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Love MagSafe, hate the heat.....

Ds6778

Ds6778

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 9, 2016
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MagSafe is pretty cool, however it gets way too hot. I’m using the Apple 20W charger with it and this thing gets hot fast. I can’t imagine this will good for the battery health. I noticed that it stays warm even when charged all the way. I think the idea of MagSafe is great but this wasn’t implemented very well.
 
Been using my MagSafe charger with my 12pm since Friday, and before that with my 11 pro Max for a week. Never noticed any warmth.
 
Not while charging but have pulled the phone off it to use it a couple times...I mounted the puck on the wall of my headboard so my phone floats vertically.
 
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Ds6778 said:
MagSafe is pretty cool, however it gets way too hot. I’m using the Apple 20W charger with it and this thing gets hot fast. I can’t imagine this will good for the battery health. I noticed that it stays warm even when charged all the way. I think the idea of MagSafe is great but this wasn’t implemented very well.
Click to expand...
I made a thread a couple days ago regarding this issue...

Anyways i encountering the same thing. Got two pucks... one is extreme hot over time and the other one seems semi hot... but both charges quickly. Did tried it on two different adapter (ravpower 90w and 30w)... but seems like most people are having this issues despite of the adapter being used...
 
This makes me wonder... what's the smallest wattage charger you can use with MagSafe?

Let's say you don't care about charging speed and you just want to maintain a charge while talking on the phone or watching a video. You shouldn't need a lot of wattage for that. And the heat should be less too.

And on a related note... what's a good USB-C 12V car charger to use with MagSafe? I want to build a DIY MagSafe mount for my car.
 
Ds6778 said:
MagSafe is pretty cool, however it gets way too hot. I’m using the Apple 20W charger with it and this thing gets hot fast. I can’t imagine this will good for the battery health. I noticed that it stays warm even when charged all the way. I think the idea of MagSafe is great but this wasn’t implemented very well.
Click to expand...

Hi Ds6778,

I phoned Apple about this temperature issue earlier today. I was told it was to be expected. The heat is drawn out away from the Logic Board, so the phone back and MagSafe charger will get warm/hot. I was also told that it's to be used without a case, and to not use the phone while charging with the puck.

Given all this, MagSafe charging is an option I'm not interested in.
 
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Michael Scrip said:
This makes me wonder... what's the smallest wattage charger you can use with MagSafe?

Let's say you don't care about charging speed and you just want to maintain a charge while talking on the phone or watching a video. You shouldn't need a lot of wattage for that. And the heat should be less too.

And on a related note... what's a good USB-C 12V car charger to use with MagSafe? I want to build a DIY MagSafe mount for my car.
Click to expand...
I’m using the RavPower car adapter. Haven’t tested for charging speed, but it works for me. I put a metal plate on the back of the MagSafe, and it holds strongly to my magnetic dash mount.
 

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sk2sep2304 said:
I wouldn’t MagSafe charge if you plan on keeping your phone longer than a year. You’ll be at around 80% battery health with constant use for two years.
Click to expand...

My wife and I just got our Iphone's on Friday and honestly we aren't sold on MagSafe either. We are upgrading from the XS Max (to the Max Pro) and usually keep our phones 2 years. A lot of the comments about heat, discoloration on the puck (and marking on the case) quite frankly are making this option not as attractive. I was looking at the magsafe duo/belkin charger that are coming out but I just don't know. My 2 year old Mophie 10W wireless charger works on the Iphone 12 Pro Max so we are considering just using it and buying that 20W Apple brick (to use as a plug in option with the lightning cable). I know the Mophie isn't super fast but it's for bedtime charging usually and it works.

We also thought about just getting a new Qi charging pad that will work with the Iphone 12 since it would be nice to have more room. We just need to find one that will work with Iphone 12 as I read many of them don't. We have apple watches also so we used to having 2 separate chargers. I guess we will think on it.
 
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KayEm6419 said:
Hi Ds6778,

I phoned Apple about this temperature issue earlier today. I was told it was to be expected. The heat is drawn out away from the Logic Board, so the phone back and MagSafe charger will get warm/hot. I was also told that it's to be used without a case, and to not use the phone while charging with the puck.

Given all this, MagSafe charging is an option I'm not interested in.
Click to expand...


So does Apple actually expect someone to take the phone out of the case to charge it with MagSafe each time? I can tell you right now I wouldn't be up to doing that nor would my wife. Obviously you can charge with a case and I assume that's why Apple also shows the MagSafe ring that is left behind on the case (which is something else that bothers me). I think I am definitely leaning towards not worrying about it and using my old Qi charger that still works and maybe buying the Apple 20W brick as a wired back up solution. We needed to buy a couple new Apple bricks anyway so we might as well get the newer ones. The Qi charger doesn't charge super fast but I think we can deal with it (or again just go wired with the 20W brick if it bothers us). The Belkin 3 in 1 that is coming out soon was the only MagSafe accessory I really liked but I am not sure now.

I think I am a tad hung up on using the MagSafe since it's a new phone and new tech for this iphone. However I don't know if it's worth it honestly. I guess I will think on it.
 
To be honest as time goes on I am seriously considering just getting a standard Qi charger, originally I wanted the MagSafe duo, then saw the price, so then opting to go for the Belkin Boost Pro, but at the price, I am just contemplating a standard Qi charging stand... but I am still tied at this point... don’t know if all this MagSafe is going to be altered in the future but I think Apple will refine it with MagSafe 2.0 or something either next year or the year after, making a hefty purchase of a MagSafe stand seems a bit redundant already.
 
