MagSafe is the worst thing Apple has made maybe ever

[CJ Dorschel]

One question: if Apple removes all ports and goes completely wireless as has been speculated for some time, aside for over the air updates and syncing, how will devices be restored if an update fails and the device enters DFU mode? Essentially, how will data be processed to and from the iPhone if only wireless syncing is the solution? I can imagine instances in which there isn’t a wireless network available and you only have a MacBook - if that - and your iPhone suddenly crashes from an update or just crashes. There’s no cable port as apple removed it. Your battery is too low to update your device. You‘re a developer working on a new app. There are tons of instances in which a cable is the only way to go.

Will wireless MagSafe be the only way to go? Unless it somehow incorporates data transferring - perhaps using AirDrop ad-hoc communication to bypass wireless networking - I can‘t imagine removing the lightning port will benefit anyone.

As an aside, I know some who work for Apple and the OP is spot on regarding some of the reasons Apple pushed MagSafe and Apple certification as it is a cash cow for them. They’ve been anticipating the push to a standardised cable (USB-C in this instance) for a while and going portless with MagSafe certification as an alternative will stay off the financial losses. You’d be surprised how much money they make with licensing fees using lightning accessories on iPhones.

 

[tdar]

I have struggled to understand why Apple is so hot on the idea of a portless iPhone. But this thread has made it all clear to me.
First, it allows them to get around EU regulations that they object to.
But with MagSafe they can solve what from their prospective is the issue that Qi charging presented. Alignment and excessive heat. There will be some amount of heat in any wireless charging system. But MagSafe limits the amount of heat and allows the phone to control the rate of charge to control the amount of heat. The magnetic Alignment addresses alignment issues, and ensures that the phone and the charger remain properly connected.
But there is one other reason for portless that has been mentioned in this thread and has not gotten the attention that it deserves, security. All of the current exploits that threaten our phones are port biased. The law enforcement searches of phones are port based. Removing the port makes our phones much more secure from both hackers and legal Authority searches.
It also removes the increasing amount of lawful warrants that Apple is required to respond to.
I expect that as we move towards next year’s iPhone Apple will have a solution to each of the issues that preclude removing the port. MagSafe is the first step towards that goal.

 

[rKunda]

meh, I am enjoying it.

 

[tdar]

Nearly every phone made in the last decade has had wireless charging. Apple adds a ring of magnets around said wireless chargers and all of a sudden it's the end of the world?

I agree that wireless charging is wasteful, but we all know why these articles come out now. They are riding the hype-wave to get clicks.

One of the reasons for MagSafe is to sharply reduce the amount of waste inherent with wireless charging. The Analysis would have to be redone. I agree about the clicks. That’s why they won’t redo the Analysis. Because with mag safe the results will not fit their preconceived notion.

 

[mindsaspire]

I prefer wired charging, but compared to Qi charging, MagSafe is much better as you don’t have to perfectly line up the device.

 

[PortoMavericks]

Nearly every phone made in the last decade has had wireless charging. Apple adds a ring of magnets around said wireless chargers and all of a sudden it's the end of the world?

I agree that wireless charging is wasteful, but we all know why these articles come out now. They are riding the hype-wave to get clicks.

Wireless charging

One of the reasons for MagSafe is to sharply reduce the amount of waste inherent and wireless charging. The Analysis would have to be redone. I agree about the clicks. That’s why they won’t redo the Analysis. Because with mag safe the results will not fit their preconceived notion.

Guys, the energy waste it's due to the nature of inductive power transmission.

 

[jr866gooner]

I’ve had a device with micro usb and also recently usb c. USB c is ok but I was always thinking how good the lightning port is by comparison. The internal part on a usb c port has a component that the usb c part slides over. That part inside can wear down over time and feel flimsy to me. Over time it seemed like it loosened up whereas the lightning is kind of the opposite whereby the cable itself has a sturdy port and a sturdy part plugging into it.

It’s really tricky to explain but I’m not all that upset that they moved to usb c. Yes it would have been more convenient for me moving to iPhone but I actually preferred the lightning port in the iPhone.

I’m not really a big fan of wireless charging. I’ve a couple of anker ones I picked up from my Galaxy S6 days but rarely use them as I am careful with my phones and potentially overheating the devices battery.

