Apple's MagSafe isn't going anywhere

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AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in iPhone edited March 27

Poking around the internet, there appears to be the idea that Apple will phase out MagSafe just as it did to 3D Touch. MagSafe isn't going anywhere.

A person holds a round charging device with a white surface, while black cables and another round charger are nearby.
Apple's MagSafe puck, which was jut updated with faster charging
Earlier in 2025

, Apple dropped the iPhone 16e. It is Apple's most affordable iPhone and includes new features like its first in-house modem, C1.

At the same time, it also opted not to include MagSafe. This magnetic connection and charging system has grown in popularity and set up alarm bells when it wasn't present.

Many have feared, that like 3D Touch, MagSafe would go by the wayside and in the coming years, Apple would remove it altogether.

3D Touch, which is still to this day one of my favorite features that I'm forever crushed by its removal, wasn't very popular. Users didn't know about it and it didn't get used.

Its fate was sealed when it could recreate a very similar feature via software. There was no need for the more expensive display, especially as Apple wanted to innovate with the display in other ways.

A person holds a wireless charging station with a watch, smartphone showing 25% charge, and earbuds in a white case.
A visual representation of the magnets inside the iPhone



Here, MagSafe is insanely popular. And there is no way, other than buying a compatible case or attaching a ring, to make this work without the physical magnets.

After going down multiple social media rabbit holes, I'm seeing two prevailing theories from users. That Apple will remove it completely or they will relegate it to an external case.

Qi2 and MagSafe



What's important to know going into this is the relationship between Qi2 and Apple's MagSafe.

Exploded view of a smartphone's internal components, including copper-graphite shield, magnet array, alignment magnet, charging coil, polycarbonate housing, and e-shield, shown in layers.
An exploded view showing the MagSafe composition



Qi2 is actually based on MagSafe. Not that they copied the idea, but that Apple contributed its work on MagSafe to the Wireless Power Consortium for them to use it as the basis for the Qi2 spec.

There would be no Qi2 without MagSafe. Apple's iPhone lineup also became the very first products to be certified with Qi2.

Unlike with regular Qi that could not have magnets surrounding the coil, to be Qi2 certified, you must include the ring of magnets.

I can't imagine Apple wanting to create an uncertified Qi2 device, following along in Samsung's footsteps with its "Qi2-ready" devices.

Close-up of a circular, copper-colored coil with segmented gray outer ring on a dark surface, suggesting intricate design or technology.
MagSafe and its charging technology became the basis for Qi2



People seem to forget that while MagSafe is absent on the iPhone 16E, Apple just updated MagSafe's capabilities this past fall to support 25W of power.

Not a move they'd make with the anticipation of starting to phase it out in only a few months.

I spoke with the WPC at CES 2025 and they told me that they believed Apple would continue to innovate with MagSafe and the Qi standard would then follow them, adopting their changes.

A digital clock displays 3:14, with a camera and potted plant in the background on a table.
StandBy mode works when your iPhone is placed in landscape on a MagSafe or Qi2 charger



That likely means we'll see 25W Qi2 charging down the line and leave the door open for Apple to continue to increase speeds or improve efficiency when it's ready.

Just move MagSafe to the case!



The second thing I've seen floated a lot is that Apple won't ditch MagSafe, rather, they'll merely remove the magnets from the phone. If you want MagSafe, you'd just get a case with magnets in it.

This too doesn't pass the smell test for a litany of reasons. Least of which, Apple never markets its phones with cases.

It would be a huge departure from highlighting the beautiful design of the phone to showing them with cases. Even if least to show all the various MagSafe options.

Hand holding a smartphone with an orange cardholder against a pink and purple brick wall background.
Apple's wallet wouldn't work without MagSafe



Unless you bought a case, Apple's own accessories wouldn't work on a phone sans-MagSafe. The MagSafe wallet and MagSafe charger would require a whole secondary purchase.

