Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MagSafe Charging Port for iPhone Appears in Apple Patent

....and as the world was holding its breath on Apple announcing the iPhone with USBC connector, they instead got a patent surprise.

It would be so awesome now. iPad charges via type C. MacBook charges via MagSafe. iPhone charges from yet another MagSafe or lightning. This is the perfect world of electronics being in harmony. Longing to carry a bag full of adapters, converters, and cable. \m/
 
mazz0 said:
I think that's silly - just use a standard USB port to charge and have a magnetic breakaway section in the cable. There is literally no downside to this approach that I can see and several upsides:
- Standard port, so you can use other cables if you like, and you can charge with any of the devices ports
- Standard cable can be used to charge any USB-C device
- Still has the safety benefit of the magnetic detachability
I'm open to hearing why making it its own port connection is better.
Click to expand...
Someone tripping on the charging cable and sending my device flying was never a primary concern. For me the main benefit of MagSafe was how easy it was to snap on/off your device. I could do it with my eyes closed. Having the breakaway part somewhere in the cable doesn’t help me because I don’t want to walk around with a piece of cable/magnetic adapter dangling from my laptop.

Unfortunately USB-C never caught on as a universal charger. My iPhone 12 Pro still uses lighting. Powerbeats pro and AirPods Pro use lighting. Apple Watch 6 uses its own puck with a USB-A on the other side. MacBook Pro uses USB-C. Magic keyboard and trackpad use lighting. iPad uses lightning (and even though there are some USB-C models, there are a lot of lighting models out there for the next few years).

I think that Apple has given up on the universal standard vision. I also don’t think that a MagSafe charger will come at the expense of a USB-C port, but in addition to what we already have. Right now you can use any USB-C port on the device to charge it. So common sense says that most likely you’ll be able to charge the device using the MagSafe AND the USB-C ports. More choices aren’t a bad thing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mazz0
Apple’s insistence on keeping the iPhone to a proprietary port is incredibly frustrating.

Almost all my tech around the house uses USB-C, including my MBP and iPad Pro! I’m constantly using other devices’ USB-C chargers/cables to top-up other devices, e.g., my PS5 controller cable to charge my iPad. But nope, can’t do that with my iPhone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: decypher44 and icwhatudidthere
Alon1 said:
For me the main benefit of MagSafe was how easy it was to snap on/off your device. I could do it with my eyes closed.
Click to expand...
Ah, that makes sense, thanks for explaining. Pretty minor though right? USB-C is a pretty easy port to plug in (second after Lightning I'd say), and plugging and unplugging doesn't happen often enough for that to be much of a bother?
 
Maybe you can defend the convenience of USB-C in the very short term, but in the short-mid term every phone is going to move to wireless. It’s such an obvious thing that I can’t understand how some people can not see it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: iOS Geek
Getting rid of MagSafe on MacBooks is still one of the most baffling decisions I have ever seen from Apple. It was useful, delightful, and it just worked.

If anything, you have to wonder why this patent was filed 10 years ago since Apple had already perfected MagSafe on MacBooks long before iPhones came around.
 
  • Like
Reactions: decypher44
jefhai said:
Maybe Apple will announce a new USB standard... called USB-MagSafe... and allow phone vendors to also use its USB-C + MagSafe connector. USB-C transfer specs using a new MagSafe connector

Apple / Tim Cook’s original argument against the EU requiring a universal connector for phones was that it prevents innovation. This USB-C + MagSafe connector could be the very innovation Apple was hinting at.
Click to expand...
Of course it doesn’t. You still have the (error-prone) male connector of USB-C in the device, as opposed to Lightning. And innovation is infinite (and subjective), if you limit one parameter you’re limiting innovation.
 
Dulcimer said:
Apple’s insistence on keeping the iPhone to a proprietary port is incredibly frustrating.

Almost all my tech around the house uses USB-C, including my MBP and iPad Pro! I’m constantly using other devices’ USB-C chargers/cables to top-up other devices, e.g., my PS5 controller cable to charge my iPad. But nope, can’t do that with my iPhone.
Click to expand...
Then you would best be served by moving to the Android platform. Why be frustrated? Move to the light of total conformity. Really, do it and be happy.
 
  • Disagree
Reactions: iganiats and decypher44
Michael Scrip said:
I like the idea in the first image.

If this MagSafe concept gets implemented across all of Apple's product lines... we can finally use the same magnetic cable to charge an iPhone and a Macbook. And an iPad and whatever else.

It makes this look ridiculous by comparison:

View attachment 1737903
Click to expand...

no way. Timmy isn’t that courageous. This will a completely different style only for the newest product. Gotta make that dough and screw over the consumers as always
 
  • Like
  • Disagree
Reactions: decypher44 and icanhazmac
vicviper789 said:
They sell USB to lightning cables with a magnetic coupler on Amazon. I thought it was silly at first but I can’t imagine not having one now and I use them on all of my headphones now
Click to expand...

www.amazon.com

TOPK Magnetic Charging Cable,(6-Pack,1ft/3ft/3ft/6ft/6ft/10ft) Magnetic Phone Charger,3-in-1 USB Magnetic Cable Compatible with Micro USB,Type C and iProducts(Black)

TOPK Magnetic Charging Cable,(6-Pack,1ft/3ft/3ft/6ft/6ft/10ft) Magnetic Phone Charger,3-in-1 USB Magnetic Cable Compatible with Micro USB,Type C and iProducts(Black)
www.amazon.com

Nice idea but no CarPlay or data transfer, these charge only and also do not appear MFi certified. My only real need or want for this is for CarPlay so I don't need to plug my phone in a dozen times a day, I could just leave the connector end in. I also doubt the lightning end would clear my phone case.

