I briefly mentioned MagSafe charging in a few reviews now, but it’s time to come back to it and discuss it a bit more. I now have tried different MagSafe charging stands and three different cases that don’t have MagSafe, as well as my naked iPhone with the MagSafe charger. I’ve spent long enough with it that when I use a non-MagSafe wireless charger I have a moment of hesitation when I don’t feel it snap into place.
The way Apple would tell it, MagSafe is the best charging solution for your phone. Well, I’ve got some good news and bad news. The good news is that it is a very good solution for charging. It’s nice to have that security and center your iPhone right on the charging coil. The bad news? Out of the box it’s less convenient.
In This Article:
Pros
Confident Snap
One of my other favorite wireless chargers is my wireless charger from Carved. They actually have updated versions that fixed many of the issues I had with the version I tested, and you may want to check them out. They now have MagSafe versions as well. This charger is great, and I use it for my AirPods Pro, but not as much for my iPhone. You still have to search around for the coils a bit on larger devices. With the MagSafe charger, things just snap into place. Get close to the mark, and the magnets will do the rest of the work, aligning your iPhone.
Fastest Wireless Charging for iPhones*
*With the right USB-C adapter… purchased separately
Normal wireless charging on the iPhone can only get you 7.5W “fast” charging. However, if you use MagSafe, you can get up to 15W. It’s reportedly only 12W on the iPhone 12 mini, but due to the smaller battery size, it still charges quickly. For the fastest charging, you’ll need a MagSafe charger. However, that doesn’t mean you’ll need Apple’s MagSafe charger. Carved has one now, Anker does as well, and many other companies are releasing MagSafe-compatible chargers. Often at a lower price than Apple’s. You’ll just have to make sure you supply it with 20W of power, like Apple’s $20 20W USB-C charger.
So, yes, MagSafe is the fastest way to wirelessly charge your iPhone. You just don’t have to use Apple’s MagSafe charger.
Works Well With MagSafe Accessories
The D-Brand Skin didn’t add much grip, but it does look nice.
Accessories that have their own magnets will snap to this like you weren’t using a case at all. That means you can use stands that seem to allow your iPhone to float, and easily secure them. Also, there already are and will be more MagSafe accessories, like stands and bases, that will work with Apple’s MagSafe charger, but may not work with third party MagSafe chargers. Unless third parties match these design specifications precisely, there will be more accessories that work with Apple’s MagSafe charger.
Charges Other Qi-Based Devices
I typically use a different wireless charging pad for my other devices, but the truth is, there’s nothing keeping you from using your MagSafe charger with an Android phone or your AirPods. At its core, MagSafe chargers aren’t anything special. They just have a ring of magnets around them. So you can use this for all of your other devices that use a standard Qi-based wireless charger. That’s most of them, with the exception of ones like the Apple Watch.
Cons
“Unplugging” Still Difficult
Putting your iPhone on the charger may be a snap, but taking it off is anything but. It’s more difficult to get that magnetic pad off the back of your iPhone than it is to simply unplug a lightning cable. Apple somehow took the convenience of wireless charging and made it less convenient than wired charging!
This is one of my biggest problems with Apple’s MagSafe charger. It doesn’t stay put where you want it. Picking up your phone to use it means bringing the MagSafe charger with you. If you want the charger to stay in place, you’re going to have to get a stand that’s heavier than the magnets can withstand, or at least gives you a way to get leverage on your device. I went first with a heavy stand, and later with a lightweight one that stays in place, but you need to sort of “twist” the iPhone off it as you lift, to disengage the magnets. I prefer the heavier stand.
Leaves Its Mark
Photo: Apple
A few users reported that MagSafe left rings on their cases and iPhones. It’s caused by contact with the metal frame. While the frame sits far enough away from the actual charging pad to not make contact on all but the softest cases (like leather), it won’t always stay that way. It can press in to soft materials and, when you remove your phone, likely press into the edges as you’ll need that peeling or twisting motion to get the charger off.
Photo: MacRumors
The magnets also squeeze your case, causing it to deform over time. Even Apple admitted that the charger would damage the leather iPhone 12 case over repeated usage.
Incomplete
This is an incomplete charging solution. Take your standard wireless charger. Put your phone down. It’s charging. Pick it up, it’s not charging. Done. Simple! You can’t do that with the MagSafe without a base, either a stand or just a weighted base to put the charger in. Some users reported that it marks up their iPhone and cases, so you need something else to protect your device. In the end, it’s just an incomplete charging solution that requires accessories.
Overall
I think the MagSafe Charger is best described as part of a solution. You need to buy it and a USB-C charger, at least 20W, to properly charge your iPhone 12. It’s easy to put your phone on, but makes it difficult to get your iPhone back, so you need a separate stand or holder to keep it in place. It can leave marks on your iPhone or case, so you need a skin, cover, or other protective material to place on top of it.
The MagSafe charger alone could work if you have a USB-C plug somewhere, but it’s a lousy product on its own. You need the $40 charger, a $20 USB-C adapter, a $5-$10 protector, and a stand that ranges in price from $15 to $60. I got a handmade wood one off of Etsy for the upper end of that price range. My MagSafe solution, therefore, cost about $100. $100 for an iPhone charger. Another solution I put together using cheaper parts? MagSafe charger, $40. Stand, $15. dbrand skin and shipping costs? $10. Anker USB-C charger? $15. That’s still $80!
As more third parties get involved with MagSafe, there will be more “all-in-one” solutions. A stand or base that has MagSafe built-in, and perhaps comes with a USB-C charger or plug that supplies 20W of power. One device that could charge the iPhone for $20-$30, maybe even less. But right now? With Apple’s MagSafe charging pad? I’d say steer clear unless you really want to spend the extra money for all of the accessories you’ll need to make that MagSafe charger as convenient to use as anything else.