Photos of Apple's New MagSafe Battery Pack Provide First Look at Thickness

[Mr. Dee]

I use my phone as a hotspot for my Mac sometimes, and that eats battery pretty fast.
Someone might be out all night sometimes.
Filming or shooting photos - There’s plenty of reasons why somebody might need some extra juice from time to time.

You must be in some seriously remote location to need to hotspot. I can understand moving into a new apartment and maybe hotspotting for couple weeks until cable installed in the unit. Even with my data plan, I hop on Wi-Fi hotspots as soon as I find them: supermarket, Target, dentist, doctors office.

 

[fbr$]

the last battery I bought from AliExpress smoked up my room and nearly caused a fire (if I wasn't home, it would have gone off).

Did you notice if the battery was too hot or acting abnormally before the accident?

 

[Mr. Dee]

I sometimes wonder too but some people do use their phones a tremendous amount. It’s good to have things like this for those that need them. Options are always a plus. It is thick and ugly but some won’t care if it is useful to them.

I do see them on the road, they never watch they are walking and head down in their phone. Was at the Nike store last week and everyone in the check out line was on IG or Facebook just scrolling. I’m like is your phone that addictive you can’t just people stare for 4 minutes?

 

[farewelwilliams]

Did you notice if the battery was too hot or acting abnormally before the accident?

nope. seemed fine before.

 

[rpmurray]

I've said that for many years now. I don't need, nor want, a paper thin iPhone with a tiny battery. I want a thicker iPhone with a much bigger battery. But we all know Apple doesn't care what we want. They can make way more money off of us by creating devices that require extras and accessories.

I remember back in the day when Apple first launched the iPod, you could get the 5 and 10GB versions with the thinner case or the 20GB that was (quite) a bit thicker. Wonder why they don't give you that option with the iPhone? If they're willing to make them with different size displays, then also make them with different capacity batteries.

 

[falkon-engine]

For $99 you get two Anker packs in fact. With more capacity.

Yep. I don’t understand how Apple thinks it can get away with its pricing decisions sometimes. Not all of its products are ridiculously overpriced, but this battery is.

 

[Mr. Dee]

I'm with you on this, but obviously there is a big market for this kind of stuff. I got a 12 mini and I was all worried that I would need some intra day charging solution because everyone was yapping about how bad the battery life on the mini is. I have had no problems at all and have only had to charge it once or twice before normal overnight to make it through the day.

I personally think this thing is awful, but it's probably the best for anyone that likes to rock their phone without a case. However it seems ironic to go no case, but then put that unfortunate growth on the back.

My Kareoke friend has the Mini too and the lack of something like the iPhone SE is why he hesitated to upgrade for so many years. He had me over for brunch which is why I used that example, none of us took out our phones until we were about to leave. But guess we are just a different demographic.

 

[Mousse]

It's bizarre that people complain that Apple had not put out an external battery, then they do, then this forum complains it's too big and too expensive. I wonder if there would be complaints if it was free and flat as a credit card. SMH 🙄

I've never heard people complaining about no Apple external battery. I have heard lots of complaints about not making the iPhone thicker to accommodate a larger battery. Hail, plenty of us have railed against Apple's Thinner, Thinner, Thinner mantra.

 

[sergekills]

Yep. I don’t understand how Apple thinks it can get away with its pricing decisions sometimes. Not all of its products are ridiculously overpriced, but this battery is.

Because they actually can get away with it.
The integration costs all the money! The Smart Battery Case was the best purchase (after AirPods). It works so seamless, I guess this product delivers the same feeling over all.

 

[Optheduim]

Omg that is hideous. They need to do a mulligan here.

 

[Jay-Jacob]

I noticed some say prefer battery case but battery case usually (as far I know) fit 1 specific iPhone and when get next one means you have go out buy another one.

Battery pack maybe work more than 1 iPhone assuming if Apple keep magnetic MagSafe rings same for iPhone 13 and plus so could just buy it once and use again with another iPhone (save money).

 

[sergekills]

I noticed some say prefer battery case but battery case usually (as far I know) fit 1 specific iPhone and when get next one means you have go out buy another one.

Battery pack maybe work more than 1 iPhone assuming if Apple keep magnetic MagSafe rings same for iPhone 13 and plus so could just buy it once and use again with another iPhone (save money).

Yeah, it's more convenient if you change your iPhone every year

 

[rpmurray]

would be more expensive across the line. low economies of scale.

You may want to stop beating on that horse, it's already dead. This would be no more expensive or offer lower economy of scale than offering three different display sizes.

