MagSafe Charging Port for iPhone Appears in Apple Patent

[tgwaste]

Great. Another proprietary non standard cable to add to Apples Dongle Hell. Apple is slowly becoming Android and vice versa.

 

[mazz0]

All of those would be applicable if they introduce MagSafe on a Mac unless they remove all the usb C ports

What do you mean? It’d still be one specific port, you wouldn’t have the freedom to use any of the ports like you can with USB-C; it’d still be a bespoke cable that wouldn’t charge USB-C devices; you wouldn’t have countless compatible cables (and neither would people and places you visit).

 

[jz0309]

just because there is a patent does not mean it will turn into a product ...
but, if this were to. come to iPhone - pretty stupid, yet another proprietary "port" requiring new cables etc, stupid.
And how is this different from putting USB-C into the iPhone? everyone here complains about that cause it requires new cable etc ...
proprietary ports need to stop!

 

[Bobby Smallwood]

What do you mean? It’d still be one specific port, you wouldn’t have the freedom to use any of the ports like you can with USB-C; it’d still be a bespoke cable that wouldn’t charge USB-C devices; you wouldn’t have countless compatible cables (and neither would people and places you visit).

Very simple, having an extra MagSafe port would just be an extra, pretend it is not there and just go about using the USB C ports like you have in the past. Unless apple goes out of their way to make it suck, I see no negatives. Charge prick has a usb C ports and you chose to use either a MagSafe cable or USBC cable with the charge brick. If you don't want to use mag safe don't, use usb C.

Edit I'm currently using a similar setup with my current mackook air, if my air also had a usb C ports I would have the ability to charge my mac with almost any USB C charger and cable that had enough power.

Nothing wrong with more choice

 

[_Spinn_]

MagSafe works great for a MacBook because it is heavy enough to not move when the cord is snagged. An iPhone is so much lighter that the magnets would have to be pretty weak to achieve the same effect. I would be concerned that the cord would be prone to falling out with normal use - something I had problems with on my old phone that had USB-C after 5 years of use.

 

[macdogpro]

I’m down for this.
Just don’t release this too soon. Planning to keep my 12 mini for at least 3-4 years.

 

[swm]

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

yes, but they all have the 'MagSafe' on the wrong end.

 

[killr_b]

The way it should have been. Why does Tim Cook hate MagSafe?

 

[swm]

Just. use. USB-C.

usb is too big and fragile. if the socket's center lip breaks, your device is bust. that's why lightning is better at many counts. my kids broke at least 10 lightning cables, and all i had to to is to pull it out from the socket and give them another cable. had this happened with a device that has usb sockets, would've cost a whole lot more

 

[Michael Scrip]

usb is too big and fragile. if the socket's center lip breaks, your device is bust. that's why lightning is better at many counts. my kids broke at least 10 lightning cables, and all i had to to is to pull it out from the socket and give them another cable. had this happened with a device that has usb sockets, would've cost a whole lot more

There are over two billion devices out in the world that use USB-C... including Apple's own laptops sold during the last half-decade.

Is USB-C really that fragile?

Yes... there is a little tab in the center of the port. No argument there.

But I haven't heard widespread reports of USB-C ports failing at a rapid pace... thus forcing the USB Forum to start developing a replacement... USB-D or whatever.

 

[bubulol]

There are over two billion devices out in the world that use USB-C... including Apple's own laptops sold during the last half-decade.

Is USB-C really that fragile?

Yes... there is a little tab in the center of the port. No argument there.

But I haven't heard widespread reports of USB-C ports failing at a rapid pace... thus forcing the USB Forum to start developing a replacement... USB-D or whatever.

I am not a big fan of Lightning because we all want standard, it makes life easier if you own multiple devices with usb-c
But i find usb-c quite fragile at least in appearance, Lightning cable/port are more easier to plug/remove
Despite of that, i would prefer Apple fully embrace usb-c and not in an half, Macbook/iPad (Pro and Air 3) use usb-c

 

[Michael Scrip]

I am not a big fan of Lightning because we all want standard, it makes life easier if you own multiple devices with usb-c
But i find usb-c quite fragile at least in appearance, Lightning cable/port are more easier to plug/remove
Despite of that, i would prefer Apple fully embrace usb-c and not in an half, Macbook/iPad (Pro and Air 3) use usb-c

True. I don't have a problem with Lightning... and I also have a MagSafe mount in my car for my iPhone 12 Pro Max.