 

[tdar]

One question: if Apple removes all ports and goes completely wireless as has been speculated for some time, aside for over the air updates and syncing, how will devices be restored if an update fails and the device enters DFU mode? Essentially, how will data be processed to and from the iPhone if only wireless syncing is the solution? I can imagine instances in which there isn’t a wireless network available and you only have a MacBook - if that - and your iPhone suddenly crashes from an update or just crashes. There’s no cable port as apple removed it. Your battery is too low to update your device. You‘re a developer working on a new app. There are tons of instances in which a cable is the only way to go.

Will wireless MagSafe be the only way to go? Unless it somehow incorporates data transferring - perhaps using AirDrop ad-hoc communication to bypass wireless networking - I can‘t imagine removing the lightning port will benefit anyone.

As an aside, I know some who work for Apple and the OP is spot on regarding some of the reasons Apple pushed MagSafe and Apple certification as it is a cash cow for them. They’ve been anticipating the push to a standardised cable (USB-C in this instance) for a while and going portless with MagSafe certification as an alternative will stay off the financial losses. You’d be surprised how much money they make with licensing fees using lightning accessories on iPhones.

Regarding the way that DFU works, there are rumors that the portless iPhone will have internet recovery like the Macs do. It won’t work in every condition in the feld, but does allow for recovery of a device.

 

[Hooterville]

I'm smelling a lot of "Apple Sheep" in this thread

 

[tdar]

Wireless charging

Guys, the energy waste it's due to the nature of inductive power transmission.

Yes. We both acknowledged that in our posts.

 

[dipstah]

Irritated that ALL my current Anker and Samsung wireless chargers, which worked flawlessly with every previous generation of wireless charge capable iphone. Will absolutely not work with the wife and I’s new 12pm’s. Magsafe wont work through any case that offers real protection(otter defender pro for us). Sooo, back to wired charging until they take the port from us.. oh well, better for the battery anyway I suppose.

I have the iPhone 12 pro max and a Samsung wireless charger. I absolutely have no issue with it. It charges the exact same rate as it did on my iPhone XS Max.

I do have a MagSafe charger in order and in no way was it required to charge the iPhone.

 

[tdar]

It should be noted that Apple has for years now been working with Energous and perhaps others on a RF based wireless charging system. It’s likely that MagSafe is a stop gap solution.

 

[OTACORB]

I often wake up and it seems my phone is not fully charged using mag safe.... several times per week! others seeing this too?

No I have never had this happen on two different iPhones. Works as expected.

 

[urbanslaughter1997]

I'm fully embracing MagSafe. I have an Apple silicone MagSafe case coming tomorrow. I'm eyeing this for my home office. I'm interested in a future MagSafe dash mount for my car.

SnazzyLabs is wrong. The portless iPhone has been in the works for years now. It's probably coming next year. MagSafe is their solution to charging said device.

I'm not even saying this is a great thing. I'm sure MagSafe has its downsides. But I'm just going to embrace it because if it works well, I think it will honestly be great.

Yes, and if pigs are able to fly, it will be awesome too!

 

[chrisf60647]

I think Magsafe is a great idea but maybe not correctly implemented. From the Magsafe outline on your new $50 leather apple case to he wallet falling off the back of the phone, it needs some work.

It's funny though. During the iPhone event, I think most thought MagSafe was the surprise star or the show.

 

[bandrews]

Gonna keep piling on with my discontent - wife and I both received 12 Pro Max's last week. I have Quadlock, she has a standard hardshell case. Wireless charging does not work on any of our 5 wireless charges with either phone in a case (they all work with the phones naked, I don't know at what rate). We're both using the same case brands we did previously. It's an Apple change, not a case change. They've hosed us (well, at least my family) out of $200 worth of wireless chargers, AND the ability to use the cases we purchased if we did want to blow cash on magsafe. This is the first true "F you, Apple" moment I've had in a decade.

Surely if they work fine naked it’s a case problem rather than an Apple problem?

 

[az431]

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.

Yeah you absolutely NO idea how much money Apple earns from licensing cables, and it makes ZERO sense that Apple would spend hundreds of millions of dollars to develop new wireless technology so they can retain a foothold on licensing cables. Moreover, Apple uses USB-C for charging on MacBooks and iPads.

