Apple’s MagSafe Charging Explained: Magnetic Accessories Are Expanding

MT HANNACH
12 Min Read
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Apple Magsafe for phones has evolved a little since its inception on the 2020 iPhone 12 lineproviding a magnetic wireless load of iphone At Airpods. Since Apple’s Magsafe is compatible with the Qi2 wireless load standard and has been popular, we are starting to see Samsung, Google and OnePlus support similar magnetic accessories.

Even better, these wireless charge accessories are now cheaper than when Magsafe made its debut, companies such as Anker and Belkin manufacturing Qi2 magnetic load pads and supports that support the speeds of 15 watts without needing certification and Apple approval. But if you get a new iPhone 16 and use it with one of the Apple Magsafe loaders And a 30 -watts power adapter, you can now get 25 watt loads even faster.

Find out more: iPhone 16: What we know about the release date, leaks and more

But it is not only a question of loading. The Apple Magsafe for the iPhone allows all kinds of magnetic boxes, wallets, stands, handles and other accessories which can be quickly attached to the back of an iPhone using integrated magnets . This has led to an assortment of accessories – some officially authorized by Apple and others which are simply magnetic – which take advantage of the functionality to offer many customizable options.

So, as Magsafe grows and, hope, will start to come on non-iPhone devices as a Qi2 standard, let’s decipher what Apple Magsafe for the iPhone is exactly and how to make the difference between this, the chargers and non -magnetic Qi2 accessories that simply attach your magnetic to your magnetic phone.

Magsafe apple charger

David Carnoy / Cnet

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What is Magsafe for iPhone?

Apple Magsafe for the iPhone standard refers to both a series of magnets that have been installed in most new iPhone models since 2020 – outside the iPhone se – and a wireless load standard that can recharge an iPhone faster than the original IQ standard.

Apple Magsafe allows accessories which can be attached to an iPhone using magnets. These include Magsafe telephone cases, wallets, supports, handles, chargers, stands and many other options.

Before the launch of the Qi2 standard, the Apple Magsafe wireless charger was also the only way to get a wireless load of 15 watts faster to work on an iPhone, with Apple citing that the magnets allow a secure adjustment to Help reach these speeds. From now on, Qi2 chargers provide the same speeds of 15 watts for anterior iPhone models, while the iPhone 16 series can reach 25 watts on Apple Magsafe chargers when used with a 30 Watts adapter. When you use a standard Qi charger, the iPhone caps the rate half of this speed, offering a wireless load of 7.5 Watts.

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The Belkin Boost Load Pro 3-in-1 Qi2 Charge

David Carnoy / Cnet

What is Qi2 load and what is it different from Magsafe?

Qi2 is an open standard and iterate above the anterior wireless charge standard while incorporating elements of the Apple Magsafe standard. This includes both magnetic compatibility and a wireless load speed of 15 watts, which means that any phone that supports Qi2 could potentially support magnetic accessories as well as the faster wireless load.

From now on, however, the only Android phone which natively supports Qi2 is the Skyline HMDBut there are already several companies manufacturing Qi2 accessories that work both on Skyline and the Apple iPhone. For its new Galaxy S25 phones, Samsung is now selling first -party cases that are “Qi2 loan“- This means that the cases include the magnets necessary to support magnetic accessories. OnePlus sells a similar magnetic case For OnePlus 13and Google has so far announced that it would provide Support for Qi2 standard by contributing to its development.

Apple also updated all its Magsafe compatible iPhones to support Qi2This means that if you buy a Qi2 wireless charger, it should support the wireless load of 15 watts faster. In addition, Qi2 phones that include magnets should take care of the plethora of magnetic accessories that have been released for the first time thinking of Magsafe, which probably brings compatibility to quays, mounts, handles and accessories wallet. Some of these Qi2 accessories are also slightly cheaper than the Magsafe certified accessories, which require Apple certification in order to obtain the Magsafe brand.

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Belkin’s iPhone support is attached with Magsafe.

David Carnoy / Cnet

What Magsafe accessories can I use?