James Godfrey said:
To be honest as time goes on I am seriously considering just getting a standard Qi charger, originally I wanted the MagSafe duo, then saw the price, so then opting to go for the Belkin Boost Pro, but at the price, I am just contemplating a standard Qi charging stand... but I am still tied at this point... don’t know if all this MagSafe is going to be altered in the future but I think Apple will refine it with MagSafe 2.0 or something either next year or the year after, making a hefty purchase of a MagSafe stand seems a bit redundant already.
Click to expand...

I feel the same way. The MagSafe Duo and Belkin are the only ones we were considering. I think the Belkin looks way nicer but to me it is still overpriced (the MagSafe Duo is way worse though in my opinion with regards to price). Our Mophie Qi chargers we used for the XS Max still work fine so I guess it makes sense to keep using them. Plus we are thinking about upgrading watches (we currently have Series 4) so that money could go towards that. Not sure what we will do but leaning towards waiting.
 
Once my 12 Pro got past its initial indexing and all the other things new phones do, it never got hot on the MagSafe charger again, with or without silicone or clear case or third party non magnet case. But the first night I had it and put it on the MagSafe, I woke to a boiling hot phone and charger and the battery had actually been drained from almost full to around 20%.

I’ve since had a regular 12 and a Samsung S20 and 11 Pro charging on it with no problems. I’ve had worse heat experiences on my regular Qi chargers than on MagSafe (so far).
 
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YOTR said:
So does Apple actually expect someone to take the phone out of the case to charge it with MagSafe each time? I can tell you right now I wouldn't be up to doing that nor would my wife. Obviously you can charge with a case and I assume that's why Apple also shows the MagSafe ring that is left behind on the case (which is something else that bothers me). I think I am definitely leaning towards not worrying about it and using my old Qi charger that still works and maybe buying the Apple 20W brick as a wired back up solution. We needed to buy a couple new Apple bricks anyway so we might as well get the newer ones. The Qi charger doesn't charge super fast but I think we can deal with it (or again just go wired with the 20W brick if it bothers us). The Belkin 3 in 1 that is coming out soon was the only MagSafe accessory I really liked but I am not sure now.

I think I am a tad hung up on using the MagSafe since it's a new phone and new tech for this iphone. However I don't know if it's worth it honestly. I guess I will think on it.
Click to expand...

Hi YOTR,

Here's a link How to use your MagSafe Charger with iPhone 12 models to the article Apple emailed to me following a 2nd phone call.
 
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KayEm6419 said:
Hi YOTR,

Here's a link How to use your MagSafe Charger with iPhone 12 models to the article Apple emailed to me following a 2nd phone call.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I also spoke to soon about my old Mophie charger. I just quickly tested it last night and it worked. However I tried it this morning and noticed it does start charging but then stops less than 30 seconds later with the charge light flashing. After researching a bit, it seems like other users are having the same issue. So I guess I need to buy another Qi charger, go with MagSafe, or plug it in all the time via the lightning port. We use wireless charging a lot so I guess I need to make a decision. I am definitely getting the 20W Apple brick regardless though so I have that as a backup with the lightning cable.
 
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GrumpyMom said:
Once my 12 Pro got past its initial indexing and all the other things new phones do, it never got hot on the MagSafe charger again, with or without silicone or clear case or third party non magnet case. But the first night I had it and put it on the MagSafe, I woke to a boiling hot phone and charger and the battery had actually been drained from almost full to around 20%.

I’ve since had a regular 12 and a Samsung S20 and 11 Pro charging on it with no problems. I’ve had worse heat experiences on my regular Qi chargers than on MagSafe (so far).
Click to expand...
Good to know you are not having heat issues with the MagSafe. Are you using the Apple 20watt adaptor with it?
 
firoze said:
Good to know you are not having heat issues with the MagSafe. Are you using the Apple 20watt adaptor with it?
Click to expand...
I'm using the one that came with my 11 Pro, I forget what the wattage is on it. I think it's 18. I use my Magsafe to charge my Samsung s20 and my Airpods Pro, too. It's been really versatile and better than my older, larger chargers.
 
Yes it must be the 18W adaptor. Good to know the MagSafe is working so well for you. I suspect some MagSafe chargers are defective, hence the many complaints of excessive heat.
 
I have MagSafe & Duo
Have tried them with 18,20,87w chargers.
they get hot, fact of life. Samsung has fans for 9w charging, it’s physics.
I don’t care about the battery health, convenience is nice, although I would have liked a 2m MagSafe.
 
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YOTR said:
Thank you! I also spoke to soon about my old Mophie charger. I just quickly tested it last night and it worked. However I tried it this morning and noticed it does start charging but then stops less than 30 seconds later with the charge light flashing. After researching a bit, it seems like other users are having the same issue. So I guess I need to buy another Qi charger, go with MagSafe, or plug it in all the time via the lightning port. We use wireless charging a lot so I guess I need to make a decision. I am definitely getting the 20W Apple brick regardless though so I have that as a backup with the lightning cable.
Click to expand...
My mophie 3-1 refused to work with my 12Pro consistently. Flashing lights which I assume is metal detection. Best thing to do is buy new chargers, how environmentally friendly ;)
 
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