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I was originally excited by AirPower and the whole wireless charger products on the way from Apple but this is definitely overpriced considering it is an Apple Watch charger bolted on to a MagSafe charger. I won’t be paying that for it. Also when you pick the phone up surely it will lift the whole charger up? 🤨 that’s not a good user experience.
 
I am waiting for other companies designs' as well. I feel Apple is capitalizing way too much the novelty of their product. In 3-6 months plenty of options will flood the market. Plus it's white, soft plastic/vinyl material and it will get grayish fast, especially since this looks a lot like something a traveler would buy.
 
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If you’re wondering how well the MagSafe charger works, and whether it’s faster than basic Qi or wired charging, watch MaxTech’s YT video on it. For those that primarily charge overnight, you can plug into an old 5W charger and wake up with a fully charged phone. Qi charging, because it slows down to regulate heat, makes it less efficient than even the improved numbers would suggest.

I love the idea of it, more for things like a magnetic battery pack, than I do for a puck charger that really provides little to no benefit. My wife asked me about it, as she just got her new 12 Pro, and there is just no good reason to buy her a MagSafe charger (from Apple). I do think the Belkin 3 in 1 stand will be a great thing, as both my wife and I currently have Qi chargers (pad and stand) and the Apple Watch charger and their separate cables on our bedside tables, which their stand would nicely replace. It will be an expensive $300 addition, but will visually clean up our tables, which is worth it for us.
 
Did they say that this would leave the same circular imprint like the MagSafe charger on their silicone/leather cases?
 
Exactly. I can see how people who “just want to charge” would view this a “rip-off.” However, comparing it to cheap Amazon chargers isn’t really a great argument. Is there anything similar to this from a third party company? I don’t think so. Regardless of how offended people seem to be about an accessory they don’t have to buy, I’m sure Apple will sell a ton. I will be picking up 3 on day one.
At $129 apiece there is certainly lots marketing of room for a better product at half the voice.
 
It is overpriced but it makes me wonder if its more like a concept that they expect other manufacturers to copy. I would guess that this will only be on sale for about a year and then disappear.
 
I guess if you’re cross shopping on Amazon and are willing to risk it with those crappy $29.99 - $40 looking “chargers,” go for it lol
They all work to the same Qi inductive charging standards that were agreed by all the leading device manufacturers, including Apple. It's a really simple technology (little more than two wire loops held close together) that's been around since the 19th century. Electric toothbrushes have been charged that way for donkey's years. Despite what you appear to believe, Apple is not using some special magic version of the standard or proprietary physics.
 
They all work to the same Qi inductive charging standards that were agreed by all the leading device manufacturers, including Apple. It's a really simple technology (little more than two wire loops held close together) that's been around since the 19th century. Electric toothbrushes have been charged that way for donkey's years. Despite what you appear to believe, Apple is not using some special magic version of the standard or proprietary physics.
The anti-competitive thing they did was lock out charging to 15w exclusively to their technology and locked other manufacturers to 7.5 watts.
 
It is overpriced but it makes me wonder if its more like a concept that they expect other manufacturers to copy. I would guess that this will only be on sale for about a year and then disappear.
It's using the open Qi standard that the leading device manufacturers agreed to in 2008. Apple joined in 2017. That's why other manufacturers have already been using induction charging for several years and why you can buy charging mats that work just fine with the iPhone for £4.50 from Ikea (Livboj).
 
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The anti-competitive thing they did was lock out charging to 15w exclusively to their technology and locked other manufacturers to 7.5 watts.
Indeed. I had overlooked the fact that while base compatibility had been retained, several manufactures had extended the standards to suit themselves.
 


Apple last month introduced the MagSafe Duo Charger, which features a foldable design with a built-in MagSafe Charger and Apple Watch charging puck. A new video recentlyshared on YouTube goes hands-on with the accessory.


The video showcases the accessory being used to charge an iPhone 12 and Apple Watch. Similar to the Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock, the Apple Watch charging puck can be pushed up to allow the watch to be docked on its side, enabling Nightstand mode.

The MagSafe Duo has the ability to wirelessly charge a compatible iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods or AirPods Pro case, and other Qi-certified devices. Priced at $129, the charger ships with a USB-C to Lightning cable, but the recommended 20W power adapter is sold separately for $19. An exact release date has still yet to be announced for the accessory.

Article Link: MagSafe Duo Charger Showcased in New Hands-On Vid
 
That’s exactly what I thought. The whole thing just feels ‘off’
It almost seems like a remnant of Jony Ives design, when he was trying to make the Watch charger seem like jewelry store display case pad. I just do not understand how they can be nailing the iPhone and iPad designs with such crisp, industrial and modern looks, then make things like this charger that has ZERO elements of these other successful products. I mean, even the new MagSafe charging puck looks better than the Duo, albeit the MagSafe puck seems like a half-finished item.

Off topic, I think the HomePod and HomePod mini are also carryovers that need updating with more crisp-edged designs. I know it may be my own design ethic, but I much more prefer products with sharp edges, over soft rounded things like the HomePods.
 
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It's using the open Qi standard that the leading device manufacturers agreed to in 2008. Apple joined in 2017. That's why other manufacturers have already been using induction charging for several years and why you can buy charging mats that work just fine with the iPhone for £4.50 from Ikea (Livboj).
I know that, I am not talking about Qi. I’m talking about the portable folding design that can charge both the Apple Watch and the iPhone with MagSafe. My comment had nothing to do with the the Qi charging standard.
 
Having a very hard time understanding that sentence. Sounds like you kind of want it?
MAN, you’re like the biggest cheer leader on this accessory huh? Too funny.. getting me 3 day one and if you don’t agree with me, I’m gonna tell you how it is. Give it a break dude, WE GET IT, you love the price. its ok for others to view a $129 accessory as overpriced. Opinions are welcome in this forum. Quit trying to talk down to others, you are not as special as you think you are ✌️
 
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