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MagSafe Charger Prototype Reveals Abandoned 2010s Design

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Images purporting to reveal the original version of Apple's MagSafe charger today surfaced online, providing a look at how the company conceived of the accessory over two and a half years before its release.

magsafe-charger-original-prototype.jpg

The images, shared by the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami," claim to show the original version of the MagSafe charger that Apple considered launching. The prototype has a production date of March 2017, a key period in the development of Apple's AirPower wireless charging mat. This version of MagSafe was apparently developed directly alongside AirPower.

The earlier version of MagSafe for iPhone features a rubberized outer shell that feels similar to the base of the HomePod, rounded edges, a different array of magnets with opposite magnetism, and a large Apple logo. It is apparently the same approximate size as the final version, but noticeably thinner. The design language distinctively harks back to an earlier period in Apple's history that more generously used white rubberized plastics and featured its logo more prominently.



Following the cancelation of AirPower in March 2019, Apple apparently revisited this earlier MagSafe concept and rebooted the project. It ultimately launched with the design we know today alongside the iPhone 12 in October 2020, seeming to taking direct inspiration from the Apple Watch's charger with a thicker silver aluminum outer shell, flat sides, and no Apple logo.

magsafecasedangle.jpg
The ultimately released version of MagSafe for iPhone (2020).​


Kosutami previously shared images of various Apple charger prototypes, including a functional AirPower charging mat, different color options tested for the MagSafe charger, and an unreleased "Magic Charger" accessory.

Article Link: MagSafe Charger Prototype Reveals Abandoned 2010s Design
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/01/10/magsafe-charger-prototype-reveals-abandoned-design/
Spaceboi Scaphandre said:
I am really glad they didn't go with that rubber design. Having the puck be flat metal makes a lot more sense and a lot cleaner.
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Literally cleaner, as the white rubbery one would have become dirty over time. [That said, I do like the ”vintage” feel of the prototype. I would be crazy about an iPhone mini in a version of the original iPhone’s body, with no MagSafe and no camera array.]
 
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CharlesShaw said:
Literally cleaner, as the white rubbery one would have become dirty over time.
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Not just dirtier but would slowly wear overtime due to friction and heat. We've seen the longterm damage Apple's old rubber accessories used to go through, especially the Mac's original magsafe. There's a reason for Magsafe 3 they went with woven cables instead of rubber.
 
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Spaceboi Scaphandre said:
Not just dirtier but would slowly wear overtime due to friction and heat. We've seen the longterm damage Apple's old rubber accessories used to go through, especially the Mac's original magsafe. There's a reason for Magsafe 3 they went with woven cables instead of rubber.
Click to expand...
Apple switched to woven for all of their power adapter cables across the entire product line likely for this reason. Their old proprietary power adapters were notorious for failing. I think the I replaced the "UFO" power adapter on my old Pismo PowerBook G3 at least 3 times in the six years I had it. All of my MagSafe MacBooks had to have the power adapters replaced at least once, sometimes twice. To me the biggest win from Apple wasn't the return of MagSafe 3, it's the fact that the power cable between the brick and the laptop are now replaceable without discarding the whole charger.
 
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So cool to see what could have been, the front looks so good and sleek imo. The back kinda reminds me of the UFO AirPort modem!
 
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Spaceboi Scaphandre said:
I am really glad they didn't go with that rubber design. Having the puck be flat metal makes a lot more sense and a lot cleaner.
Click to expand...
Same here! I am not a great fan of white rubber. When new, it really does look quite nice. In my experience though, when the rubber ages, the white has a yellow or tan tint and that makes it look really ugly (or even dirty, or even like a bit of it has burnt). Is there a way they could manufacture the white rubber not to age with yellow tint?
 
bradman83 said:
Apple switched to woven for all of their power adapter cables across the entire product line likely for this reason. Their old proprietary power adapters were notorious for failing. I think the I replaced the "UFO" power adapter on my old Pismo PowerBook G3 at least 3 times in the six years I had it. All of my MagSafe MacBooks had to have the power adapters replaced at least once, sometimes twice. To me the biggest win from Apple wasn't the return of MagSafe 3, it's the fact that the power cable between the brick and the laptop are now replaceable without discarding the whole charger.
Click to expand...
That problem with the rubber sheathing, especially at the point when it entered the brick or similar object was so problematic. Why did it take Apple such a long time to switch out of that rubber sheathing? You see the issue also with Lightning cables at the Lightning end. Over time, it is possible for that rubber sheathing close to that tip to sort of bulge out, possible because of the rubber bending back and forth over time. Terrible.

