Apple launched MagSafe in October 2020, promising quick and handy wi-fi charging as a greater different to ubiquitous Qi charging techniques.
Right here is every thing you might want to learn about MagSafe.
MagSafe is a wi-fi charging expertise that Apple debuted with the iPhone 12, and it is instantly suitable with the iPhone 12 sequence and subsequent iPhone fashions. It is a type of induction charging that may ship quick 15-watt charging, about twice that of telephones with conventional Qi wi-fi charging.
What’s MagSafe?
Like Qi, MagSafe makes use of inductive charging — coils on each the charger and telephone line up and switch electrical vitality wirelessly over very brief distances. However MagSafe makes use of a sequence of magnets to exactly align the coils, permitting them to completely match each time and cost at the next wattage (as much as 15 watts, relying on the telephone and charger) than different wi-fi charging tech.
See our information to the greatest MagSafe chargers for quite a lot of high choices.
The magnets additionally produce other purposes. You possibly can simply affix MagSafe equipment to any of the greatest iPhones, equivalent to wallets, automobile mounts, and stands, which keep firmly hooked up to the telephone by way of the MagSafe magnets.
See our guides to the greatest MagSafe automobile mounts, greatest MagSafe wallets, and greatest iPhone stands with MagSafe charging.
How does a MagSafe charger work?
Due to the sequence of magnets across the charging coil at the back of your iPhone, MagSafe equipment like chargers routinely snap into excellent alignment, so the system works routinely. Apple designed the MagSafe charger customary in order that solely licensed MagSafe chargers and equipment will magnetically connect to the MagSafe floor on the again of an iPhone in order that different magnetic units will not get drawn to or caught to your telephone.
Whereas a MagSafe charger can cost current iPhones, beginning with the iPhone 8, it is just optimized for fashions that characteristic the magnetic charging coil on the again of the telephone, which embrace the iPhone 12 and later fashions.
For greatest outcomes, you need to all the time plug your MagSafe charger into its energy supply earlier than connecting it to the iPhone. This permits the 2 units to “negotiate” their connection and set the charging wattage correctly. If you happen to ever join the iPhone to a MagSafe charger that is unplugged, separate the units, plug within the charger, after which rejoin them. This manner, your telephone is assured to cost at high velocity.
What is the distinction between wi-fi charging and MagSafe?
Wi-fi charging utilizing the Qi customary constructed into iPhones, Android, and different units has existed for years. Though handy, it is extremely inefficient. There isn’t any option to know the way nicely you have aligned the telephone and charger, however you solely get the utmost charging velocity when they’re completely aligned — even barely off, and you will cost at a fraction of the highest velocity.
MagSafe solves that drawback by guaranteeing the telephone and charger completely align with the magnets surrounding the charging coil. MagSafe iPhones can nonetheless be charged with extraordinary Qi chargers, although they carry out higher with a MagSafe charger.
