★★★★☆
The beauty of a portable power bank becomes apparent when it gets you out of jams as your gadgets run out of power without an electrical outlet in sight. And if the bank can juice up a few devices at once, all the better. That’s what makes the Momax AirBox Go so great.
Momax recently sent me the three-in-one portable MagSafe charger to test. I took it on a weekend trip and found it performed well, keeping my iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods Pro going.
★★★★☆
The Twelve South Forté turns Apple’s MagSafe iPhone charging puck into a stand. So rather than your handset lying flat on a table, it’s held up so you can more easily see the display. And the elevated charging mat swivels so you can pick your viewing angle for watching video or making FaceTime calls.
I put the Forté to use in my home office. Here’s what it’s like to use in real life.
★★★★☆
A computer setup benefits from stands, which raise up your devices for hands-free use while easing problems like neck strain. That’s a big selling point of the SwitchEasy MagEasy Flipmount Magnetic Hoop Stand. It’s not a charger, but it mounts MagSafe iPhones nicely, and it includes a hoop that magnetizes any other device, like an iPad.
SwitchEasy sent me one to check out. You can read my thoughts below.
★★★☆☆
SwitchEasy’s MagEasy MagLink Magnetic iPhone Mount for MacBooks provides a handy way to stick your iPhone on your MacBook to use the handset, via Continuity Camera, as a webcam. Recent iPhones have superior optics and solid microphones. Not only that, but the mount can serve as an iPhone stand or a grip for other uses, too.
While the clever little mount’s stability worried me at times, it works and it won’t break the bank at $29.99.
MagSafe is headed for non-Apple handsets. The Wireless Power Consortium is making Apple’s innovative wireless charging system for iPhone into an industry standard dubbed “Qi2.”
The first Qi2 devices are expected to hit the market by the end of 2023.
The newly announced OtterBox OtterGrip case offers drop protection for an iPhone, plus a built-in handle. And all this comes without interfering with MagSafe wireless charging.
The product is a CES Innovations Award honoree.
If you’re among the millions of people who didn’t upgrade to iPhone 14, here’s your reward. If you have an iPhone 11, 12 or 13 series handset, you can now get 40% off all SwitchEasy cases for those lineups in the Cult of Mac Store.
So, if your iPhone 11, 12 or 13 case is getting old and worn — or if you just want a fresh look — don’t miss the SwitchEasy Flash Sale. We’ve extended this end-of-season sale for a limited time. Dress up your old iPhone for the new year!
Even if you’re not worrying about giving gifts that must arrive by a certain deadline, mid-to-late December is a great time to take advantage of holidays sales. And right now you can get a great deal on a handy SwitchEasy 4-in-1 MagPower Charging Stand that’ll keep your gadgets going.
Through December 26 you can get it for 20% the regular price in the Cult of Mac Store. That’s a savings of $17.
What’s better than plugging in one device at a time for charging with a wall adapter? Why, charging two devices at the same time without having to plug them in at all, of course. You can do that with the handsome Momax 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand.
And right now, Cult of Mac readers can get a big discount of 20% off the stand, on top of another 15% off coupon, greatly reducing the regular price. That’s a great deal on a holiday gift or a present for yourself. See details below.
If you’re the proud owner of a car, you’re already dealing with maintenance, parking and other hassles. But you’ve got one less thing to worry about if you take advantage of the Cult of Mac Store’s SwitchEasy Flash Sale and pick up one of its handy car mounts for iPhone at 20% off the regular price.
They make it easy to see, access and charge your iPhone while you’re behind the wheel. And through December 21 you can get about $6 off your choice of the three of them with different mounting mechanisms. See below.
A new iPhone 14 is a substantial investment in what may be your most important piece of technology — often in-hand, always within reach. So shouldn’t you protect it? iPhones have become tougher over the years, but you wouldn’t want to risk yours being out of commission even for a day.
Momax covers two of the best ways to safeguard iPhone 14. One is a slim-but-tough magnetic case in clear or colorful options. The other is a tempered glass screen protector. Together, they’re like armor for your iPhone. And right now, Cult of Mac readers can save 10% on these Momax accessories with code CULTOFMAC10.
