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I've been teetering on buying an M1 Mac, but this may well have me waiting for the next generation.

I see a lot of varied comments on MagSafe and folks either loving it or hating it-the two most common complaints seem to be it falling out too easily and the fragile cables.

To the first one-I think Magsafe 2 was a step backward in this regard. My primary computer still is a 2012 15" Pro with Magsafe 1(the Retina models debuted at the same time with Magsafe 2). I have what I call my travel computer also-a 2015 13" Pro. I also have piles of other Magsafe 1 computers and a couple of Magsafe 2(I think I have a few Airs kicking around). My wife's main/only computer is a 2015 Air.

As I'm sitting here on the couch with an original T-type Magsafe 1, it pulls off easily enough and would if, say, someone stepped on the cord, but it otherwise stays put pretty firmly. The L type I would say is even more secure, even though I prefer the T type and that's all I use.

Magsafe 2 uses weaker magnets, has less clamping surface area, and has a larger plug. Magsafe 1 can pull an MBA off the table if you're not careful, especially with an L type charger(which debuted with the original MBA). Magsafe 2 is a better match to the lighter/smaller computers, but it also comes off much easier than Magsafe 1. I suspect most of the complaints of "it detaches too easily" are from folks who are using Magsafe 2.

Second-I won't argue that the cables are way too fragile. In my first several years of Mac ownership, I went through a bunch. Since then, though, I started hoarding them-especially T types-and I haven't killed one in several years. My key to that is that rather than carrying them around with me, I leave them places where I'm likely to use them, and yes that includes several in different rooms in the house.

Someone upthread mentioned that 3rd party MagSafe chargers are available. Don't buy them. I've yet to see one that properly reverse engineers all the "Ju Ju" that goes into genuine Apple ones. When you plug in a genuine Apple one, there's a hardware handshake between the connector and the computer. You can see this happening since it takes a second or so for the LED to light up, and then if charging it takes a bit longer to turn amber. The genuine Apple ones don't come "live" until plugged into a computer so they won't spark if in contact with some other metal object. They can also vary the voltage as appropriate.

The aftermarket and counterfeit ones(there are some convincing counterfeits) are always on and IIRC always supply 18.8V. They can rarely supply their rated capacity, but might tell the computer that they are-say-85W when they're really 45W. This can lead to dangerous overheating. All said and done, they're just not worth it. BTW, if in doubt, there are two nearly definitive tests-short the pins and see if they spark, and see if it delays lighting up when plugged into the computer. If it comes on immediately or sparks, it's fake.

Last thing-Magsafe 1 and Magsafe 2 are electrically compatible and pin compatible. Quite literally the only difference is the shape of the magnet ring. The adapters Apple(and I think others) made/make are passive devices that just pass the power through via straight-through pens and adapt the magnet ring shape.
Since I'm using a 2013 15" rMBP, it's Magsafe 2. But my favorite cables are Magsafe 1 with the adapter for 2. The adapter makes the connector seem more secure because of the added mass, so those are the ones I use in the living room and for travel. At my desk I have a regular magsafe 2 cable.

Honestly, my girlfriend trips over her USB C MBP almost every day. She's always worked remotely so magsafe was amazing for her since there was no "normal" working setup that she could get used to the cable routing.

My arguments for keeping USB as a charging possibility are for connecting to a monitor that can also charge the mac. Other than that, I'm all in for Magsafe. And for gods sakes, give us back the wrapping flip up things. If you're careful, they keep your cables from fraying. I've only ever had one magsafe cable die, from my 2004 white macbook. And I think those were recalled.
 
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I really don’t understand the obsession over MagSafe. I thought it was a fine enough connector and didn’t have any complaints about it at the time. But now that I’ve gotten used to being able to charge from either side and I don’t even need to carry the brick around because I go from place to place with just the MBP and plug into external monitors, going back to MagSafe would be worse for me (if USB-C charging isn’t an option) or simply an unnecessary port at best.

I don’t and never did lay the cord across common walkways so the accidental tripping over the cable without sending the laptop crashing down is not really a selling point to me. Easy connecting and disconnecting I’ll admit was somewhat nice, but I wouldn’t trade say the return of an SD card slot for that.
 
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Interestingly, the M1 laptops seems to need less charging – thus using those MacBooks plugged in would be less commonplace.

I agree. With their insane battery life, I feel comfortable charging my laptop overnight, then bringing it out while leaving my charger at home, confident that it has enough juice to last the day. Just like my iPad. I don’t need MagSafe outdoors if I am never going to charge my laptop while outside.
 
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I too hope the new MacBook computers will still allow charging through USB-C ports in addition to MagSafe. All my other major devices, i.e. Pixel 4, Nintendo Switch and a couple of battery packs, have USB-C, and I can use the charger that came with my 2016 MBP to charge any of them.

I strongly believe the charging mechanism should be standardized around USB PD.
 
I too hope the new MacBook computers will still allow charging through USB-C ports in addition to MagSafe. All my other major devices, i.e. Pixel 4, Nintendo Switch and a couple of battery packs, have USB-C, and I can use the charger that came with my 2016 MBP to charge any of them.

I strongly believe the charging mechanism should be standardized around USB PD.

OTOH USB PD tend to be error prone when two smart devices gets connected.

Example: I have a USB-C portable monitor that works when connected to a 2020 MacBook Pro only when the latter is connected to power. The monitor itself has a battery but only provides 5W through its USB-C port. When neither the monitor nor laptop has external power, apparently the MacBook tries to withdraw power from the monitor, decides that there isn't enough power there, and then terminates the connection – not even providing a video signal out. Interestingly the same monitor works on a 2018 MacBook Pro (with discrete GPU), although the laptop gets a false idea that it's connected to a power outlet, which activates power-consuming processes even when there isn't enough power to begin with.

