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iPhone Air MagSafe Battery Pack Uses Same Battery as iPhone Air

Radeon85 said:
If anyone buys this battery pack, why didn’t you just get a slightly thicker phone? Because with this thing attached, it’s fatter than a Pro phone 😄

The Air has way too many compromises.
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For modularity. Same idea with iPad/flip cover/Smart Keyboard. I can pick and choose what combo I need for a particular day. For most days I can see the air’s battery being enough for me, but it’s nice to know that I have the option for a longer battery life without too much added weight if I need it.
 
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Tagbert said:
People here are still making the same complaint as the first day that since Apple decided to provide a battery pack that must mean that the battery life sucks and everyone is expected to use a thick battery pack all of the time. I guess looking at the specs showing a good battery life or ready any of the articles is just too much to ask.
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I think it comes down to really needing to mustering up some Apple hate. Can't be done if one spends a few minutes reading, and more importantly understanding, what the 17 Air battery pack is about.
 
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TracesOfArsenic said:
"Not buying it" is one thing but I'd rather the Air didn't exist. In its place could be a properly specced Mini. A form factor that is actually different and serves a different audience.
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And I’m glad that it does. And I suspect you will be too when some of the features and innovations work its way into the rest of the lineup, like what happened with the MacBook Air. Maybe what they learn making the Air will allow them to make a “flip” phone with the same dimensions as the old mini. Or a phone that is more comfortable for you to use.

FWIW, I do wish they’d make a smaller phone for people who prefer it, but the market has clearly spoken that it’s not a big enough user base. If it was, someone on Android would be doing it and they’re not.
 
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MacRumors said:
The iPhone Air MagSafe Battery is thicker than the iPhone Air, and iFixit speculates that the size was the minimum needed to make it a viable product. The battery inside is protected with plastic and it does not have the same titanium frame as the iPhone Air.
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But the iPhone Air is thinner and it's probably a viable product!

If the battery in the Air Magsafe Battery is only encased in plastic (the outside housing of the device?), and not in the same titanium housing as inside the iPhone Air, it's not quite the same battery in that respect, but I guess it doesn't have to be since the titanium housing around the battery inside the Air is meant to help increase rigidity to try to prevent bending the Air, which doesn't seem to be an issue with the Air Magsafe Battery.
 
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jdavid_rp said:
How viable would be to make the apple logo a circuit between the battery and the accessories (like a Smart Connector from the ipad) so this kind of batteries could be more efficient?
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How about while doing that let iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch all charge directly to it. The whole idea that Apple doesn’t have something that works with all three products is a fail. Especially when AirPower was supposed to do that technically and the only problem was three devices at the same time would heat it up.
 
surferfb said:
Just because a device isn’t for you doesn’t mean those who like it have “more money than brains.”

Literally the exact same comments were made about the first MacBook Air. Here’s a random one from that thread:



Turns out a lot of the innovation from that device (that, yes was compromised and expensive) led to the amazing thin laptops, phones and tablets we have today. Was it for everyone, no. But aren’t we glad Apple made it anyway?

Glad Apple doesn’t take product design advice from MacRumors forum posters.
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And yet we have the iPhone mini and iPhone Plus.
 
surferfb said:
And I’m glad that it does. And I suspect you will be too when some of the features and innovations work its way into the rest of the lineup, like what happened with the MacBook Air. Maybe what they learn making the Air will allow them to make a “flip” phone with the same dimensions as the old mini. Or a phone that is more comfortable for you to use.

FWIW, I do wish they’d make a smaller phone for people who prefer it, but the market has clearly spoken that it’s not a big enough user base. If it was, someone on Android would be doing it and they’re not.
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Apple work on new devices around 5 years out from their release date. If there's going to be a flip phone next year, it's well into development, and it's likely influenced the Air, not the other way around.
 
tobybrut said:
I do wish there were a mini as well for my daughter’s sake, since she loves her 13 mini, but people just didn’t buy it in any significant quantity to justify keeping it. The same goes for the iPhone Plus models. The vast majority wants bigger and bigger screens to the point where foldables are a thing. It’s quite possible not enough people will buy an Air to the point where it will be discontinued, but we’ll see how that goes. If indeed the Air is just a test drive for the Apple Foldable and how thin they can make a phone, the Air may end up being discontinued in favor of the foldable.
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I almost bought a 12 mini to replace my 2016 SE. I couldn’t get past the (still) idiotic camera warts and (at least at the time) stupidity of the Siri/side button placement. That last item may have been somewhat mitigated now, tho. I’m glad Apple’s designers switched back to squared edges so the thing actually had grip again, which is why I still clutch my 2016 SE today. No, I don’t do cases because I don’t fall for their victimizing marketing (you’re not as stupid as they try to convince you that you are).
 
surferfb said:
And I’m glad that it does. And I suspect you will be too when some of the features and innovations work its way into the rest of the lineup, like what happened with the MacBook Air. Maybe what they learn making the Air will allow them to make a “flip” phone with the same dimensions as the old mini. Or a phone that is more comfortable for you to use.

FWIW, I do wish they’d make a smaller phone for people who prefer it, but the market has clearly spoken that it’s not a big enough user base. If it was, someone on Android would be doing it and they’re not.
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Do keep in mind that they mothballed the MBA and spat on its grave with the “new” lame idea of the Air. It’s a joke of a case design and one Apple should be ashamed to call an “Air”. It’s a stupid mini-Pro. Not an Air. It’s heavier, it’s boxy (hello IBM!), and just not iconic. I got one and I shake my head every day I look at it and grimace with “gah, this thing…”.

All the innards are nice and sexy.. it’s just the body shell that’s hideous and reeks of lazy industrial design.
 
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oneMadRssn said:
And this is a perfect real-world example of why wireless charging stinks. 65% efficiency in electric energy transfer is abysmal.
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If one were to connect a usb-c cable to the battery pack (this one or any other 3rd party MagSafe pack) and then attach it to the back of the phone, which method would take priority?

If it’s usb, I wonder when we’ll see someone trying to sell little U-shaped USB-C to hook the two together for those who don’t want to waste the electricity. :)
 
What am I missing from the Air vs standard 17. Standard 17 is only 12gms heavier, you wont notice that and it has two cameras.
 
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That thing is a design failure... they should have used the smart connector from the iPad. Using a wireless charging interface in that setup is a stupid decision from every aspect.
 
Just no to a battery pack on this device, looks awful and completely defeats the object. They aren’t pushing a MagSafe battery on the standard 17 which has pretty much the same battery life. Maybe if the battery was as thin as the phone and titanium but that white plastic monster……nope.
 
vvvvvv said:
I'd take a mini over the Air in a heartbeat. I also acknowledge that I'm in the minority there.

That said, given the current options, the Air is certainly a notch above the rest (for me).
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Why does everyone always add in "I'm in the minority" when talking about wanting a new mini? I don't remember anyone asking for a thinner phone, but there has been a low yet persistent request for a mini since the iPhone 14 came out.
 
Radeon85 said:
If anyone buys this battery pack, why didn’t you just get a slightly thicker phone? Because with this thing attached, it’s fatter than a Pro phone 😄

The Air has way too many compromises.
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Incorrect. The Air has nearly the same battery life as the 17. There are some compromises, sure, but not that many. And I don’t get why people act like this battery is required or something. “Why not just get a thicker phone” etc. it’s simple. You have a phone that is light and very thin to use when that is appropriate and will work for you. If you need extra capacity on certain days or in certain situations, you add the external battery. Simple and elegant.
 
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