Smartphone with a circular accessory attached sits atop a computer monitor showing a video editing software interface.
Partner accessories like Belkin's monitor mount also wouldn't work



Same with partner accessories like Belkin's MagSafe mounts for your laptop or monitor or the stand for Apple Fitness.

The most visible confirmation that this won't happen is already here. Apple's cases for iPhone 16e do not have MagSafe magnets.

Hand holding a dark green silicone phone case, with a partial view of a laptop and an orange watch strap visible.
Apple has new cases for iPhone 16e and they too don't have MagSafe



I have to believe that if that was Apple's strategy, to just rely on cases, it would be putting that into place now so customers begin to adjust to that idea.

MagSafe is likely only just going to get better



When everything is taken into consideration, there's no reason for Apple to remove MagSafe. At most, it would save them a very small amount for the magnetic components.

At worst, you're stripping away a wildly popular feature for car mounts, stands, wallets, batteries, and more, and forcing people to buy a case.

A person holding a charging pad with a smartwatch, smartphone showing 25 percent charged, and wireless earbud case on it.
Just one of the many Qi2 3-in-1 chargers out there



It would make it harder to use StandBy mode, again, another popular MagSafe-enabled feature.

Apple doesn't support MagSafe in its iPhone 16e cases. And it's very unlikely for it to invent a standard, promote it until it's popular, and then kill it off.

Look, I may be wrong here.

There's a chance that the powers that be in Cupertino may decide to remove MagSafe, despite everything I've laid out here.

But my money is that come this fall, and next fall, we'll continue to see MagSafe on the core iPhone models.



Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 11
    prolineproline Posts: 226member
    You're probably right. It's sad, because with MagSafe half the electricity gets used to increase the entropy of the universe which raises carbon emissions for no reason. It is slow, it makes the phones bigger and heavier, and hardly anyone uses it. And yet, for so many years the only thing reviewers would say every September was "and it still doesn't have teh wireless chargez!". Apple doesn't want the big story in September to be that, so they will include the wasteful and useless thing.
    williamlondonargonautmike1mpantonetimpetusMplsPchiawatto_cobra
     1Like 7Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 2 of 11
    coolfactorcoolfactor Posts: 2,366member
    proline said:
    You're probably right. It's sad, because with MagSafe half the electricity gets used to increase the entropy of the universe which raises carbon emissions for no reason. It is slow, it makes the phones bigger and heavier, and hardly anyone uses it. And yet, for so many years the only thing reviewers would say every September was "and it still doesn't have teh wireless chargez!". Apple doesn't want the big story in September to be that, so they will include the wasteful and useless thing.
    Qi (version 1.0) is not useless. For me, it's the only way to charge my 13 Pro, as well as my last iPhone. The Lightning connector ultimately failed on me for multiple phones.

    Is it less efficient? Sure, but talk about convenience! I have non-magnetic chargers all around, and just toss my phone onto one of them when I'm not using it No wires.
    jbirdiikunargonautmike1chiawatto_cobra
     5Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 3 of 11
    appleinsideruserappleinsideruser Posts: 728member

    StandBy mode works when your iPhone is placed in landscape on a MagSafe or Qi2 charger

