MagSafe Charger Teardown Reveals Simple Design With Magnets and Charging Coil Encircling a Small Circuit Board

[MacRumors]

iFixit has today shared a teardown of Apple's new MagSafe charger for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro.

An X-ray of the MagSafe charger courtesy of Creative Electron reveals the internal charging coil surrounded by a circular arrangement of magnets within the puck.

The only seam that iFixit was able to leverage to open the device was where the white rubber circle meets the metal rim, which was connected with a strong, heat-sensitive adhesive.

On the underside of the white cover was an etched copper sticker that traced to four corresponding leads spaced around the outside of the charging coils. Under the coils was a shielded circuit board.

iFixit also offered a comparison with the Apple Watch charging puck, which internally appears to be surprisingly dissimilar to MagSafe. The main difference is the dark ring of magnets around the exterior in the MagSafe charger, which corresponds to magnets within the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro. The Apple Watch charger instead uses a single magnet in the center of the puck to align.

iFixit is expected to release a teardown of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro shortly.

Article Link: MagSafe Charger Teardown Reveals Simple Design With Magnets and Charging Coil Encircling a Small Circuit Board

 

[Morichan]

Its function is already simple. Really what did you expect from wireless charger with magnets? Except higher price.

 

[eicca]

I'm curious how the magnets work with the 12's internal compass, or if the 12 even has an internal compass.

 

[benshive]

I loved MagSafe, but doesn't this kind of defeat a big purpose of wireless charging? Since it's held with magnets I'm going to have to grab the charger and pull it off in order to disconnect it. Isn't it more convenient to just set it down and pick it up?

 

[thadoggfather]

I wonder if the first port-less iPhone will come with these in box.

 

[JosephAW]

Magnet interlocks should have been a standard feature for Qi chargers but how do they force cell phone manufacturers to include support.

 

[ftaok]

I loved MagSafe, but doesn't this kind of defeat a big purpose of wireless charging? Since it's held with magnets I'm going to have to grab the charger and pull it off in order to disconnect it. Isn't it more convenient to just set it down and pick it up?

This won’t work for everyone, but you could always stick the MagSafe disc onto your counter with some sticky tape or suction cups. As long as that bond is stronger than the magnetic bond on the iPhone, you’re golden.

 

[AngerDanger]

I'm curious how the magnets work with the 12's internal compass, or if the 12 even has an internal compass.

They'll work fine; I have the MagSafe charger and it caused no interference with the compass on my XS.

 

[Chrjy]

So it looks like they are upgradeable!

 

[MacBebe]

I loved MagSafe, but doesn't this kind of defeat a big purpose of wireless charging? Since it's held with magnets I'm going to have to grab the charger and pull it off in order to disconnect it. Isn't it more convenient to just set it down and pick it up?

I think the magnet's purpose is to make sure that the device is aligned with the charger for proper charging. In my case, I find it sometimes that my iphone is not charged when I wake up in the morning.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Magnet interlocks should have been a standard feature for Qi chargers but how do they force cell phone manufacturers to include support.

From what I understand, Apple’s providing this back to the group overseeing Qi compatibility, so they won’t have to force them, they’ll likely adopt it as a part of the standard on newer phones.

 

[VSMacOne]

It sounds like they learned from the AirPower fiasco. Simple is good.

 

[philr5150]

I'm glad there's a ring of magnets rather than just the one re: the Apple Watch charger, I have quite a time (no pun intended) getting the watch to perfectly align on the stand I have for it. Just a fraction off and it won't charge.

 

[pmas76]

This won’t work for everyone, but you could always stick the MagSafe disc onto your counter with some sticky tape or suction cups. As long as that bond is stronger than the magnetic bond on the iPhone, you’re golden.

I just installed a couple of these MagSafe chargers on my kitchen counter. I plugged them into my undermount cabinet electrical sockets, used clear tape to secure the wire to the backsplash and counter, and 3M double sided tissue tape to hold the charger to the countertop. Works like a charm!