With the launch of Qi2, there are now several different types of magnetic accessories that could work with your phone. This can become a little confusing, but if you buy a magnetic phone accessory and your phone supports Magsafe or Qi2, it should attach and operate to various degrees.

If you buy a Magsafe or Qi2 certified wireless charger, you should be able to use it to obtain the maximum 15 watts load speed when you have attached it to your phone. This includes quays and load stands that also include the Magsafe brand or Qi2. If you have an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 proYou can get a faster 25 watt load using a Magsafe charger connected to a 30 watts or faster power adapter.

If you buy a magnetic wireless charger that does not specify whether it is Magsafe or Qi2 certification, this probably means that if the charger will attach to your phone, it will probably take care of the original Qi standard Limited to a speed of 7.5 watts when using it with an iPhone. The results could vary when using one with an Android phone, as some telephones support the 15 watts wirelessly compared to the previous Qi standard.

And if you buy an unwanted magnetic accessory – like a wallet or a quay to use your phone as a webcam – this accessory will probably work with any Magsafe compatible phone, whatever its brand. These accessories are created with the magnets inside the phone in mind and will largely join their certification. However, I noticed – in my own personal experience – that the force of magnets can vary between accessories manufacturers. If you buy a magnetic handle, for example, test it a little after buying to make sure it corresponds to your needs as you would for a pair of shoes, and do not destroy the box in case you decide to Turn it over.

Apple Magsafe battery pack

Patrick Holland / Cnet

What iPhones are compatible with Magsafe?

Each iPhone that has been published since 2020 – except the line of the iPhone SE – is compatible with Magsafe and the Qi2 standard. This includes the iPhone 12 line and later. The iPhone 11 is not compatible with Magsafe, but it works with the original Qi wireless standard for the load. It simply will not be as fast or involve magnets.

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The HMD horizon is one of the first Android phones with Qi2 support, including the possibility of using magnetic attachments.

HMD / Viva Tung / Cnet

What Android phones are compatible with the Magsafe or Qi2 wireless load?

The HMD horizon is the first Android phone to support the Qi2 wireless standard, with integrated magnets to attach magnetic accessories. Apart from this device, however, you can often add an experience “like Magsafe” to an Android phone using magnetic cases that some accessories manufacturers create. As mentioned earlier, Samsung and OnePlus are starting to provide first party support with magnetic cases, but there are often third -party options to add magnets to the phone that supports wireless.

Your success may vary considerably with these options, as you would use Magsafe or Qi2 accessories with phones that do not officially support it. Again, you should treat it like a pair of shoes and be ready to turn it over if it does not work for you.

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The AirPods 3 have a wireless load with Magsafe.

Apple

Can I load my Apple Watch or Airpods on the load of Magsafe?

THE Apple Watch Do not support the Magsafe load: it uses a different type of magnetic wireless charger to fill its battery. Apple AirPods are much more flexible, however, because depending on the model, you may be able to recharge with an Apple Watch charger or a Magsafe compatible wireless charger.

All Airpods Pro The cases support the Qi wireless load using a Magsafe charger or a standard Qi wireless charger. This also extends to the second and third generation standard Airpods case. The new Airpods 4 with active noise cancellation and the Airpods Pro 2 Both include the Qi / Magsafe wireless load and can use an Apple Watch charger. Standard airpods 4, however, do not have wireless load and rather use the USB-C load.

Magsafe port

Dan Ackerman / Cnet

What about Magsafe on Apple MacBook laptops?

Magsafe on Apple’s MacBook The line is distinct from the Magsafe accessories line for the iPhone. These owner laptop chargers – who have briefly retired when the MacBook line adopted the USB -C load – quickly attaches to MacBook laptops compatible with a magnet and can easily stand out In the event that the cord is accidentally taken from the laptop. This is particularly suitable for all those who tend to trip on food cords.

If your MacBook includes both a Magsafe port and USB-C ports, you can choose one or the other method to recharge your laptop. Do not try to slap the Magsafe charger of an iPhone against the computer, because it will do nothing.

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