 

[chunker]

I get through an entire day on an overnight charge with my iPhone X. What are people doing with their iPhones to justify this inconvenience? When you go out, you meet friends, you take a group selfie first, sit down, eat, talk about careers, life, gossip; during all this you might check your phone one or two times. Maybe walk around town then just before you leave, you all take another group selfie. If you are taking public transportation or walking home, you might look at email, death scroll a bit on IG or Facebook. But it should not warrant needing this.

I use battery packs when I travel. Leaving your hotel room from 8-9 you’ll need to re-charge. Using maps, videos, pics, research, etc can drain even the best batteries.

This is relatively small and easy to use compared to the rest of battery packs and cases. I can’t wait to start traveling to use this.

 

[Tagbert]

Let's understand what this is: it is a MagSafe Charger that, when needed, you can take with you to charge on the go. It is not an add-on, semi-permanent, battery.
I believe, and would love to see pictures, that this can be used as your standard overnight charging puck. But it also doubles as a separate battery pack, like the ones you buy at airports, or that come with your luggage and you always forget to charge the night before you have to fly.
This is a Battery Pack that is always charged, if you use it as your main MagSafe Charger, and you just pick it up on the way out.

I think it is primarily an add-on semi permanent or occasional battery pack that can also be used as a (not very fast) MagSafe charger. the main use case for this is to provide additional battery capacity for days when the baseline charge is not enough while not being as bulky and clunky as cabled battery packs.

 

[TennesseeWhiskey]

Holy cow! Apple should just make the phone a little thicker and put more battery in it, instead of selling a product that makes the phone look like a pregnant whale.

My 12 pro max is already heavy AF, so no thanks for even heavier phone…

I was browsing for MagSafe battery pack for quite a while now and I’m very happy that this came out just before I ordered something way worse.

 

[farewelwilliams]

You may want to stop beating on that horse, it's already dead. This would be no more expensive or offer lower economy of scale than offering three different display sizes.

wrong.
iPhone 12 already sold 100 million units. you think Apple ordered to produce 100 million battery packs?

 

[rpmurray]

My 12 pro max is already heavy AF, so no thanks for even heavier phone…

I was browsing for MagSafe battery pack for quite a while now and I’m very happy that this came out just before I ordered something way worse.

So the way I understand it, you already have a heavy AF phone and want to add something that makes it even heavier AF. So what's the difference?

 

[sflagel]

I think it is primarily an add-on semi permanent or occasional battery pack that can also be used as a (not very fast) MagSafe charger. the main use case for this is to provide additional battery capacity for days when the baseline charge is not enough while not being as bulky and clunky as cabled battery packs.

If you cannot use it as a permanent MagSafe Charger, it loses its appeal and practicality.

 

[Tagbert]

Does anyone else feel like mag-safe for iPhone has mostly been a letdown? I think it's awesome for dock/charging combos, but the idea of a magnetically attached charger while you're using/holding the phone seems silly — how is that better than just plugging in a lightning cable?

If this is what's required to get to true wireless charging, as in, over-the-air charging, I get it. But this phase feels a bit silly to me.

This is not intended primarily as a charger. It is a portable battery pack that attaches without cables and trickle charges your phone to extend your charge for days when you needs a little extra juice. that is partially whey the slow charging rate doesn't matter and may be better if it doesn't generate excess heat while you're carrying it.

 

[TennesseeWhiskey]

So the way I understand it, you already have a heavy AF phone and want to add something that makes it even heavier AF. So what's the difference?

That I’ll use it when I’m eating at restaurant or having a coffee and then pack it back to pocket and not lifting it 24/7 with my one hand

 

[MaxBurn]

So THICC

 

[bluespark]

Holy cow! Apple should just make the phone a little thicker and put more battery in it, instead of selling a product that makes the phone look like a pregnant whale.

Disagree. I’m fine with my phone’s battery life 99% of the time, so I’d far prefer that the phone not get any thicker. This is a great option for that 1% of the time I need more battery life, or for those users who have an unusual need for extra battery life and are willing to sacrifice overall thinness to achieve that.

 

[thejoshuabradshaw]

I think what people are overlooking is the fact that now you can use one USB-C cord to charge all your devices now.

 

[bluespark]

I bought this one for ~US$ 30 (including shipping costs) on AliExpress, 5000mAh, USB-C IN/OUT port, it works very well, the magnets are very stong, it weighs ~100g.

View attachment 1808303View attachment 1808304

But is it MagSafe? If not, you’re losing tons of energy you wouldn’t be otherwise.

Put another way, Apple’s solution has a big advantage over most of these in that it should be able to get much more out of its battery.