Will keep looking :(
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
  • Like
Reactions: decypher44 and PeterPanana
vicviper789 said:
They sell USB to lightning cables with a magnetic coupler on Amazon. I thought it was silly at first but I can’t imagine not having one now and I use them on all of my headphones now
Click to expand...
I purchased some of these and found them to be very unreliable. There are lots of different manufacturers - so YMMV. In principle a good idea. In practice, depending on implementation quality, not so good. I guess that could be said of most things, though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bobby Smallwood and decypher44
mazz0 said:
Ah, that makes sense, thanks for explaining. Pretty minor though right? USB-C is a pretty easy port to plug in (second after Lightning I'd say), and plugging and unplugging doesn't happen often enough for that to be much of a bother?
Click to expand...
In the old days I used to plug and unplug it a lot. Nowadays between improved battery life and my increasing reliance on my iPhone/iPad when I’m on the go, my MacBook spends 99% of its time in its dock connected to my monitors and its charger.

There was something super convenient and satisfying about the MagSafe but I can’t say that it would justify itself now unless it introduces higher charging rates or other benefits I can’t think of.

I can still see its potential benefits for the iPhone though. We plug those a lot more on the daily and it can probably help with charging speed and water resistance.
 
Why would they go USB C which is an industry wide adopted port that would also bring parity to their own devices (with Mac and iPad) when they can stick to yet another proprietary standard that generates them X dollars per cable? Apple is money first, logic dead last when it comes to anything potentially causing even a minute loss of income and it’s real adorable when people here forget that
 
  • Like
Reactions: decypher44 and icwhatudidthere
Dulcimer said:
Apple’s insistence on keeping the iPhone to a proprietary port is incredibly frustrating.

Almost all my tech around the house uses USB-C, including my MBP and iPad Pro! I’m constantly using other devices’ USB-C chargers/cables to top-up other devices, e.g., my PS5 controller cable to charge my iPad. But nope, can’t do that with my iPhone.
Click to expand...
It’s a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. When they introduce USB-C to a new device people complain about having to buy new chargers. When they keep the old one, people complain about needing to use different types of chargers and not having one unified standard. I hope that whatever future wireless standard ends this sh**show will be more universal and end this debate
 
Good, now put that on the iPhone, the iPad, the MBP, the Airpods Pro/Max.

And have every other company adopt it so we can throw out our mess of wires.
 
vicviper789 said:
They sell USB to lightning cables with a magnetic coupler on Amazon. I thought it was silly at first but I can’t imagine not having one now and I use them on all of my headphones now
Click to expand...
There are even better options - 20-24 pin breakaways that handle the same PD and data traffic as a straight USB-C cable. They convert a standard USB-C cable to "MagSafe." I use 2 of them on my desk as quick and dirty monitor switch for my two MacBooks. One USB-C cable and I can quickly switch the single USB-C connection to my monitor and pass power, video, audio, and connect to the USB-A webcam plugged into the monitor between the Macs.

1614780981048.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bobcat32
USB-C people will go nuts, but I'm intrigued. If one doesn't need a direct data port and this can do comparable charging it could be really nice. I have migrated to qi charging my phone most of the time, but there are occasions where I need/want to use conductive charging.
  1. no lint/easy lint removal
  2. easier contact maintenence
  3. no clips/springs to wear out, causing a poor/loose connection
  4. easy plugging, comparable to Qi
  5. breakaway safely, I imagine this would more help with preventing extreme cable strain than effective disconnecting when you accidentally trip over your phone
 
gregmancuso said:
There are even better options - 20-24 pin breakaways that handle the same PD and data traffic as a straight USB-C cable. They convert a standard USB-C cable to "MagSafe." I use 2 of them on my desk as quick and dirty monitor switch for my two MacBooks. One USB-C cable and I can quickly switch the single USB-C connection to my monitor and pass power, video, audio, and connect to the USB-A webcam plugged into the monitor between the Macs.

View attachment 1737992
Click to expand...
Sounds nice, name/brand please?

What is the difference between versions using 20/24 pins?
 
Last edited:
AlexESP said:
Of course it doesn’t. You still have the (error-prone) male connector of USB-C in the device, as opposed to Lightning. And innovation is infinite (and subjective), if you limit one parameter you’re limiting innovation.
Click to expand...

What do you mean error prone male connector? Have you seen / or used USB C before? It works just like lighting... it doesn’t matter up or down..

Also, the European Union wanted phones to all have Micro USB at one point... I’m glad iPhones aren’t forced to have that..

let Apple innovate and others will follow
 
  • Like
Reactions: decypher44
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back