Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Retina Display MacBook Pro and New MacBook Air Includes Thinner MagSafe 2 Power Port

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,732
39,676


In its quest for thinness in the Retina Display MacBook Pro, Apple removed the optical drive and built the display into the unibody construction. The company's engineers also designed a new, thinner MagSafe power port to accommodate the notebook's 0.71" height.

magsafe2.jpg

The new MagSafe 2 connector -- which is incompatible with the original MagSafe power bricks as well as devices with a MagSafe power cord built into products like the Apple LED Cinema Display and Thunderbolt Display -- is included in the new Retina MacBook Pro as well as the new MacBook Air models. It seems likely the port will make its way to the legacy MacBook Pro models in a future update.

Apple is selling a MagSafe to Magsafe 2 Converter for $9.99 on the Apple Online Store, as well as new 85W and 45W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter for $79 each.

Article Link: Retina Display MacBook Pro and New MacBook Air Includes Thinner MagSafe 2 Power Port
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/06/11/retina-display-macbook-pro-includes-thinner-magsafe-2-power-port/
Last edited:
Very happy (sort of)

I'm not happy they updated it, but I'm happy they are offering a $10 adaptor.

I keep MagSafe adaptors everywhere, I'm glad I don't have to replace them.

I'm sure I'll be losing the tiny adaptors too :(

Gary
 
T-Shape not surprising

It's not very surprising for me, that they went back to the t-shape, because the L-shape adapters were only good for the original macbook air, they never worked very well on mbp's and new macbook airs. It was too easy to unplug them unintentionally because of the angle they got from the L-shape!
 
bjett92 said:
Interesting that they went back to the T-shape.
Click to expand...

Didn't notice that before. My guess is because the flat design ends up defeating the purpose of magsafe - to protect your computer when you trip over your cord.

With the flat design it only really works when you are pulling the coord outward, if you go towards the machine it is coming off the desk. The t-shape handles this much better, and I bet with the extra thinness it does even better.

As long as they figured out the fraying problem with the T design...
 
I have no need for the power really as I have a 27" iMac or for the size/weight of the new MacBook Pro (especially since no 13" was introduced), even though the screen is appealing, but I find it interesting that the words MacBook Pro no longer appear on the screen bezel. I think a 13" Air is the best companion for my portable needs right now, but I do like the black screen trim on the Pro vs. the all silver on the Air.

My comment has nothing to do with the power port. ;)
 
Is the Magsafe 2 brick compatible with existing Magsafe computers?

I would guess that it is. Can anyone confirm?
 
My first thought is: they didn't update the Cinema Display with MagSafe 2. This goes against one of the advantages of the Cinema Display: reducing the number of wires on the desk.
 
Thank god Apple always makes its products thinner, lighter and smaller with every update. So we have more space in our pockets for all the numerous adapters… :D ;)
 
Hopefully they were smart and made the magnet in the adapter stronger than the magnet in the laptop.

This way once you "convert" an old adapter to magsafe 2, you can pull the whole thing off your laptop without the magsafe 1 plug coming off the adapter.
 
Doesn't look smaller

1) Looking at the close-up pics from TheVerge.com, itseems that the overall size is actually BIGGER... yeah it's a smidge thinner, but also a lot wider

2) I don't see how this gives any advantage in making the system thinner... they're already thinner than the USB and Thunderbold ports... so how does making the magsafe still smaller help any???

----------

Hopefully, they'll also come out with an adapter to go the other way around... that way when I buy the new mac and new adapters, I can use them with my old macs as well
 
I'm really not seeing many benefits of this "new" design (T-shape was there originally and it got replaced because it wasn't optimal). How much thinner is it?

Not sure if I'm happy with this change.
 
DrWeevil said:
1) Looking at the close-up pics from TheVerge.com, itseems that the overall size is actually BIGGER... yeah it's a smidge thinner, but also a lot wider

2) I don't see how this gives any advantage in making the system thinner... they're already thinner than the USB and Thunderbold ports... so how does making the magsafe still smaller help any???

----------

Hopefully, they'll also come out with an adapter to go the other way around... that way when I buy the new mac and new adapters, I can use them with my old macs as well
Click to expand...

1) It is actually overall smaller

Screen shot 2012-06-11 at 9.25.23 PM.png

2) Maybe it has something to do with the internals - the logic/ motherboard. Smaller parts inside to allow for better arrangement and more efficient use of space.
 
bjett92 said:
Interesting that they went back to the T-shape.
Click to expand...

It appears they did it to not cut off the thunderbolt port right behind it (when connected wire-to-user). Which has actually been a problem for me in the past though not often.
 
jclardy said:
Didn't notice that before. My guess is because the flat design ends up defeating the purpose of magsafe - to protect your computer when you trip over your cord.

With the flat design it only really works when you are pulling the coord outward, if you go towards the machine it is coming off the desk. The t-shape handles this much better, and I bet with the extra thinness it does even better.

As long as they figured out the fraying problem with the T design...
Click to expand...

+1 on your theory. I've never liked the flat design and we've had a couple of close calls with my wife's 13" MBP almost coming off the table because the cord got yanked and the magsafe didn't disconnect. My older 15" MBP with the t design magsafe has never had that problem.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back