The primary reason USB-C is not on the iPhone is lack of space, not the ridiculous nonsense you're spewing.

Finally, Apple will not be making a "portless" phone to get around EU requirements.

It's fine that you personally dislike MagSafe, but take your utterly ridiculous conspiracy theories elsewhere.

 

[PortoMavericks]

Yeah you absolutely NO idea how much money Apple earns from licensing cables, and it makes ZERO sense that Apple would spend hundreds of millions of dollars to develop new wireless technology so they can retain a foothold on licensing cables. Moreover, Apple uses USB-C for charging on MacBooks and iPads.

The primary reason USB-C is not on the iPhone is lack of space, not the ridiculous nonsense you're spewing.

Finally, Apple will not be making a "portless" phone to get around EU requirements.

It's fine that you personally dislike MagSafe, but take your utterly ridiculous conspiracy theories elsewhere.

Lack of space, huh?

Tell that to every smartphone maker in the world.

 

[TomOSeven]

Right now, lightning is the only thing keeping me from going all in on Apple. I really like the new Macbook Air, and I've had an iPhone SE in my shopping basket a fair few times, but I guess I'm just too much of a minimalist to have two sets of cables again.

Magsafe would go another step further in that direction. That's a third type of cable because I'd still have to keep lightning around for my headphones.

It's just messy, just go USB-C on everything ffs.

 

[deeddawg]

Further to my previous reply, I have found the Commission response document to the text adopted, that you have referenced.
This can be found via this link, at the bottom under "Documentation Gateway", the "Commission response to text adopted in plenary" was published on 8/5/2020 and is the latest document so far regarding this matter.

Procedure File: 2019/2983(RSP) | Legislative Observatory | European Parliament

European Parliament Legislative Observatory Procedure

oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu

That all circles back to the original link I provided - the 30 January 2020 resolution which essentially calls on the Commission to do something by July.

Can you point me to that later session where they actually did something?

In this document they reference an impact study published in January 2020, where it is clearly stated that the standardisation extends to the plug at the device end.

https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-law-...lication/c6fadfea-4641-11ea-b81b-01aa75ed71a1

While admittedly I skimmed the impact study (thanks for the link), so I may have missed something, yes that study does favor option #1 vs option #2 -- yet I've not found evidence of the lawmakers enacting such a law?

 

[one more]

Yeah it is ...

This probably explains why. If you repeatedly pick up your iPhone at an X-hour, the system learns this pattern and charges your battery accordingly. If one morning you decide to pick it up a few hours earlier than usual, you can end up with a partially charged battery.

 

[TreesRgood]

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.

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.

Take the inefficiency of inductive charging and multiply that by hundreds of millions of iPhones, and it’s a high energy and component cost just to save plugging in a cable (and you have to plug the charger in anyway). Add in the fragile glass back (why not plastic?) and the cost increases further. Whose benefit is it really for?

 

[iOS Geek]

I don't really have a problem with it, but it's not what I would think of when I think "MagSafe". If I were the one making the decisions, I would have gone more the route of MagSafe as it was on MacBooks. Replace the lightning port with a MagSafe connector and do it that way.

 

[LongWayHome]

Ok, listen, you may not like what I am going to say right now, but please keep with me:

The line about the "EU deciding that all ports should be USB-C and Apple is trying to resist YADA YADA" is complete MISINFORMATION by all these so called YouTubers. They don't even have the nerve to check or read about the topic they are talking about, which then leads to even MORE misinformation.

The EU has a decided on a joint resolution about a standardized CHARGING BRICK(!), the thing you plug into the wall, not the port on the phone. The charging brick should preferably be USB-C, like the currently sold charging bricks by Apple, in an attempt for people to not have to buy a new charging brick whenever they change devices, so they can also use their existing ones with their existing cables.

Ok? Thank you. Please stop spreading that the EU wants to force Apple to put USB-C on the phone...

You could not be more incorrect in every single thing you said. It has everything to do with the port, not the charging brick.

 

[LongWayHome]

You know the score - the more money people make, the more they resent spending it. Just look at who complains the most about taxes.

Who ever said this was about the money? I don't have to use Magsafe, and can just use the cable if I want. I just said I don't like the prouduct and where they are going with wireless charging in the future.