    And via a cable too!
    M68000jbirdiikunargonauttimpetuschiawatto_cobra
     6Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 4 of 11
    Xedxed Posts: 3,108member
    proline said:
    You're probably right. It's sad, because with MagSafe half the electricity gets used to increase the entropy of the universe which raises carbon emissions for no reason. It is slow, it makes the phones bigger and heavier, and hardly anyone uses it. And yet, for so many years the only thing reviewers would say every September was "and it still doesn't have teh wireless chargez!". Apple doesn't want the big story in September to be that, so they will include the wasteful and useless thing.
    There's a ridiculous number of false statements in your post. Is that suppose to be parody that is falling flat?
    AnObserverjbirdiikunargonautmike1mpantonetiredskillsMplsPchiawatto_cobra
     7Likes 2Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 5 of 11
    Phobos7phobos7 Posts: 67member
    Good! Makes sense.
    jbirdiikuntimpetuswatto_cobra
     3Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 6 of 11
    sloth77sloth77 Posts: 54member
    Xed said:
    proline said:
    You're probably right. It's sad, because with MagSafe half the electricity gets used to increase the entropy of the universe which raises carbon emissions for no reason. It is slow, it makes the phones bigger and heavier, and hardly anyone uses it. And yet, for so many years the only thing reviewers would say every September was "and it still doesn't have teh wireless chargez!". Apple doesn't want the big story in September to be that, so they will include the wasteful and useless thing.
    There's a ridiculous number of false statements in your post. Is that suppose to be parody that is falling flat?
    Actually most of the statements are true.  It is less efficient than wired charging, it is slower than wired charging and it does make the phone fractionally heavier (if not bigger).

    But I don't agree that hardly anyone uses it - I suspect most people wirelessly charge.
    tiredskillsMplsPwatto_cobra
     3Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 7 of 11
    Xedxed Posts: 3,108member
    sloth77 said:
    Xed said:
    proline said:
    You're probably right. It's sad, because with MagSafe half the electricity gets used to increase the entropy of the universe which raises carbon emissions for no reason. It is slow, it makes the phones bigger and heavier, and hardly anyone uses it. And yet, for so many years the only thing reviewers would say every September was "and it still doesn't have teh wireless chargez!". Apple doesn't want the big story in September to be that, so they will include the wasteful and useless thing.
    There's a ridiculous number of false statements in your post. Is that suppose to be parody that is falling flat?
    Actually most of the statements are true.  It is less efficient than wired charging, it is slower than wired charging and it does make the phone fractionally heavier (if not bigger).

    But I don't agree that hardly anyone uses it - I suspect most people wirelessly charge.
    You believe that...

    • MagSafe half the electricity gets used to increase the entropy of the universe which raises carbon emissions for no reason
    • It is slow
    • hardly anyone uses it
    • wasteful and useless thing

    None of those things are true as stated and most of the others have some truth to them but are lame duck statements, like "makes the phones bigger and heavier."
    edited March 28
    tiredskillsMplsPgrandact73watto_cobra
     1Like 3Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 8 of 11
    boileree72boileree72 Posts: 2member
    You are spot on, no way is Apple removing MagSafe from the iPhone or any other product, MacBooks and iPads.  There would be revolt by Apple users if they did.   Not happening.  Another reason I do not read any of the nay sayers on the internet.
    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 9 of 11
    tiredskillstiredskills Posts: 97member
    Xed said:
    sloth77 said:
    Xed said:
    proline said:
    You're probably right. It's sad, because with MagSafe half the electricity gets used to increase the entropy of the universe which raises carbon emissions for no reason. It is slow, it makes the phones bigger and heavier, and hardly anyone uses it. And yet, for so many years the only thing reviewers would say every September was "and it still doesn't have teh wireless chargez!". Apple doesn't want the big story in September to be that, so they will include the wasteful and useless thing.
    There's a ridiculous number of false statements in your post. Is that suppose to be parody that is falling flat?
    Actually most of the statements are true.  It is less efficient than wired charging, it is slower than wired charging and it does make the phone fractionally heavier (if not bigger).

    But I don't agree that hardly anyone uses it - I suspect most people wirelessly charge.
    You believe that...

