MagSafe is Apple’s take on magnetic charging. Using a series of magnets, MagSafe enables wireless chargers or compatible cables to magnetically snap to your iPhone or Mac for charging.
MagSafe debuted on the MacBook Pro in 2006. The quick-disconnect magnetic cable was designed to stop laptops from being damaged when a person tripped over the cord. In a controversial move, Apple excluded MagSafe charging from the 12-inch MacBook released in 2015 and removed MagSafe from MacBooks in favor of USB-C in 2016.
Apple revamped MagSafe with the launch of the iPhone 12 in 2020, ushering in a wave of MagSafe-compatible accessories like charging stations and car mounts. Then, the company added a redesigned MagSafe charger to MacBooks with the launch of the revamped M1 Pro/Max models in October 2021.
While you can find MagSafe charging on both iPhones and MacBooks these days, the two systems are incompatible — and quite different. Below is everything you need to know about MagSafe and what makes it special.
In a nutshell, MagSafe is a series of proprietary magnets located inside your iPhone’s back. They allow compatible MagSafe accessories to snap to the back of your phone magnetically. While wireless charging has been around for years, MagSafe solved a major problem with it.
With Qi wireless charging, you must ensure your phone aligns with the charging pad’s coil for the power transfer to happen wirelessly. If not perfectly aligned, it won’t charge. MagSafe solves this problem by allowing iPhones to automatically align with compatible chargers. It works because of circular magnets placed around the wireless charging coils on both devices: the iPhone and the compatible charger or accessory.
MagSafe is not just limited to wireless chargers, though. You can find plenty of iPhone accessories with MagSafe support, like wallets, pop sockets and car mounts. Thanks to strong magnets, these accessories can easily attach to your iPhone and securely hold it. Once you start using a MagSafe-compatible wireless charger or car mount, there’s no going back. It is a lot more convenient to place and remove your iPhone from a MagSafe accessory than to use traditional options.
Like Apple’s logo, MagSafe has become iconic. Any MagSafe-compatible iPhone accessory has a circular ring in the center. You need to bring the back of your iPhone—where the Apple logo is located—near it, and the two devices will magnetically attach.
MagSafe works through cases, though they must have built-in magnets. This will ensure an effective wireless power transfer and magnetic alignment of the devices. If you use a non-MagSafe case with your iPhone, the charger won’t connect securely.
When using a MagSafe wallet, you must remove all cards from it for a secure connection. A MagSafe charger also can damage the RFID chips on these cards.
You get regular wireless charging on 2017’s iPhone X and newer models. But MagSafe support is available on iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14 and iPhone 15. On iPhone 11 and older models, you only get Qi wireless charging.
Additionally, you must use a 20W or higher power adapter with PD 3.0 support with the MagSafe charger. Otherwise, the charger won’t deliver the required power, causing your iPhone to charge slowly.
You can use a MagSafe charger with iPhone 11 and older iPhones that support wireless charging. However, the power output is capped at around 5W, so your device will take a long time to charge.
On all compatible non-mini iPhones, MagSafe supports wireless charging speeds of up to 15W. On the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini though, the peak charging speed tops out at 12W.
Apple recommends plugging the MagSafe charger you are using into a power source before placing the iPhone on it. This will ensure your device charges at the maximum charging speed possible. Additionally, you must not connect any Lightning accessory to your iPhone while it is on charge. Doing so will limit the power output to 7.5W for regulatory reasons.
With MagSafe, your iPhone will wirelessly charge at up to 15W speed. But with a Qi-compatible charger, your iPhone will top up its battery at 7.5W speeds — 50% slower than MagSafe.
Worse, Qi charging lacks the magnetic alignment you get with MagSafe, so your iPhone won’t magnetically snap to the wireless charger. Apple’s solution is also more energy efficient.
However, MagSafe is so good that the Wireless Power Consortium — founder of the Qi wireless charging standard — used it as a baseline for Qi2.
In their current implementations, yes. Qi2 and MagSafe both support 15W wireless charging and magnetic alignment of compatible devices. So, you can buy a Qi2 charger and get the MagSafe benefits with compatible iPhones.
Apple confirmed that iPhone 13 and newer models support Qi2, with iOS 17.2 making the necessary underlying changes.
While the Apple Watch charges wirelessly, it does not support MagSafe charging.
As for AirPods, the third-gen AirPods and second-gen AirPods Pro with MagSafe support Apple’s wireless charging standard. So, if you have a MagSafe-compatible charger, you can use it to top up your iPhone and AirPods batteries.
Apple’s iPad lineup does not currently support MagSafe wireless charging.
Apple sells several MagSafe accessories for iPhones, including a wireless charger and cases with MagSafe support. Third-party accessory makers, such as Spigen, Sosche, Anker and Mophie offer plenty of other options.
You can check out the best MagSafe cases and cables for iPhone 15 to help you get started.