And, we're not talking about cheap cables either! These cables, relative to other brands, are on the expensive range.
 
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orbital~debris said:
I love the tactile feeling (even better if accompanied by the iOS chime) of the MagSafe charging disc when attaching to iPhone. It's also particularly nice to 'push' the disc off iPhone when a silicone MagSafe case is attached.

This kind of stuff that Apple do so well seems to be under appreciated.
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It’s true, I take a lot of the nice little touches for granted. So when the not so nice touches come out it feels almost like a splinter in an otherwise smooth piece of wood.

Had to help someone with an Android phone yesterday with the same app I use on iOS all the time and all I could think the whole time is ”my god it’s all so ugly.” Even trying to make the app look exactly the same, the Android UI elements are just so…inelegant.
 
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And also no visible logo. I like to have one of these sitting on a end table in my living room and logos through of the aesthetic I have.
 
bradman83 said:
Apple switched to woven for all of their power adapter cables across the entire product line likely for this reason. Their old proprietary power adapters were notorious for failing. I think the I replaced the "UFO" power adapter on my old Pismo PowerBook G3 at least 3 times in the six years I had it. All of my MagSafe MacBooks had to have the power adapters replaced at least once, sometimes twice. To me the biggest win from Apple wasn't the return of MagSafe 3, it's the fact that the power cable between the brick and the laptop are now replaceable without discarding the whole charger.
Click to expand...
Agreed. And the option of also charging with usb-c is appreciated. I remember when I had to replace a MagSafe 2 for close to $100 because the cable frayed and fell apart.
 
msackey said:
That problem with the rubber sheathing, especially at the point when it entered the brick or similar object was so problematic. Why did it take Apple such a long time to switch out of that rubber sheathing? You see the issue also with Lightning cables at the Lightning end. Over time, it is possible for that rubber sheathing close to that tip to sort of bulge out, possible because of the rubber bending back and forth over time. Terrible.

And, we're not talking about cheap cables either! These cables, relative to other brands, are on the expensive range.
Click to expand...
Most woven cables (including the new Apple ones) actually still have a rubber sheath under the fabric. The issue with durability before wasn’t the rubber per se but the fact that it had to both protect against moisture and physical damage. The rubber degrades mainly because of heat produced by the charging point and becomes more susceptible to damage, and that area is also subject to more wear and tear. Woven cables likely let manufacturers use a thinner and softer rubber sheath.
 
szw-mapple fan said:
Most woven cables (including the new Apple ones) actually still have a rubber sheath under the fabric. The issue with durability before wasn’t the rubber per se but the fact that it had to both protect against moisture and physical damage. The rubber degrades mainly because of heat produced by the charging point and becomes more susceptible to damage, and that area is also subject to more wear and tear. Woven cables likely let manufacturers use a thinner and softer rubber sheath.
Click to expand...
Interesting! I did wonder whether the heat had something to do with the yellowing of the white rubber. The rubber sheathing coming out of my MagSafe puck has started to slightly yellow and I thought perhaps the small amount of heat the puck generates yellows the sheathing over time. That really sucks. It's ugly too.
 
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I recall hearing about the Mag safe for iPhones during that time. Many people heard about and wanted the new iPhone to have it. But when it didn't, I like the rest was not happy. I was hoping that the iPhone X would have it. But sadly, it didn't.
 
Glad to see the current metallic versions are the final ones. The prototypes don't look great. Would like to see more colours for the MagSafe charger.
 
orbital~debris said:
I love the tactile feeling (even better if accompanied by the iOS chime) of the MagSafe charging disc when attaching to iPhone. It's also particularly nice to 'push' the disc off iPhone when a silicone MagSafe case is attached.

This kind of stuff that Apple do so well seems to be under appreciated.
Click to expand...
Agree! Nice to see you acknowledge those under-the-radar things Apple does so well and that no one ever talks about. The way things connect, click, transition, relate, feel, sound, etc. - they garner zero headlines or clicks, but they're the subtle things, that cumulatively, and quietly, are what separates Apple from others. At their best, you see these subtleties in both hard- and software.
 
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