iPhone 12 Has Magsafe been a wasted opportunity?

[Ctrlos]

Despite nicking the idea wholesale from the Palm Pre, Magsafe on the iPhone has been one of Apple's best successes of recent years. This is to the point that they open sourced it and it now forms the basis of Qi-2 charging across Android devices.

But have they gone far enough?

A key selling point for the iPhone 12 was Magsafe accessories yet beyond the wallet (which has been done better by 3rd parties) nothing has really come of it. Unless I'm travelling or commuting I, like many people prefer to leave as much at home as possible; are there further creative areas for Magsafe exploration that we have not seen?

For example a Yale key holder with snapback so you can leave them at home on a night out. A small Moleskin for jotting down ideas. A reverse Apple Watch charger. A narrower medication dispenser. A blood sugar monitor. A narrow dry-powder inhaler. Airpods. A controller with shoulder buttons and a cooling fan for extended sessions.

Magsafe isn't going anywhere and is now in Android phones. Releasing an accessory doesn't mean it only works with a narrow niche of phones.

 

[chrono1081]

Despite nicking the idea wholesale from the Palm Pre

No. Magsafe was in Macs before the palm pre existed.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

No. Magsafe was in Macs before the palm pre existed.

In name only.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I could be wrong but, I think a lot of people still prefer connecting their device with a cord. I like using MagSafe when possible.

 

[chrono1081]

In name only.

No in function. It was released in 2006 with the introduction of the Intel Macs. I had one.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

No in function. It was released in 2006 with the introduction of the Intel Macs. I had one.

Yes, I had it too back in 2006ish, and 2008 and 2012..Magsafe is an a round induction charger on the iPhone. MagSafe on Mac was/is just a magnet that aligns charging pins and is a good breakaway point. The name is the same, but they don't work in the same way at all, and I think Apple should have thought of a more unique name when it was released for the phone.

I had magnetically connected power cords back in the 90s. It's not unique.

 

[MisterSavage]

I'm never going to have an accessory on the back of my phone, but I love how MagSafe makes my phone into a desktop/night stand clock.

 

[krspkbl]

the whole point of MagSafe is just the wireless charging. Everything else is just a bonus for Apple to sell you accessories you don't need.

I don't use wireless charging at all because it's so inefficient. I'd like to but i'm happy enough to stick a USB-C cable in my phone and not waste time, energy, or money.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I'm never going to have an accessory on the back of my phone, but I love how MagSafe makes my phone into a desktop/night stand clock.

I have 2-card MagSafe wallet that I carry, and a MagSafe pop socket. They are both handy.

I have no use for MagSafe charging, and my phone overnight charges in another room.

 

[xxray]

I agree the ecosystem perhaps isn't as robust as it probably could be, but a lot of these examples seem like very niche things that aren't as practical in day-to-day. For example, why would I want to carry around a notebook smaller than my phone on the back of my phone? Sounds uncomfortable and not practical. Also, couldn't you just buy a MagSafe magnet ring and stick it on any of these items that you wanted MagSafe on?

I do find MagSafe really useful in its current state. I love MagSafe charging stands for my work desk setup where I can mount my phone and use it if I need to while it's charging, but quickly take it off. It's also so much easier to have my phone snap into place on its charger on my nightstand instead of fumbling with a cable or the correct placement on a non-MagSafe wireless charger. And I love being able to attach my wallet to my phone if I want to.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I could be wrong but, I think a lot of people still prefer connecting their device with a cord. I like using MagSafe when possible.

I think you are right, most people I know still use cables for charging. I know a lot of women at work and those who are friends of my wife and daughters that use Magsafe to attach pop sockets to the back of their phones only. My only use for MagSafe is to mount my iPhone to the stand on my cars dashboard, didn't bother with a MagSafe charger as I tend to trickle charge overnight and don't require fast charging.

Apple did encourage people to continue using cords to charge when MagSafe was released though in order to be fairer on the environment and a lot of people continued just doing that I think.

 

[winxmac]

MagSafe and wireless charging in general is inefficient and wastes space that can be used for a bigger battery with higher capacity...

I tried it once and other than the magnets connecting and locking in place, it's nowhere as good as cable charging...

No matter how many years pass and wireless charging technology improvements, it still will be inefficient and makes batteries hotter compared to cable charging...