    • MagSafe half the electricity gets used to increase the entropy of the universe which raises carbon emissions for no reason
    • It is slow
    • hardly anyone uses it
    • wasteful and useless thing

    None of those things are true as stated and most of the others have some truth to them but are lame duck statements, like "makes the phones bigger and heavier."
    Wtf is a "lame duck argument"?
    appleinsideruser
     0Likes 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 10 of 11
    MplsPmplsp Posts: 4,102member
    Xed said:
    sloth77 said:
    Xed said:
    proline said:
    You're probably right. It's sad, because with MagSafe half the electricity gets used to increase the entropy of the universe which raises carbon emissions for no reason. It is slow, it makes the phones bigger and heavier, and hardly anyone uses it. And yet, for so many years the only thing reviewers would say every September was "and it still doesn't have teh wireless chargez!". Apple doesn't want the big story in September to be that, so they will include the wasteful and useless thing.
    There's a ridiculous number of false statements in your post. Is that suppose to be parody that is falling flat?
    Actually most of the statements are true.  It is less efficient than wired charging, it is slower than wired charging and it does make the phone fractionally heavier (if not bigger).

    But I don't agree that hardly anyone uses it - I suspect most people wirelessly charge.
    You believe that...

    • MagSafe half the electricity gets used to increase the entropy of the universe which raises carbon emissions for no reason
    • It is slow
    • hardly anyone uses it
    • wasteful and useless thing

    None of those things are true as stated and most of the others have some truth to them but are lame duck statements, like "makes the phones bigger and heavier."
    Wireless charging is horribly inefficient. MagSafe is better but moves up from horribly to just woefully inefficient. Best case is 75% efficient. And that's without a case. Add a case and the numbers only get worse. If you were filling up your car and 25% of the gas leaked out of the nozzle before it got to your tank would you keep going to the same gas station just because it was convenient?

    Magsafe is also undeniably slower. If you have no case and the highest power puck it's not a huge difference, but as with power that difference goes up when you add a case.

    As far as hardly anyone using it, I have no idea of the numbers but I would say that is false. If they're not using MagSafe then many people are using some form of wireless charging. Which comes to the next point - MagSafe really is the optimal case for wireless charging - the magnets hold the two coils in the optimal configuration. If you're not using MagSafe the efficiency drops off exponentially.

    Wasteful? absolutely - we've already shown that. Useless? Well, not totally but most of the uses are not really necessary. They arise because people are just too lazy to plug their phones in. There are some situations like the Apple Watch for which inductive charging is really the only viable option but for phones it's strictly convenience. (the statement about everyone complaining about the absence of inductive charging before Apple introduced it is also true - I clearly remember all the posts here on AI about it.)

    Below is a link to the best article I've found looking at MagSafe efficiency.

    https://www.ifixit.com/News/94409/wireless-charging-trading-efficiency-for-convenience
    edited March 28
    M68000muthuk_vanalingamgrandact73watto_cobra
     4Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 11 of 11
    macguimacgui Posts: 2,547member
    Xed said:
    sloth77 said:
    Xed said:
    proline said:
    You're probably right. It's sad, because with MagSafe half the electricity gets used to increase the entropy of the universe which raises carbon emissions for no reason. It is slow, it makes the phones bigger and heavier, and hardly anyone uses it. And yet, for so many years the only thing reviewers would say every September was "and it still doesn't have teh wireless chargez!". Apple doesn't want the big story in September to be that, so they will include the wasteful and useless thing.
    There's a ridiculous number of false statements in your post. Is that suppose to be parody that is falling flat?
    Actually most of the statements are true.  It is less efficient than wired charging, it is slower than wired charging and it does make the phone fractionally heavier (if not bigger).

    But I don't agree that hardly anyone uses it - I suspect most people wirelessly charge.
    You believe that...

    • MagSafe half the electricity gets used to increase the entropy of the universe which raises carbon emissions for no reason
    • It is slow
    • hardly anyone uses it
    • wasteful and useless thing

    None of those things are true as stated and most of the others have some truth to them but are lame duck statements, like "makes the phones bigger and heavier."

    He told you what he believed:

    sloth77 said:
    It is less efficient than wired charging, it is slower than wired charging and it does make the phone fractionally heavier (if not bigger).

    But I don't agree that hardly anyone uses it - I suspect most people wirelessly charge.

     and you deliberately choose to ignore and misrepresent that. WTF.
    MplsPmuthuk_vanalingamgrandact73watto_cobra
     4Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
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