I'm sorry, I've tried to love this product, and then I even tried to just like it, but its just absolutely terrible. Apple has effectively ruined wireless charging in their new devices all in the name of keeping things proprietary for them to keep the cash rolling in. Its is such a poorly done product that makes absolutely zero sense outside of Apple screwing over both the consumer, and manufacturers of Qi charging products.
I watched an interesting video on YouTube (SnazzyLabs) who theorized that Apple made MagSafe because they refuse to comply with the EU's new law that states that all manufacturers must now use the same chargers (USB-C). Apple will be forced after this year to make all of their phones with a standard USB-C charging cable. Well that would be a huge loss of income for Apple due to the fact that the lightning cable and 3rd party MFI (Made for iPhone) lightning cables is a billion dollar industry. Apple makes $4 for every single lightning cable sold in the world with the MFI logo on them. That is a massive amount of money lost if they had to comply to this new law in Europe. So to get around this law, they are going to make a portless phone that only charges with Magsafe next year. 3rd party Manufacturers will have to comply to Apple's standards and have the MFI logo put on any MagSafe alternatives to wirelessly charging, which keeps the cash in Apple's hands. I realize this is a business but they are forcing manufacturers to comply to a new standard of wireless charging while also making us as the consumer buy new wireless chargers if we want to get the full benefit out of them.
The other reason I hate Magsafe is that its crippled all of my other wireless chargers. Apple purposely made its new iPhones only capable of charging at a VERY low wattage on standard Qi charging pads. This is obviously done to push people to use MagSafe, or to buy the new wireless chargers that will have the (MFI) logo on them that comply to Apple's new wireless charging standards. My wireless chargers charge my iPhone 12 max so slowly now that its not really worth using them if I need to get a quick charge in.
Outside of those reasons above, I don't like it becuase its the same as using a cable, it heats up your phone way to much, the cord is too short, the cord gets in the way if not pointed directly down, it damages Apple's expensive leather case, and to me its a completely pointless accessory that Apple is shoving on us because they refuse to make a standard USB-C charging cable for their phones.
I'm sorry for the rant but I had to get that out.
As soon as I got to "I've tried to love this product..." I knew it was going to be an emotionally subjective argument over an objective one, but I read on.
it costs me about $750 a year to stay up with Apple cell phone tech, and I do this full well knowing that Apple does not care about its users, it cares about its profits, and all businesses have to walk that spectrum. A fully satisfied customer often tears at the financial successes of the companies that serve them, but those satisfied customers also come back.
To me Apple and a few others buck the trend. Apple's loyalists/cultist are going to buy the product because they are true believers. I buy them because I want a unified platform, which should lend to simplification as time goes on.
This year has been a tough one for me to upgrade too (M1). I know all of the M1 upgrades are at the bottom of the performance pond for what is to come next year, and as a tech forward guy, if I buy M1 this year, I know I'll be drawn to upgrade again next year.
I have the luxury of not having a need for Magsafe, and since I don't (my wife does) have an iPad, I don't have the need for USB-C no matter how much I prefer it.
Now for a couple facts - Apple uses both Lightning and USB-C. Apple has a very Chinese centrist view of customer service (build only to the highest level of quality needed, insure the product has a short life-cycle - life-cycle is subject but can be made objective over time). Apple is focused on keeping all revenues in house. Apple has long preached a "simplified user experience," but as time goes by and NeXT/BSD/OSX continue to bloat, the OS becomes less simple. Apple does not view themselves as 'in competition' with other personal or business computer makers (there has never been anything like Apple?), as such they don't make cell phones to compete with other brands, and don't use the same hardware matrices, or performance comparisons (only with previous Apple products until this year). This year you hear a lot of "faster than the fastest Intel computers,) whose, yours or HP, DELL, Lenovo, et al? Some will love Magsafe, and others will hate it, and often the reasons will be the same producing opposed emotional responses.
The wall that Apple has built between itself and it's users has a once way door, if you enter you are largely trapped until and if you reach the point of frustration. If you do, you are back with some Android or mixed solution (Windows, Android, Chrome). There is not now, nor will there ever be a winner except Apple.
support.apple.com
www.europarl.europa.eu