Example 2: Plugging in a Nintendo Switch into the thunderbolt port of a MacBook would charge the laptop instead of the other way around. Sure the Switch has a switch to switch the roles around. But some other devices (like the monitor above) doesn't.
 
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PLEASE for the love of god, leave the brick-end of the cable USB-C. MagSafe power adapters fraying at the brick-end were the bane of my existence.
I agree. I did enjoy cords that did not accidentally pull my laptop onto the floor (they fly fine, but have problems with the landing) but I hated the proprietary nature that required me to buy Apple bricks (that became useless when the cord or connection point got damaged) and waste the real-estate on the laptop for a port that was JUST for power. I love being able to charge my laptop from any USB-C or TB source with enough power (have even charged my 16" MBP overnight while turned off from a 40W power supply when desperate) and to often have only a single cord to plug in to connect to my display, hard-wired network, backup drives, etc. (having a power cord that is MagSafe while you have other cord(s) that are not defeats whole purpose.). Therefore if what Apple intends is to have one fully functional USB-C/TB4 port that uses a special cable that has a MagSafe connector on one end and a standard USB-C connector on the other (also needs to be available with a female USB-C end to adapt existing cables) so I can still use all my existing power supplies, powered hubs, and thunderbolt displays - all with a single, safe connection to the laptop, I am all for it. If it means going back to a dedicated port for power (meaning extra cables for everything else) and having to re-purchase all new power supplies (and all from Apple), I think it would be a horrible idea.
 
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PLEASE for the love of god, leave the brick-end of the cable USB-C. MagSafe power adapters fraying at the brick-end were the bane of my existence.
My MagSafe cables mostly frayed at the laptop-end... Either that or the laptop-end refuses to provided power unless being attached and detached and wiggled multiple times.
 
What are the odds that the yet to be released Magsafe will still work with the older chargers with an adapter, much like Magsafe 2 was backward compatible with an adapter?
 
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My guess is slim to none and slim left the building long ago.
What are the odds that the yet to be released Magsafe will still work with the older chargers with an adapter, much like Magsafe 2 was backward compatible with an adapter?
Yeah fat chance in hell. Apple, the anointed champion of the environment, will have you buy new chargers.......
 
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My guess is slim to none and slim left the building long ago.

Put a beaver on top of the Empire State Building and it’ll try to build a dam.

Similarly, designers usually have to keep designing.

You’d think at least one of genius minimalist designers higher up at Apple would understand that sometimes less can be more, where a given design can be left alone since it gives 99% of the desired function even after a decade of not being reworked (usually with the excuse of making it “modern, light, and airy”) *and* because sometimes the negatives of something new outweigh the benefits of something new.
 
Put a beaver on top of the Empire State Building and it’ll try to build a dam.

Similarly, designers usually have to keep designing.

You’d think at least one of genius minimalist designers higher up at Apple would understand that sometimes less can be more, where a given design can be left alone since it gives 99% of the desired function even after a decade of not being reworked (usually with the excuse of making it “modern, light, and airy”) *and* because sometimes the negatives of something new outweigh the benefits of something new.

The biggest issue I see is connector size, Apple has moved to thinner and thinner laptops to the point the old connector is simply too big; plus making the power setup backward compatible may have other limitations as well.
 
The biggest issue I see is connector size, Apple has moved to thinner and thinner laptops to the point the old connector is simply too big; plus making the power setup backward compatible may have other limitations as well.
I mean, if we're getting magsafe again like we all hope, there's no reason for Apple to completely redesign it. If it just needs to get thinner, they can just do what they did before, move the pins further apart so the connector is longer and skinnier.
Not sure if that means there will be an adapter but there absolutely could be an adapter.

The only caveat is if they decide to include something like ethernet on the brick like they did for the iMac. Then there's no chance an adapter would be fully functional, if functional at all. They might change the center pin from 1 wire protocol to USB, and end up needing more pins to do that. If they're including something like USB for data, they may also use it for charge state and negotiation.
 
I mean, if we're getting magsafe again like we all hope, there's no reason for Apple to completely redesign it. If it just needs to get thinner, they can just do what they did before, move the pins further apart so the connector is longer and skinnier.
Not sure if that means there will be an adapter but there absolutely could be an adapter.
I guess it depends on the design. If they kept the same pinouts and functionality then there is no reason they couldn't other than the adapters are old and they have no desire to support them. Personally, if they go Magsafe I'd like it to be USB C at each end so the port could double as a USB C if needed rather than add another port; plus that would keep compatibility with older MB's who could simply buy the cable for say $60...
The only caveat is if they decide to include something like ethernet on the brick like they did for the iMac. Then there's no chance an adapter would be fully functional, if functional at all. They might change the center pin from 1 wire protocol to USB, and end up needing more pins to do that. If they're including something like USB for data, they may also use it for charge state and negotiation.

Thta's the kicker as you point out. I am not an analog EE so do not know if say PD could be properly implemented on older power supplies; and things like extra ports etc. would be out of the question.
 
I bought Volta Spark cables, and all of a sudden, both of them had stopped to work with Macbook Air (M1, but I know my friend has the same issue with Intel). Looks like Macbooks can lock-out non-original USB cables. The cables are really great, and they work with other devices, but my Macbook decided, for some reason, to not support it anymore.
 
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