MagSafe is a magnetic attachment system designed by Apple to align electronic devices for wireless charging. It was first introduced in 2006 for MacBook power adapters, which detached easily to prevent accidents. In 2020, Apple brought MagSafe to the iPhone 12 lineup and has expanded it across various accessories.
The key to MagSafe is the use of magnets to correctly orient devices so that power can transfer over inductive coils efficiently. Magnets in both the charger and device attract and snap them into the optimal charging position. While the charger and device don’t make direct contact, the magnetic field enables power transmission through a small air gap.
MagSafe chargers provide up to 15 watts of power, twice as fast as standard Qi wireless charging. The MagSafe Power Bank also utilizes MagSafe technology to attach to the back of the iPhone and provide extra battery life on the go.
In this article, we may use the terms “Power Bank” and “Battery Pack” interchangeably.
How the MagSafe Power Bank Works
The MagSafe Power Bank packs a built-in high-capacity battery and MagSafe magnets into a compact, portable design. It magnetically snaps onto the back of iPhone 12 and 13 models to provide additional charges when you need them.
Here are the key features that allow it to charge your iPhone:
- Built-in Battery: The Power Bank has its own internal lithium-ion battery that holds charge. Its capacity is either 11.13Wh or 14.6Wh depending on the model. This allows it to store and transfer power to your iPhone on the go.
- MagSafe Magnets: An array of magnets lining the circular charging surface allows the Power Bank to align with MagSafe magnets around the wireless charging coil on the back of your iPhone. The magnetic attachment keeps both devices in place for charging.
- Inductive Coils: Both the Power Bank and iPhone contain copper induction coils. When aligned, the magnetic field allows electricity to wirelessly transfer between the Power Bank’s battery and your iPhone’s battery. This charges your iPhone.
- Apple Lightning Port: The Power Bank has an Apple Lightning port so that you can recharge the Power Bank itself through a Lightning cable connected to a power source. This replenishes its internal battery.
- Pass-Through Charging: When plugged into power, the Power Bank can charge your iPhone and itself simultaneously in a pass-through charging setup. The iPhone gets priority charging in this mode.
Charging Capabilities and Features
The MagSafe Power Bank provides some handy charging capabilities through its smart design:
- Extra On-The-Go Charges: Fully charged, the Power Bank provides about 70% extra battery life for iPhone 12 mini, or 40% for iPhone 12 Pro Max. This gives 1-2 extra charges for most models for charging on the go.
- 7.5W Wireless Charging: On its own, the Power Bank can charge your iPhone at faster 7.5W speeds. This provides a decent rate of charge, but is slower than a wall adapter.
- 15W Fast Charging: When plugged into power, the Power Bank unlocks 15W MagSafe charging for your iPhone, twice as fast as wireless charging alone. However, your iPhone gets priority in this setup.
- Reverse Charging: Amazingly, your iPhone can also charge the Power Bank wirelessly when the Power Bank is connected to a Lightning cable. This allows you to charge both devices simultaneously.
- Battery Widget Integration: Your iPhone’s battery widget will display the Power Bank’s battery level so you can monitor its charge status. The lock screen can also show charging status.
- Status Light: An LED on the Power Bank indicates charging status. White means charging your iPhone, amber means low battery, and green means it’s fully charged.
- Compact Design: With a rounded square shape just 0.67 inches thick, the Power Bank is slim and portable. It easily fits in your pocket or bag for charging anywhere.
- Limited Capacity: The downside is the small battery size limits the Power Bank’s charging capacity. It provides partial charges but may not fully recharge your iPhone multiple times.
Using the MagSafe Power Bank
Using the MagSafe Power Bank to charge your iPhone on the go is simple:
- Magnetic Attachment: Align the Power Bank’s MagSafe charging surface to the back of your iPhone. The magnets will pull the devices together into the proper alignment. You’ll feel and hear a satisfying snap.
- Check Status: The LED light on the Power Bank will glow white to indicate charging is in progress. You can check the battery widget on your iPhone to monitor both battery levels.
- Charge Power Bank: When the Power Bank battery gets low, you can recharge it by plugging the Lightning port into a wall adapter or computer. Pass-through charging mode engages when connected to power.
- Remove When Done: When charging is complete, simply pull the Power Bank off the back of your iPhone to detach it. The MagSafe magnets allow it to cleanly snap on and off.
- Check Battery Level: Make sure to monitor the Power Bank’s battery level so it doesn’t fully drain. Fully depleted, it will take about 2.5 hours to recharge the Power Bank itself.
Pros and Cons of MagSafe Power Bank
Here are some key benefits and limitations of the MagSafe Power Bank:
Pros
- Provides wireless charging on the go
- MagSafe magnets keep it aligned perfectly with your iPhone for charging
- Charges iPhone at faster 7.5W speed without a cable
- Pass-through charging mode when plugged in
- Can also charge AirPods and other Qi-compatible devices
- Sleek, portable design for pocket or bag
Cons
- Small battery capacity provides partial charges
- Doesn’t support full 15W wireless charging by itself
- Only compatible with iPhone 12 and 13 models
- No wall adapter included, must provide your own
- Relatively expensive for the capacity
While the Power Bank doesn’t hold a huge battery, it offers the convenience of wireless MagSafe charging anywhere. The ability to charge both your iPhone and the Power Bank simultaneously when plugged in is also a nice bonus.
The Future of MagSafe Accessories
Apple is heavily investing in the new MagSafe ecosystem. In the future, we’re likely to see more accessories and devices taking advantage of MagSafe for effortless charging, attachments, and new experiences.
Potential MagSafe accessories could include battery packs for other devices like AirPods, mounts for cars or walls, and magnetic cases or wallets. The magnets enable new possibilities for accessories to easily align and attach.
For iPhones, Apple may release higher capacity MagSafe Power Banks once the technology matures. A future dual charging mode could wirelessly charge your iPhone and AirPods simultaneously.
MagSafe has also fueled speculation that Apple may eventually release a fully portless iPhone that only charges wirelessly. While a portless design poses challenges, MagSafe could help enable this transition.
The MagSafe Power Bank provides a glimpse at the potential of MagSafe accessories. Its smart charging capabilities packaged into a portable, snap-on design reveal promising applications for this technology as Apple expands the MagSafe ecosystem.