 

[Tdude96]

Yeah, I think it could be leveraged better than it currently is. I don't use it to its full effect either, but I do have a MagSafe mount in my car, and I've exclusively charged my phones and AirPods with MagSafe for years, I can't remember the last time I was forced to actually use the port.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

It's pretty convenient. I have a mount on my desk that props it up so I can keep an eye out for urgent messages and media controls of course. Wired charging is faster sure, but if I'm at my desk all day I'm hardly fussed about speed.

 

[Blue IT Person]

I definitely blanked and thought 'Yeah, why do we need a USB-C/Lightning port that gets filled with gunk or bends the connectors? Using a MagSafe MacBook-type charger and data cable could really be neat, a wasted opportunity indeed', and then remembered that the back-of-the-phone magnet is what you're all talking about.

 

[philstubbington]

I could be wrong but, I think a lot of people still prefer connecting their device with a cord. I like using MagSafe when possible.

I certainly do in the car and in the office. I charge wirelessly at home. Considering I always hide the phone away when I’m driving I’m don’t see any advantage to wireless in that instance.

 

[philstubbington]

I have 2-card MagSafe wallet that I carry, and a MagSafe pop socket. They are both handy.

I have no use for MagSafe charging, and my phone overnight charges in another room.

I bought a MagSafe wallet and other than taking it with me when I travel (there are still some places in the world that don’t accept Apple Pay, so I have a physical credit and debit card in the wallet) I don’t use it!

 

[Ratlerbite]

I could be wrong but, I think a lot of people still prefer connecting their device with a cord. I like using MagSafe when possible.

I only use a cord when I need fast charging. Use the duo mag safe charger at home and on the road and car is wireless CarPlay

 

[Allen_Wentz]

I'm never going to have an accessory on the back of my phone, but I love how MagSafe makes my phone into a desktop/night stand clock.

Also I love how MagSafe makes the Apple Watch into a desktop/night stand clock.

 

[nmart1214]

MagSafe and wireless charging in general is inefficient and wastes space that can be used for a bigger battery with higher capacity...

I tried it once and other than the magnets connecting and locking in place, it's nowhere as good as cable charging...

No matter how many years pass and wireless charging technology improvements, it still will be inefficient and makes batteries hotter compared to cable charging...

I don’t know if you’ve seen the inside of a phone but the wireless charging coil is just a thin film with a copper coil and magnets attached to the back glass. It doesn’t take up any real space for battery improvements. It’s like a thick sticker.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I only use a cord when I need fast charging. Use the duo mag safe charger at home and on the road and car is wireless CarPlay

I use a 1’ cord with CarPlay as it gives me better Apple Music sound versus wireless. Outside of that, I use MagSafe.

For anyone curious.

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[kc9hzn]

I tend to use it for mounts more often than charging, but it’s also great for compact power banks and travel chargers.

At least once a week, I’ll be cooking while I’m on the phone. I’ve got a MagSafe tripod that’ll keep my phone elevated while I’m cooking, so it’s not just lying flat on a table. I can also easily pack up that tripod and use it for nature photography if I’m hiking or something along those lines. I also have an Anker battery pack that charges the phone via MagSafe. I can stick the battery pack on the phone, then stick both in my pocket, which frees me from having to deal with connecting wires (and would theoretically keep my USB C port free for use as a USB connection, for wired headphones or storage peripherals).

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I bought a MagSafe wallet and other than taking it with me when I travel (there are still some places in the world that don’t accept Apple Pay, so I have a physical credit and debit card in the wallet) I don’t use it!

I keep a credit card and my ID in mine. I drive a lot, so the license stays with me.

It's a handy little wallet, and I've started leaving my iPhone home sometimes when going out, so the wallet is an easy detachment.

 

[MisterSavage]

Also I love how MagSafe makes the Apple Watch into a desktop/night stand clock.

I like that also but I wish the display was able to come on when I move near it like an iPhone in StandBy via MagSafe does.

I tend to use it for mounts more often than charging, but it’s also great for compact power banks and travel chargers.

That's a really good point. Having the option of not dealing with a wire with a travel charger is great.

 

[Cirillo Gherardo]

In name only.

In name AND in concept. Just a different form factor.