 

[Sam Squanch]

For those who have one how fast is it charging? I ask because I watched a video by MaxTech and the Magsafe charger he has is ridiculously slow compared to even the cheap chi charger he has.

 

[GtrDude]

Probably not much more than 2-4 dollars total cost make each one.
Add 1 dollar for packaging and boom! 39 dollars in the store.
30-34 dollars in profit on each unit, tens of millions will be sold.

 

[acblue94]

I loved MagSafe, but doesn't this kind of defeat a big purpose of wireless charging? Since it's held with magnets I'm going to have to grab the charger and pull it off in order to disconnect it. Isn't it more convenient to just set it down and pick it up?

Yes it is 100%.

 

[Unity451]

I loved MagSafe, but doesn't this kind of defeat a big purpose of wireless charging? Since it's held with magnets I'm going to have to grab the charger and pull it off in order to disconnect it. Isn't it more convenient to just set it down and pick it up?

I think the benefit of this is that it *snaps* to your phone, so you don't have to worry about alignment issues when quickly setting it down, which is common. Functionally it's the same as the Apple Watch. Personally, I think it's a good idea, but I think they messed up calling it MagSAFE and associating it with the old MacBook MagSafe because unlike the MacBooks, it doesn't provide the same SAFEty feature as shown in previous MR videos. Basically it's just an easier way to connect a charging cable to your phone. They should've just called it MagConnect or something similar (that they could trademark ).

 

[sajlonix]

can't wait for more reviews about that flawless magsafe wallet 😅

 

[manu chao]

I loved MagSafe, but doesn't this kind of defeat a big purpose of wireless charging? Since it's held with magnets I'm going to have to grab the charger and pull it off in order to disconnect it. Isn't it more convenient to just set it down and pick it up?

You get something that is in-between Lightning and Qi both in regard to charging speed as well as convenience. Whether that compromise makes sense for you depends on how you value these differences.

 

[manu chao]

I think the benefit of this is that it *snaps* to your phone, so you don't have to worry about alignment issues when quickly setting it down, which is common. Functionally it's the same as the Apple Watch. Personally, I think it's a good idea, but I think they messed up calling it MagSAFE and associating it with the old MacBook MagSafe because unlike the MacBooks, it doesn't provide the same SAFEty feature as shown in previous MR videos. Basically it's just an easier way to connect a charging cable to your phone. They should've just called it MagConnect or something similar (that they could trademark ).

Well, it is more SAFEly connected than standard Qi.

 

[CarlJ]

I loved MagSafe, but doesn't this kind of defeat a big purpose of wireless charging? Since it's held with magnets I'm going to have to grab the charger and pull it off in order to disconnect it. Isn't it more convenient to just set it down and pick it up?

I loved MagSafe too, and setting my iPhone down on a Qi stand is. Ore convenient than this charger, but this is not so much about convenience as it is about establishing a new secure (as in securely attached) charging system, before they drop the Lightning port next year.

 

[FightTheFuture]

A good gag gift would be to custom fit a reverse polarity magnet in this charger so when people tried to put their iPhone on, it would push it off.

 

[rubaxter]

To lure me to iPhone, Apple needs to make recharging less frequent, not easier or gliztier once you buy the aftermarket 'certified but deliberately not included' $$$$ charging equipment. I can easily use normal QI charging, so pseuco-MagSafe is nice but not a feature I want at the expense of other, useful features. On a laptop REAL MagSafe made sense; here it's just for people who can't be bothered to pay attention or get an effective QI solution.

I didn't buy last time because of bigger battery, better reception, and speedier modem elsewhere, regardless of the longer upgrade/relevance of iPhones models. That will still rule next time.

 

[name99]

I loved MagSafe, but doesn't this kind of defeat a big purpose of wireless charging? Since it's held with magnets I'm going to have to grab the charger and pull it off in order to disconnect it. Isn't it more convenient to just set it down and pick it up?

Some people want that freedom to use the phone while it is charging.
If you don't, just latch down the charging puck. There are many ways to do this, from 3M Command to nanosuction tape.
We live a glorious golden age of non-destructive "artificial friction".