Apple recently released information about their new iPhone lineup. It includes the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and finally, the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The Mini will start at $699 per phone and the 12 Pro Max can cost you upwards of $1,200+, depending on features such as storage capacity. Two of the largest selling points for the new lineup include: faster and better charging through MagSafe chargers as well as 5G technology.
If you’re interested in learning more about the adoption of 5G, you should check out The WIRED Guide to 5G where they discuss everything from who, what, where, and when. If you’re looking to actually use 5G and have the new iPhone 12, see Apple’s Guide to Using 5G where they talk about what you’ll need and how to turn it on.
In this blog, we’re going to focus specifically on the new MagSafe technology that comes with the iPhone 12 series. This past October, Apple introduced their new MagSafe Charger which sells for $39 at the time this post is being written. Keep in mind you can pay for it over 12 months, with no interest, yielding you a monthly payment of $3.25, if that option interests you.
Caveats that Apple Announced About The Charger
While Apple boasts about their new technology being able to perfectly align magnets to the back of your iPhone in order to provide faster wireless charging – this only applies to the iPhone 12 series. While you can still wirelessly charge your iPhone 8 device and above, the magnet does not have that perfect fit, which ultimately gives it the improved charging capacity.
The MagSafe Charger kept compatibility with Qi charging and so it can still be used to wirelessly charge your Airpods and Apple watch – same as you would do with any other Qi-certified charger.
One last thing to note: if you purchase the MagSafe Charger from the Apple store or online – it does not come with the USB-C Power Adapter. This is sold separately and is ultimately needed to access the maximum efficiency of the MagSafe charger. So if you do end up deciding to purchase it – make sure you have the large power adapter already or order it separately.
Charging Power
In order to unlock the maximum charging power of 15W, you will need Apple’s
20W USB-C Power Adapter to go alongside the MagSafe Charger. This adapter is selling for an extra $19 on Apple’s website. This adapter is very helpful when charging your iPad Air, iPad Pro or any iPhone 8 or later, if you want to take advantage of the high-efficiency, fast-charging feature.
Aaron Zollo from Zollotech created a YouTube video that can be found here, where he discusses and tests all the third-party power adapter options with the iPhone 12 Pro and the MagSafe charger combination. He measured the power that’s being given off and found the MagSafe Charger did indeed hit the 15W level, while no other chargers that were tested provided similar speeds.
It’s safe to say that for maximum charging, you will need to pay that extra $19 to get the 20W USB-C Power Adapter. If you wait long enough, as always, third parties will eventually adapt and figure out how to offer you similar power, over time. That being said, you can run the risk of going with an Apple-backed product or a third-party option which will only yield you a few dollars in savings.
Additional tips:
- Try charging your iPhone wirelessly without a case on the iPhone. This lets heat disperse from the iPhone much easier, giving it a smoother charge
- It’s only worth buying the MagSafe Charger if you will be using it to charge an iPhone 12
- Check out some cool MagSafe Charging Accessories that Apple has to offer including different types of cases
How I Repair Cracked Screens Can Help
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