All MacBooks launched since 2021 feature Apple’s MagSafe 3 connector, which is different from MagSafe support on iPhones. On MacBooks, MagSafe allows the charging cable to magnetically snap to the charging port; there’s no wireless transfer of power here. This ensures that when the cable is accidentally pulled, it won’t drag your laptop along with it. Instead, the cable will disconnect from the Mac, ensuring the device does not fall in case of an accident.
You also can charge your MacBook using its USB-C port. On the 16-inch MacBook Pro, using the MagSafe 3 port allows the machine to charge at its full speed of 140W. Over USB-C, the laptop is limited to 100W speeds. This is not an issue on smaller models, as they can only pull a maximum of 100W.
MagSafe 3 is not compatible with MagSafe 2 or its previous iterations, which were found on 2015 and older MacBook Pro models.
While all three MagSafe generations might look similar, they are not compatible with each other. MagSafe for Mac debuted on Apple laptops starting in 2006 and was used until 2009. The MagSafe cable came with a power indicator light on both sides, which glowed orange when charging and green when the battery reached a 100% charge.
In 2010, Apple introduced an L-shaped MagSafe connector for MacBooks. It was in use until 2012 before MagSafe 2 debuted. The latter was thinner and lighter than its predecessor, with the outer casing made of aluminum instead of plastic.
MagSafe 2 remained in use until 2014, with Apple retiring it in favor of USB-C for charging starting with its 2015 MacBook.
MagSafe 3 made a comeback in October 2021 with the launch of the M1 Pro/Max MacBook Pro. Unlike the first two MagSafe iterations, MagSafe 3 allows you to remove the power cable from the adapter. The other end uses USB-C, so you are free to use any compatible USB-C power brick to top up your MacBook’s battery.
Accessories brand ESR stocked a new collection of Qi2 chargers for iPhone and other devices this week on Amazon. It should help you charge at MagSafe speed levels, but ESR Qi2 wireless chargers come at lower prices than many MagSafe chargers.
If you own an iPhone 12 or newer, you need a MagSafe charging stand. They’re incredibly convenient, and they work great with iOS 17’s handy new StandBy feature, which instantly turns your iPhone into a smart display.
SwitchEasy offers two great wireless magnetic charging stands in the Cult of Mac Store — a powerful 4-in-1 and a compact 2-in-1 — and both feature a night light. And they’ve got something else in common. They’re both on sale in our SwitchEasy Sale.
★★★★☆
Journey’s new Axie 10,000mAh Global Charger and Power Bank is a handy, MagSafe-compatible 3-in-1 charging device that comes with three extra plugs and a travel case for use worldwide.
It’s designed for international travel. But it’s a great little charger for use at home, too, as a wall charger or as a power bank you can take on the go to keep your iPhone and two other devices juiced.
Some iPhone MagSafe stands are ideal for use at your desk or on your bedside table. Others are car mounts. But what if one mount could go almost anywhere and let you view your handset at any angle? That’s the SwitchEasy Orbit Universal Magnetic Stand.
And all the better, you can get 20% off the portable and flexible stand in the Cult of Mac Store — a savings of $8. The sale ends this Sunday.
When someone asked a marketing director in the United Kingdom how much money he makes, the man laughed and said, “Not enough to justify the contents of this picture” of his computer setup.
Hey, we get it. But then we suffered immediate pangs of envy when he went on to say, “My sister works for Apple so got a sick deal on a refurbed [Mac] Studio and new Studio Display.”
Yeah, good for you, pal. No, really. We mean it!
January 10, 2006: Steve Jobs unveils the original 15-inch MacBook Pro, Apple’s thinnest, fastest and lightest laptop yet.
Building on the previous PowerBook G4 laptop, the new laptop adds dual-core Intel processors for the first time. The MacBook Pro immediately makes waves in the tech community. And did we mention its awesome MagSafe connector?
If your iPhone 14 case is a little bulkier than you’d like — maybe a bit tight in the pocket — perhaps it’s time to try SwitchEasy’s MagSafe Gravity iPhone Case.
The incredibly slim case adds zero bulk, works with MagSafe and is available in the Cult of Mac Store for just $25, but is currently on sale for $19.99.
Twelve South’s new 2-in-1 Butterfly MagSafe Charger folds into a tiny footprint, fast-charges MagSafe iPhones and Apple Watches, and can serve as a kickstand for your handset, as well.
The cool gadget, which you can get directly from Twelve South or Apple, looks like a winner and is priced as such, at a steep $129.95.
Attention iPhone 14 owners: Don’t miss the SwitchEasy sale on all iPhone 14 cases and accessories in the Cult of Mac Store. You can save 20% on any of 10 different cases to protect and dress up your fabulous Apple handset.
The cases cover the bases from tough and functional to highly decorative. There are regular cases as well as MagSafe options. Check out some highlights below. And 20% off saves you about $6 on many of the cases.
mophie added fast charging for Apple Watch and a more sustainable design to its popular folding 3-in-1 MagSafe travel charger, the company said Wednesday.
So now the well-loved travel accessory gives you fast MagSafe charging for iPhone and quicker charging for your wearable.
