone 12 PM costs more than a MacBook Air or a Samsung dryer - does that make its price point irrational as a result? One could argue that it is but where does that conversation end when you have to consider perceived value of a product from a consumer’s rationale?

Is it overpriced? Sure, but that’s Apple for you in a nutshell.

 

[jcshas]

Belkin, Mophie, and Nomad all sell chargers that are near or more expensive than the Apple MagSafe duo!