You may not consider the humble desk mat a necessity in your computer setup. But what if you could charge your smartphone and earbuds charging case just by placing them on your desk? You can with the new Alti Wireless Charging Desk Mat. Accessories maker Journey unveiled it Thursday.
“This charging mat is our all-in-one solution to keeping your desk clutter-free while simultaneously charging your devices. We promise that it will soon become your favorite desk companion,” the company said.
It’s time to get a grip — on a silicone case for your new iPhone 14, that is. Elago has two super-grippy silicone cases — one with MagSafe and one without — that are easy to hold, protective and colorful.
The two cases, which come in a variety of colors, are priced right in the Cult of Mac Store — just $20.99 for the MagSafe version and $14.99 for the regular one.
Speck released a wide assortment of 10 new cases for the iPhone 14 series. All but one of them are designed for MagSafe. The collection includes Presidio cases with 13-foot drop protection and and upgraded version of the colorful CandyShell Pro case.
The company said the cases are slim, durable and protective, with Microban antimicrobial protection.
Who says you need an external display in your computer setup? Some people get by just fine without some big, expensive monitor and whatever hub and cables it might require. Instead, they rely on their devices’ built-in screens.
And doing that, the owner of today’s featured setup takes advantage of Universal Control. That helps him work seamlessly across an M2 MacBook Air and an M1 iPad Air mounted on stands.
Accessories maker Moft offered a new folding wallet Thursday that magnetically sticks to your iPhone 12 or 13, but also acts as a stand whenever you need one.
Carry your license and another card with your handset. Set the stand to take a video call or watch a YouTube video. What’s not to like?
Well, some folks might not like the two-card maximum, but that could work fine for others.
★★★★★
The Scoshe BoomCan MS sticks to the back of a MagSafe iPhone and ups the sound quality considerably. The palm-size Bluetooth speaker magnetically attaches to recent Apple handsets where it also act as a kickstand or a handle. And it’s waterproof and dustproof.
I’ve been using the BoomCan MS for a few weeks… and I love it.
Apple will add two new ports to the 2022 iPad Pro, according to an unconfirmed report. However, it’s not known what these will be for as they do not conform to any connectors used by current Apple devices.
But there’s no mention of a second USB-C port in the upcoming tablet.
Tired of being tied down by a short charging cable that’s barely long enough to use your phone with? Love wireless charging but hate needing to set your phone down to charge every time the battery gets low?
You can wirelessly charge at a distance with this 10-foot magnetic wireless USB-C charging cable from ZeroLemon. And it’s now on sale for just $20.99 (regularly $24).
Apple started selling several additional accessories Wednesday, including potent and relatively affordable MagSafe chargers from Belkin and OtterBox.
Other new accessories in the Apple Store include the Eve Outdoor Cam, Philips Hue smart lighting and more.
Elago’s sleek, MagSafe-compatible iPhone charging stands make it easy to keep using your favorite gadget while it rapidly charges, sitting upright on the aluminum stand, easily at hand. Or easily hands-free, as the case may be.
You just quickly install a MagSafe charging puck into the Elago stand. Then it’s perfect for charging your phone while on FaceTime calls or while you’re using it in other ways.
The best charger is one you barely notice you’re using. And the Speedy Mag Wireless Charger for iPhone is a super-convenient magnetic battery pack that sticks to the back of your iPhone to refill your battery while you use it.
It’s a lot like Apple’s own MagSafe Battery Pack, but a lot less expensive. For a limited time, the Speedy Mag is on sale for $48.99 (regularly $119).
Wireless magnetic chargers don’t have much of a reputation for being fun, but a new one features a playful design, at least. Zendure will soon launch preorders for the new SuperMini Go, which features MagSafe-compatible docking and up to 15W of wireless charging power.
A crowdfunding campaign for the pocket-sized power bank starts in June, the company said.
Beyond iPhones, Apple is looking to switch to USB-C on all its other products with a Lightning connector like the AirPods, Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and more.
A reputable Apple analyst thinks the Cupertino company will make the transition in the “foreseeable future.”
To make the most of your iPhone’s MagSafe charging capabilities, you need a great battery pack. And the Speedy Mag is one of the best.
Right now, you can grab it on sale for just $48.99, which is a 59% discount off the regular price of $119.