MagSafe is the worst thing Apple has made maybe ever

[ocnitsa]

I bought a magsafe clear case and a magsafe charger for my iphone 12 pro...but honestly, all I've been using is Anker wireless Powerwave stands (at home near the bed and at work on my desk). It charges through the magsafe case just great and the size of the Anker stand makes it pretty darn easy to get it aligned even though the magnets obviously don't do anything in this use case. I'm sure it's not fast charging or anything, but I don't really see a downside in my case, at least not one that's made me drag out the magsafe charger, which I don't prefer because it requires me to lay the phone down flat. I do think OP is right about what Apple is doing...but I don't think using offbrand chargers is that big of a gimp.

 

[LongWayHome]

SnazzyLabs is a pretentious, contrarian ****. No offense, but much like the Apple camp banks on garnering views from Apple fanatics, and the PC channels cater to their master race audience effectively, Snazzy has found a strange middle point where almost every one of his videos covering Apple products is intended to put down the particular product he’s covering at that time. It’s genius in its design, but just as grating as the Apple and PC channels that put out obviously biased content. It’s the same formula, over and over again. Which makes his comments’ section especially entertaining, if you enjoy watching members of either camp futilely slinging **** at one another and unraveling at the seams when the opposing team’s incessant inability to see (their) logic pushes them past their already flimsy breaking point.

I am in the unique position of having an actual brain, and using both platforms for nearly 40 years and have no platform loyalty. If something sucks (my $11k Mac Pro included), I gladly admit it. But I don’t need to **** on a great product simply to stir the pot.

In the case of MagSafe, I hate phone cases and of all 6 of my wireless chargers I have never been able to fully charge my phone without it, at some point, working it’s way off the charger’s center, or off the charger completely. I don’t buy the conspiratorial nonsense being slung around here (without actual empirical evidence to back it up), but anecdotally my phone charges at nearly the same rate on my old chargers, and MagSafe adds the benefit of not driving me damn insane when I wake up to find my device on the floor.

I don’t want to dismiss anyone’s valid and totally entitled opinion, but this just seems like the same kind of nonsense that Snazzy himself would eat up, a baseless and largely contrarian point of view on a popular product for the purposes of...something; not sure what exactly.

Here’s a novel idea, if you don’t like something for whatever reason, great. That’s awesome. Just don’t like the thing. I hate bagels. But I don’t stand outside of Einstein slinging my agenda at every customer walking through the door.

Your post made me laugh. No one is standing outside of anything slinging there agenda at you. MacRumors doesn't make MagSafe, Apple does. I'm not standing outside of an Apple store telling people that MagSafe is terrible. And I'm also not slinging my agenda on you. The title of my post was very clear. You decided to come in and tell me I don't have a brain, which good on you I guess.

 

[austinmcguire]

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 an Anker also. While I did have an issue initially one of the initial updates fixed it for me. I would try it again.

I agree that MagSafe is crap, but more on the MagSafe only works at snail pace on non-12s than standard Qi does not work on 12s.

 

[lordhamster]

Wireless charging

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

I think everyone here acknowledges that inductive power transmission is wasteful. I think the figures I see most often is that at best ~30% of the input energy from the charger is lost as heat. This is true of ALL inductive charging.

I think what you are missing is that that is a best-case scenario. In practice, real-world wireless charging is often less efficient because to achieve peak efficiency you need optimal alignment. If the coils are offset the power loss to heat increases.

While Magsafe is inefficient like all QI charging is, it will be the most efficient of the wireless charging mechanisms out there simply because of magnetic alignment (like the old Nexus 5 line had as well). The best environmental impact of course would be to not have ANY wireless charging. This thread however specifically attacks Magsafe, which is just charging + magnetically enforced optimal alignment.

If I charge every single night on my old charging stand at 40-50% efficiency due to poor alignment in the aggregate...my energy "waste" will go down simply by adopting Magsafe.

Again... we really aren't talking Wireless vs wired charging here, there is no argument there. We need to stop conflating the two issues. The issue at hand here is standard QI charging vs qi charging + magnetic alignment (aka Magsafe).

 

[lordhamster]

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.

I'm going to include a photo of a quad-lock case just for context. The quad lock system is a fantastic (proprietary) mechanism for mounting your phones to things I had one in the past as well.

As you can see, the quad lock case you mention is a thick-ass case made worse by the fact it doesn't let your phone rest (closely)on the wireless charger. Quad lock specifically sells a wireless charging head that may help you.

I know I've had issues in the past (especially with my Pixel 4XL) with thicker cases preventing wireless charging. Some combinations of phones/chargers are more or less sensitive to the charging distance. I think some phones reject greater charging distances in an attempt to mitigate the higher heat generation. I suspect that is the case (pun intended) with your iPhone. Sucks though.

I get that you are invested in Quad-lock and it is an awesome system. For your wife...since she just got her phone, I'd advise returning her case and trying another one. There are literally thousands to choose from that will work.

I just did some testing with my "YooTech" charger on my desk. Even with the leather case on, the phone starts charging at ~5mm distance between the back of the leather case and the charger aka not touching.

 

[Just Jeff]

Yeah, SnazzyLabs/Quinn is always right about his theories. The more I use MagSafe, the more impressed I am with it.

 

[Wanted797]

“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.”

They don’t have to do that (except for faster charging). And it has killed all existing ones. I believe it’s ones that have a multiple coil system.

 

[dk001]

I bought a magsafe clear case and a magsafe charger for my iphone 12 pro...but honestly, all I've been using is Anker wireless Powerwave stands (at home near the bed and at work on my desk). It charges through the magsafe case just great and the size of the Anker stand makes it pretty darn easy to get it aligned even though the magnets obviously don't do anything in this use case. I'm sure it's not fast charging or anything, but I don't really see a downside in my case, at least not one that's made me drag out the magsafe charger, which I don't prefer because it requires me to lay the phone down flat. I do think OP is right about what Apple is doing...but I don't think using offbrand chargers is that big of a gimp.

