Apple unveils MagSafe-branded wireless chargers and iPhone cases

nanoguy

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The big picture: Everyone is excited about the new 5G-enabled iPhone 12 and the incredibly compact iPhone 12 mini, but Apple is also bringing back a brand that its fans have missed -- MagSafe. The Cupertino giant unveiled two MagSafe-branded wireless chargers today, alongside a slew of companion iPhone cases.

Apple may have canceled AirPower, but it did reveal two new wireless chargers today for its iPhone 12 lineup that also mark the return of the beloved MagSafe branding that was initially given to magnetic MacBook charging cables. Apple phased out the technology beginning with the 12-inch MacBook in 2015, and all 2016 and newer MacBook Pro models omit the feature as they only feature USB-C ports.

As their names imply, the MagSafe Charger is for people who only need to charge their iPhone, while the MagSafe Duo is a combo folding charger for people who want to charge an iPhone and an Apple Watch at the same time. Both are designed to work in conjunction with the more complex wireless charging system on the iPhone 12, which tries to alleviate some of the technology's efficiency issues using a magnet array and a nanocrystalline shield.

Accompanying the chargers is a series of new leather, silicone, wallet, and clear iPhone cases and stands that feature a ring of magnets that align the device correctly. This should make it very easy to avoid the common problem that plagues most wireless chargers today -- you need to fiddle with positioning or risk the device charging very slowly, if at all.

The MagSafe chargers are also compatible with existing Qi-enabled devices on the market, and Apple says they can deliver up to 15 watts of power output. Coupled with the magnetic alignment system, users can charge the new iPhone 12 faster and more efficiently. It won't be as efficient as a wired charger, but at least the convenience it brings will now have a lower cost on the electricity bill and, by extent, a lower environmental impact.

The new chargers were announced just as Apple decided to drop the wall charger from the iPhone 12 box. The company says this will help save 2 million metric tons of carbon per year and cut down on e-waste and packaging material. That said, this won't prevent an impending wave of criticism that Apple is pinching pennies and encouraging fans to buy its new and shiny wireless chargers.

Apple hasn't said anything about when the new chargers will become available, but some of the new MagSafe-branded accessories have appeared in a dedicated section on its online store. Belkin is confirmed to be one of many partners developing accessories of their own, such as a car mount and a multi-charger dock.

As for how much they'll cost, the regular MagSafe charger will cost $39 while the iPhone cases will set you back $49 regardless of model and color -- except for the Leather Wallet, which is $59. Apple has yet to announce the pricing of the Leather Sleeve and MagSafe Duo.

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I've been using a GaN 100W charger and a USB-C to Lightning cable and I absolutely love it. It's far faster and more efficient than induction charging.

I was never fully sold on induction charging. It heats the back of the phone up, it's too slow and a lot of times misalignment caused 0-charge to be in it by morning. The magnetic loop will help the alignment, but the other issues still stand.
 
I've been using a GaN 100W charger and a USB-C to Lightning cable and I absolutely love it. It's far faster and more efficient than induction charging.

I was never fully sold on induction charging. It heats the back of the phone up, it's too slow and a lot of times misalignment caused 0-charge to be in it by morning. The magnetic loop will help the alignment, but the other issues still stand.
you really only draw Like 30w maximum though! the 18W charger is just fine for me, though apple does throttle it greatly when you get to 90% or so.

I've been on the apple train a while now, but this seems like their step towards a portless phone and I don't think thats a road I can follow down. I just hate the android/google UX so much :/

It is really limiting IMO that this magsafe design does not have some sort of data interface. Sure it can do bluetooth or NFC but both are extraordinarily slow. If it had a good data interface, it would be awesome for things like carplay, transferring photos to a Mac, docking to a bigger screen, etc..
 
I've been using a GaN 100W charger and a USB-C to Lightning cable and I absolutely love it. It's far faster and more efficient than induction charging.

I was never fully sold on induction charging. It heats the back of the phone up, it's too slow and a lot of times misalignment caused 0-charge to be in it by morning. The magnetic loop will help the alignment, but the other issues still stand.

The problem is, you exchange battery longevity for charging speed. I was fine with 7.5W wireless charging, and now that it's 15W, I really don't have any complaints.
 
The problem is, you exchange battery longevity for charging speed. I was fine with 7.5W wireless charging, and now that it's 15W, I really don't have any complaints.


My XS MAX battery is 2 years old and down to 84% health. I had to repair the display once . I’m ready for a new phone.
 
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