What is Apple MagSafe and what iPhone 12 accessories can you buy?

(Pocket-lint) - Apple released its iPhone 12 lineup past twelvemonth and its MagSafe tech is starring to an wholly caller ecosystem of accessories. Here's everything you request to cognize astir it.

What is MagSafe?

There are really 2 versions of MagSafe.

MagSafe for Mac

Apple introduced its proprietary MagSafe exertion successful 2006 connected a MacBook Pro. This archetypal mentation is fundamentally a magnetic powerfulness connector for the MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro. The thought is, if your MacBook is tugged by idiosyncratic tripping implicit the powerfulness cord, the MagSafe connector volition propulsion retired of the socket without damaging itself, the powerfulness socket, oregon your laptop.

But Apple started replacing MagSafe successful 2016 with USB-C connectors. There's a magnetic charging cablegram connected the caller iMac, but it's not billed arsenic MagSafe. 

MagSafe for iPhone

The latest mentation of MagSafe is simply a mounting and charging strategy for iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Apple fundamentally took the iPhone's wireless charging coil and added caller components to make a caller benignant of improved wireless charging with continued enactment for Qi, positive it allows for mounting of antithetic accessories, which we'll explicate successful a bit.

MagSafe for iPhone adds a magnetometer and a single-coil NFC reader. It fundamentally uses magnets to assistance decently align your iPhone connected a wireless charger. Previously, with a modular Qi wireless charger, if your telephone wasn't perfectly aligned, it would complaint overmuch slower than normal. But, with a caller MagSafe charger, placement is simply a breeze, and you'll get up to 15W of power.

If you usage Qi charging, Apple says you volition beryllium constricted to the aforesaid 7.5W, aforesaid with older-generation iPhone models specified arsenic the iPhone 11.

There are plentifulness of MagSafe accessories

So, determination are 2 types of MagSafe accessories: MagSafe chargers and past MagSafe-enabled cases, wallets, mounts and truthful on. 

Apple is integrating MagSafe into proprietary chargers arsenic good arsenic the backmost of its ain silicone and leather cases, which alteration you to usage MagSafe chargers adjacent portion your instrumentality is successful the case. Third-party accessory manufacturers person besides adopted MagSafe exertion into their ain products, opening up the doorway to all-new accessories.

MagSafe chargers

Apple has MagSafe Wireless Charger for iPhone and a MagSafe Duo Wireless Charger for iPhone and Apple Watch.

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And determination are plentifulness of akin devices for the iPhone 12 series, specified arsenic this charger from Anker. However, due to the fact that this PowerWave pad is not MagSafe certified by Apple and is conscionable Qi, it tin lone complaint up to 7.5W alternatively than 15W.

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Third-party accessory manufacturers are escaped to usage MagSafe successful a assortment of ways. One of Anker's champion options is this artillery pack, which uses magnets to clamp onto your iPhone truthful that you tin usage it without immoderate wires - it's brilliant, and fractional the terms of Apple's ain equivalent, truthful we thoroughly urge it.

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Belkin has a 3-in-1 dock that holds the iPhone and your Apple Watch successful the aerial portion charging your AirPods below. It besides announced an in-car equine utilizing MagSafe.

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It besides has a 2-in-1 dock which conscionable has the iPhone MagSafe charger and the AirPods cradle which we truly like: 

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MagSafe cases, sleeves, and wallets

Apple has announced MagSafe-enabled silicon and wide cases that magnetically drawback connected to your iPhone. Your iPhone volition recognise the lawsuit and amusement a matching animation. Apple has promised a leather sleeve, too. When your iPhone 12 is inserted into the sleeve, the sleeve should observe it and crook connected your clock, which is disposable done the sleeve's window. The timepiece is besides color-matched.

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Finally, Apple has created its ain leather wallet that easy snaps to the backmost of the iPhone 12 oregon a MagSafe-enabled case. Leather ammunition cases from Apple are besides successful the works. In different words, expect each aboriginal accessories from Apple to beryllium MagSafe-enabled.

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Other manufacturers similar Scosche person caller mounting systems that usage Apple's MagSafe Wireless Charger, too.

Aside from chargers, cases, sleeves, wallets, docks, and mounts, much MagSafe accessories volition beryllium connected the way. Stay tuned.

Want to cognize more?

Check retired Apple's MagSafe store page to browse each its MagSafe accessories.

Writing by Maggie Tillman. Editing by Max Freeman-Mills. Originally published connected 15 October 2020.