Users have long suspected fast-charging hastens iPhone battery drain more than low-power charging, but a new experiment supports Apple’s claim that it doesn’t. At least, not much.
StandBy is a headline iOS 17 feature that turns your iPhone into a smart display on your nightstand, at your desk or in the kitchen. It’s an attractive way to put your phone to work as a small information board or digital clock when you’re not using it.
Of course, it works best if you have a phone with an always-on display like the iPhone 14 or 15 Pro. However, it works on any iPhone with MagSafe running iOS 17. Best of all, StandBy remembers different preferences for different rooms, so you can set it up as a bedside clock in the bedroom, a digital photo frame in the living room, or a music controller in the kitchen. Here’s everything you can do with StandBy on your iPhone.
Amazon bargain site Woot! offers a blowout sale on Apple accessories — 40 items! — through September 30 at 10 p.m. PT.
The discounts on official Apple gear extend to up to 91% off in some cases! (And those are literally iPhone cases, btw).
The new Ugreen Nexode 100W GaN Charging Station, rolled out Thursday, combines MagSafe charging for iPhone with GaN USB-C charging for other devices in a compact form factor, the company said.
I’ll have an in-depth review of the new charger, which Ugreen said is ideal for home and on-the-go use with the new iPhone 15 and other MagSafe iPhones, on Friday.
Just ahead of iPhone 15’s release, a squad of Anker charging accessories featuring Qi2 wireless charging — like MagSafe, but for everyone — rolled out at IFA Berlin, the company said Thursday.
New and updated products include MagGo magnetic chargers, power stations and banks with Qi2, plus updated USB-C Nano chargers and more.
The new Qi2 spec is said to work with upcoming iPhone 15 series handsets at 15W of fast-charging power without MagSafe certification.
Belkin unveiled its new BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with MagSafe Wednesday, offering a compact way to charge iPhone and AirPods on the road.
★★★★☆
The Pitaka MagEz Slider 2 combines a desktop stand for your iPhone with a MagSafe power bank, so your handset can get juiced up wherever you go. Just slide the external battery out and take it with you. As a bonus, the swiveling stand also includes an AirPods charger.
It originally launched in 2022, and there’s second-generation version out with an improved design. I put the updated charging stand on my desk to test it out in everyday use. Here’s what I found.
★★★★☆
The SwitchEasy MagPower 4-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand can wirelessly power up a MagSafe iPhone while also juicing up an Apple Watch, AirPods and more. And it even has a nightlight as a bonus.
I’ve had the stand either on my desk or beside my bed for a couple weeks now. Here’s what it’s like in real-world use.
Note: This stand is currently on sale in the Cult of Mac Store’s SwitchEasy flash sale.
ESR just launched a Kickstarter campaign for an unprecedented, Apple-certified 100-watt 6-in-1 charging station with GaN technology to juice up all your devices.
The company called the device — which can charge iPhone, iPad, MacBook, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously — the “world’s first” of its kind. You can preorder it now at a 20% discount. And it may serve all your charging needs.
If you want to use your iPhone while you drive, it’s best to go hands-free with a mount. Zagg subsidiary Mophie rolled out two choices Monday, a MagSafe-compatible magnetic vent mount and a MagSafe-certified wireless charging vent mount.
“The magnetic and wireless charging vent mounts from mophie are each designed to enhance the driving experience,” said Brad Bell, senior vice president of global marketing at ZAGG. “No matter the use case, mophie helps connected drivers keep their iPhone secure and in line-of-sight.”
Anker introduced its new 620 MagGo Grip for iPhone this week, encouraging you to use the magnetic gadget to mount your handset anywhere so you can multitask.
The device is a handheld grip, a wall mount and a stand for MagSafe iPhones all in one. Not bad for a $20 item.
In the ever-growing world of MagSafe-compatible chargers and stands, the SwitchEasy Portal 2-in-1 MagSafe Power Bank with Charging Stand could be an instant classic. The power bank pops right out of the sleek stand for mobile use with your iPhone, or you can stick it back on the stand to charge your handset with or without a cable.
And the SwitchEasy 4-in-1 MagPower is another highly capable gadget, letting you charge four devices at once.
Best of all, right now Cult of Mac readers can take 30% off the two chargers.
Apple has shared its annual Mother’s Day gift guide to help you celebrate your mom on May 14 in the United States and many other countries. Dozens of gift ideas, from AirTags to iPhones to various accessories, cover a range of prices from $15 to about $1,000.
And you can “make it mom’s” with free engraving of emojis and messages on a range of gifts, too.
Anker unveiled its newest and lowest-priced magnetic power bank Monday. And a 30% off launch discount makes the new 321 MagGo Battery PowerCore 5K an even better deal. See below for details.
Update: This deal has expired. Nevertheless, the power bank is only $31.99, which is a third of the cost of Apple’s own version.
Zagg brand Gear4 rolled out its new Apollo Snap 2 Magnetic AirPods case last week for Apple’s second-generation top-shelf earbuds.
The case’s magnets hold the lid tight and provide MagSafe and Qi wireless charging power.
