Why isn’t MagSafe case available for all iPhones?

[Worlrl]

Maybe someone here could explain me this.
Why Apple isn’t making MagSafe cases for older iPhones ?
I get it that without a case the MagSafe stick to the iPhone 12 and I can lay my iPhone 8 for example on it. But why I can’t use a case with MagSafe magnet on iPhone 8 and it will stick to it like the 12?
Thanks

 

[noobinator]

Because then you might not buy a new iPhone.

 

[chrfr]

Maybe someone here could explain me this.
Why Apple isn’t making MagSafe cases for older iPhones ?
I get it that without a case the MagSafe stick to the iPhone 12 and I can lay my iPhone 8 for example on it. But why I can’t use a case with MagSafe magnet on iPhone 8 and it will stick to it like the 12?
Thanks

There are no magnets suitable to use for holding a case inside the iPhone 8.

 

[Worlrl]

There are no magnets suitable to use for holding a case inside the iPhone 8.

But I don’t need the magnets inside the older iPhone for the case, I get them through the case to use the MagSafe.

 

[chrfr]

But I don’t need the magnets inside the older iPhone for the case, I get them through the case to use the MagSafe.

The magnets in the case need something inside the phone to be attracted to. Nothing like that exists in an older iPhone. You can try this yourself with any magnet.

 

[Worlrl]

The magnets in the case need something inside the phone to be attracted to. Nothing like that exists in an older iPhone. You can try this yourself with any magnet.

I see... so it’s like a 2-step connector?
The MagSafe connects to the magnet in the case and the magnet in the case need a certain part in the iPhone 12 body to connect to?

And without this part the MagSafe won’t charge the older iPhones through this kind of case?

 

[Gjwilly]

I suppose you wouldn't need the MagSafe internals inside the phone if the only benefits you wanted were the auto-alignment and the auto-attachment. Those should both work with any iPhone.
That's assuming that the MagSafe charger can also function as a Qi charger.
You wouldn't get the 15W charging though.

 

[chrfr]

I see... so it’s like a 2-step connector?
The MagSafe connects to the magnet in the case and the magnet in the case need a certain part in the iPhone 12 body to connect to?

And without this part the MagSafe won’t charge the older iPhones through this kind of case?

This is correct. There's nothing magnetic that'd be useful inside these older phones to hold a case or charger.
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I suppose you wouldn't need the MagSafe internals inside the phone if the only benefits you wanted were the auto-alignment and the auto-attachment. Those should both work with any iPhone.

No, there's nothing substantially magnetic in the older phones to hold a case.

 

[Gjwilly]

This is correct. There's nothing magnetic that'd be useful inside these older phones to hold a case or charger.
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No, there's nothing substantially magnetic in the older phones to hold a case.

You wouldn't need anything to hold a case.
The case would be a friction fit, like every pre-MagSafe case, and the only purpose of the magnets would be to align/hold the MagSafe puck for optimal Qi charging.

 

[Worlrl]

You wouldn't need anything to hold a case.
The case would be a friction fit, like every pre-MagSafe case, and the only purpose of the magnets would be to align/hold the MagSafe puck for optimal Qi charging.

That’s exactly what I thought, so the conclusion is that Apple just want to sell the newer ones and maybe we can wait for 3rd party cases for older iPhones I guess

 

[ftaok]

That’s exactly what I thought, so the conclusion is that Apple just want to sell the newer ones and maybe we can wait for 3rd party cases for older iPhones I guess

I'm wondering this as well. I have an Xs and I'm currently using the Apple leather case with a metal plate slipped in between. I use this to use my magnetic carmount and it works great.

I'm wonder if someone can just fabricate the circular magnet and the alignment magnet and "stick" it to an Xs (or other iphone). It would be under the case, so you wouldn't see it. This would be good since magnets stick to magnets, so I would imagine that my current magnet mount would still work.

Perhaps someone could buy a new Magsafe case and cut out the magnets to see if something could be hacked together. Not me though, as I'm not handy enough and I'm notoriously cheap.

 

[GizmoDVD]

I'm wondering this as well. I have an Xs and I'm currently using the Apple leather case with a metal plate slipped in between. I use this to use my magnetic carmount and it works great.

I'm wonder if someone can just fabricate the circular magnet and the alignment magnet and "stick" it to an Xs (or other iphone). It would be under the case, so you wouldn't see it. This would be good since magnets stick to magnets, so I would imagine that my current magnet mount would still work.

Perhaps someone could buy a new Magsafe case and cut out the magnets to see if something could be hacked together. Not me though, as I'm not handy enough and I'm notoriously cheap.

I fully expect some stickers to come out that one could slip in their current case and make it MagSafe "compatible".

 

[Macmelman]

This is correct. There's nothing magnetic that'd be useful inside these older phones to hold a case or charger.
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No, there's nothing substantially magnetic in the older phones to hold a case.

The case does not need to be held. My 11 Pro Max has a leather case that is not falling off because of the lack of magnets. Throw some magnets in the back of this case and I could use MagSafe. Actually, it works with older phones, but just as a regular Qi charger and not at 15W.

 

[mrklaw]

There will be third party magsafe cases so the specs are already out there. Interesting thought by the OP - I could see magsafe potentially taking off for earlier phones too. For the charger you may have to slightly adjust the positioning but that should be easy enough to figure out. You’ll only get 7.5w but thats fine - the convenience of correct positioning may be worth it for many people.

 

[hewastl286]

i think because then you dont buy a new phone.. only a new case..

 

[liuty132]

i literally just had this thought and found this post. this is def possible bc there are videos everywhere showing the wireless charger clipped right onto the case itself w/out the phone. really looking forward to this as i NEED a detachable wallet for wireless charging.