I just think it's funny that people are always begging Apple to put USB-C in iPhones and other devices.

But now there's this other faction of people who are saying "No! USB-C is fragile and weak!"

You can't please everyone!

🤣

 

[SSDGUY]

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

Exactly. I really have no idea why I'd want to mess with sticking that big disc on the back of my phone when I can just plug it in, and have the option of a faster charge.

 

[SSDGUY]

Exactly. I really have no idea why I'd want to mess with sticking that big disc on the back of my phone when I can just plug it in, and have the option of a faster charge. Unless of course it's strong enough to act as phone holder in my car, but I've also got ACP so setting my phone on the passenger seat or center console works just great.

 

[anshuvorty]

Here is a crazy idea: what if the "portless" iPhone includes this version of MagSafe for charging-only and for data management, you have to use WiFi/BlueTooth?

That way, you can technically call the phone "portless" because you can't really use the port for anything other than charging.

 

[Bobby Smallwood]

MagSafe works great for a MacBook because it is heavy enough to not move when the cord is snagged. An iPhone is so much lighter that the magnets would have to be pretty weak to achieve the same effect. I would be concerned that the cord would be prone to falling out with normal use - something I had problems with on my old phone that had USB-C after 5 years of use.

That's why I don't like USB C on phones, they keep falling out. I never had this issue with Lightning cables. I try to use wireless charging as much as possible with my current phone so that the USB C ports does not crap out.

 

[bubulol]

People are afraid of wireless charging
There is thread which some people are proud of charging iPhone 12 Pro Max with 5w
Give them a brick charger with 1w and they will happy to charge their iPhone even if it takes 2 two days for full charge lol
Its just embarrassing to notice wireless charging (including Magsafe) has so many prejudices

 

[ignatius345]

This should have been the design all along.

 

[swm]

Yes... there is a little tab in the center of the port. No argument there.

indeed. the question is not "if" but "when".

phones tend to fall down, a lot more than laptops. if you have your cable connected, it can totally destroy the connector on the phone on impact. luckily lightning had some sort of "well placed weak spot" that snaps before any other damage is done. you just need to remove the lightning connector from the socket with a pair of tweezers.
it worked the same way with the headphone jack.

 

[swm]

People are afraid of wireless charging

it is amazingly inefficient. you use almost 50% more energy that gets turned into heat and radiated power that is not captured by the coil.

 

[Michael Scrip]

indeed. the question is not "if" but "when".

phones tend to fall down, a lot more than laptops. if you have your cable connected, it can totally destroy the connector on the phone on impact. luckily lightning had some sort of "well placed weak spot" that snaps before any other damage is done. you just need to remove the lightning connector from the socket with a pair of tweezers.
it worked the same way with the headphone jack.

But like I said... there are billions of Android smartphones with USB-C ports.

And yet I haven't heard any widespread reports of those ports being damaged from falls.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[AlexESP]

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

In USB-C, the cable has a female connector, while the phone has a “floating” male conector, recessed into the port. In Lightning, the end of the cable is a solid male connector, while the external space of the phone’s port serves as female conector. You can see it comparing an iPhone to an iPad, the port of the first one is empty, the second one has a small metal sheet in the middle. That sheet is one more element that can break: for example, when you take off the cable, you can apply pressure towards one side and bend it. It’s also harder to clean, and last, Lighting has one small pin on each side so that you have to apply some little force to connect/disconnect.

 

[swm]

But like I said... there are billions of Android smartphones with USB-C ports.
And yet I haven't heard any widespread reports of those ports being damaged from falls.

following this logic, MagSafe for the MacBook family was also unnecessary, right?
to be honest, i don't want my phone to break because of this, and i don't care about the others

 

[Michael Scrip]

following this logic, MagSafe for the MacBook family was also unnecessary, right?
to be honest, i don't want my phone to break because of this, and i don't care about the others

Ok... now I'm confused. 🤣

USB-C on laptops? YES/NO

USB-C on smartphones? YES/NO

Honestly... this is the first time I'm hearing people being against the idea of USB-C on the iPhone.

Usually they're begging for it!

 

[ignatius345]

it is amazingly inefficient. you use almost 50% more energy that gets turned into heat and radiated power that is not captured by the coil.

I agree, but what it lacks in efficiency it makes up for in ease of use. "Just set the phone down face up" is pretty hard to beat, assuming there's a wireless charger close at hand.