I have two of the Anker stands and they work for me. If I need fast charging I grab a cable (10 ft)
I use a Vaja case and these charge right through it just fine. As it is a stand, placement is simple.

I'll skip the Magsafe for now.

 

[ApeBot]

Something else is going on causing incompatibility, but you are 100% incorrect that apple has borked all existing chargers due to lack of MFI certification.

Thank you for this well through out and written response. The original post is making the claim (or at least alluding to it) that the iPhone 12 series is incompatible with any wireless charging outside of MagSafe and that is just clearly and obviously false. I think MacRumors needs to put some Twitter style fact check messages in certain posts.

 

[NufSaid]

I frankly love the magsafe. I love that it snaps to the phone and I don't have to wake up with an uncharged phone. It also charges my airpods.

But it is more fun to complain I guess.

 

[BobVB]

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.

Well Apple ALSO likes lightening because it is a smaller and thinner port allowing for thinner devices.Since they would be losing lightening cable profits regardless I doubt a move to being port-less is motivated by monetary reasons.

And my generic Qi charger stand for my watch, phone and EarPods seems to charge it just fine. Yes, the MagSafe charges it faster but that's just a convenience.

I can totally understand Apple wanting to not have to use the clunky USB-C on mobile devices and switching to wireless access, and they'd love to be the phone people take with them diving.

I'd get one, some might not.

Oh well.

 

[AlexESP]

The economic reason behind maintaining Lighting is a well-repeated nosense. It‘s peanuts on Apple total revenue, and definitely not worth all the bad press. If that was the reason, they could just charge 4$ more (as you say) and supposedly leave everyone happy. But the majority of us are fine with Lightning, and it’s absurd to change just for 1 or 2 years before going all wireless.

 

[Grindahl]

Am I on Facebook? WTF is this other than attention seeking behavior?

Siri, next song

 

[Erik Humphrey]

next iPhone will have no ports and will be 50m water resistant

That's what I'm hoping for, unironically.

 

[BobVB]

Well if you can tell me how it makes sense for the iPad and not the iPhone then I'd love to hear it.

And yes, the EU did decide what they are going to do. They ruled that all phoens have to have a common charger, period.

Yes I know the advantage of magsafe. But its funny that that's now the argument for it that all of these other wireless chargers somehow became difficult to lay your phone directly on. I mean really? That's an extremely flimsy argument to justify the product.

"Well if you can tell me how it makes sense for the iPad and not the iPhone then I'd love to hear it.
iPhones are thinner. USB port mechanisms are bigger and thicker.

 

[meady100]

I completely agree with everything you say. But the fact is, you are a consumer and can choose to buy or not buy the product. You feel strongly enough to write this post - do you feel strongly enough to not buy another iPhone?

 

[lordhamster]

Yes I know the advantage of magsafe. But its funny that that's now the argument for it that all of these other wireless chargers somehow became difficult to lay your phone directly on. I mean really?

Go look at the other threat about wireless chargers that work and don't work. Many people on that thread figured out that using the landscape orientation or putting something under the phone to raise it up fixes their issues. That strikes at the very heart of the problem with QI. Alignment isn't always "just right" especially on the easel style chargers. Magsafe fixes this fundamental flaw in QI by simply adding a geometry of magnets that I'm sure will soon be very common on 3rd party chargers to aid with alignment.

BTW. Back when I used my Pixel 4XL naked, it would slide off some of my old puck style chargers if I forgot to turn on DND at night. Notification vibrations would vibrate the phone out of position on the charger.

 

[LongWayHome]

I completely agree with everything you say. But the fact is, you are a consumer and can choose to buy or not buy the product. You feel strongly enough to write this post - do you feel strongly enough to not buy another iPhone?

People are funny in here. I never said I didn't like the iPhone 12. In fact I think its a fantastic product. This is not an indictment on the iPhone. Its an indictment on an accessory Apple makes and what I feel is a very poor attempt to take over the wireless charging market with another proprietary device.

 

[collin_]

The main problem with MagSafe is that it's slow. Roughly half the speed of fast wired charging from 0 to 50%. Apple needs to come up with something much better before they force us to use wireless charging.

 

[MiniiPhone]

What if Apple made something like "WaterSafe" USB-C ports and "WaterSafe" headphone jack? Like all waterproof ports, fully compatible with all standard cables.

 

[QueenTyrone]

People are funny in here. I never said I didn't like the iPhone 12. In fact I think its a fantastic product. This is not an indictment on the iPhone. Its an indictment on an accessory Apple makes and what I feel is a very poor attempt to take over the wireless charging market with another proprietary device.

And you’re funny because you started a thread to whine about something so trivial.

 

[boltjames]

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.

No, you said you had a rant to get off your chest and you did. So you can stop now.

 

[LongWayHome]

The original post is making the claim (or at least alluding to it) that the iPhone 12 series is incompatible with any wireless charging outside of MagSafe and that is just clearly and obviously false. I think MacRumors needs to put some Twitter style fact check messages in certain posts.

LOL I never said that. I said other Qi wireless chargers charge the iPhone 12 slower than what Magsafe does becauset that's the way Apple wants it.

 

[LongWayHome]

And you’re funny because you started a thread to whine about something so trivial.

And you're even funnier because you came into the thread to comment on something so trivial.

 

[LongWayHome]

No, you said you had a rant to get off your chest and you did. So you can stop now.

No one forced you to come into the thread.