MagSafe

Apple’s big FineWoven launch last year with the iPhone 15 has come to an abrupt end. Following user reports of FineWoven’s poor durability in daily use, the company has discontinued its FineWoven iPhone cases. But there’s still one FineWoven product still available for the iPhone 16: the MagSafe Wallet.

Today following its big iPhone 16 event, Apple has released a brand new MagSafe charger for iPhone that features significantly faster charging—but only if you buy a shiny new iPhone 16 too.

I’ve been using Anker products for years, and they’ve never let me down. Whether it’s a power bank, a charging station, or a USB-C cable, Anker always delivers solid, reliable gear. Their newly launched MagGo series fits that same mold. Here’s a quick look at what these new releases bring and if they are something you should consider for your old or new iPhone.

Apple introduced MagSafe into its iPhone lineup with the iPhone 12. Since then, the Magsafe accessory ecosystem has exploded. We have battery packs, pop sockets, holders, lanyards, and more. I wanted to show off five of my favorite Magsafe accessories I use frequently and provide great functionality.

I have said this before, and I will say it again. Bringing USB-C to iPhone with the iPhone 15 lineup completely changed how I use and view these phones. When talking about the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, specifically, the power and versatility of that port open up so many new use cases for the iPhone. One use case, in particular, is the ability to record ProRes footage from the iPhone and save it directly to an external SSD without taking up valuable internal storage space. I have found the perfect SSD for this; let me elaborate.

ESR first came on to my radar with their excellent iPad Pro magnetic stand/case combos, and the company makes some of the best iPhone chargers too.

I’ve recently become a big fan of ESR’s 3-in-1 travel charger for iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods, which I’ve found fits in just as well at home as on the road. Its elegant design paired with the MagSafe-like Qi2 benefits make for a winning combo.

Car mounts for MagSafe are my favorite use case for wireless charging and Apple’s implementation. Thinking about going back to actually “docking” my iPhone in my car feels like going back to 2010. The ability to quickly snap your iPhone to a charger in your car for a quick top-off is a great use case for MagSafe. Today, I am looking at the new PITAKA MagEZ MagSafe car mount.

A French website has obtained what appear to be molds of the iPhone 16 line-up, showing what appears to be a small but still notable change to the MagSafe charging ring.

The molds also reflect the changes we’re expecting to see to the camera layout in the base and Plus model iPhone 16 …

Native Union has released its latest iPhone accessory today, the (Re)Classic Power Bank. The company is looking to set it apart from the competition with what it says is the slimmest design for a 5000mAh iPhone at just 8.6mm (0.34 inches), an Italian vegan leather, and more.

A smart MagSafe wallet could alert you if you leave a card behind after using it in a store, thanks to a simple approach described in a new Apple patent application.

The wallet could also better protect you against accidentally losing cards when carrying only one or two cards …

There was a surprise upgrade for some in iOS 17.4: tests reveal that it enabled iPhone 12 Qi2 charging, at the full 15W speed.

Support for 15W Qi2 charging was first announced for the iPhone 15, and then extended to the iPhone 13 and 14 through the iOS 17.2 update back in December of last year – and is now available for the iPhone 12 too …

We learned more about the second generation of the Qi wireless charging standard last year and it’s ended up as compatible with iPhone 13 through 15. Now mophie is one of the first accessory makers to unveil its Qi2 devices.

Happy MagSafe Monday to those who celebrate! Last fall, Apple added FaceTime to Apple TV 4K as part of tvOS 17. Now the company is selling a Belkin MagSafe mount for using the iPhone-enabled feature more easily. The accessory also makes video calling with iPhone on Apple TV 4K easier with apps like Zoom and Webex.

Qi2 is the latest wireless charging standard the Wireless Power Consortium developed, incorporating Magnetic Power Profile (MPP) based on Apple’s MagSafe technology. This ensures accurate alignment and faster charging speeds of up to 15 watts – significantly improving the existing standard. Qi2 is backward compatible, allowing older Qi devices to charge on Qi2 chargers at slower speeds. Qi2 was designed to unify wireless charging standards globally, with all manufacturers expected to adopt it in future devices. The Anker MagGo Magnetic Wireless Charger is now my default Qi2/MagSafe charger for my laptop bag for travel.

I typically lose my wallet at least two times a month. Most recently, I couldn’t find it on New Year’s Day. I was starting to worry that I’d left it at the restaurant I had been the night before. I eventually found it in my bed, but it took me half an hour to search for it. This is one of the benefits of a Find My integrated accessory. I would have been much less worried if I knew it was at home. ESR’s iPhone wallet with Find My integration solves this problem with plenty of room to spare. Let’s look at the pros and cons of the ESR MagSafe wallet.

Nomad is out with its latest limited edition iPhone case and this time, it’s come to fruition through a partnership with Peak Design. The clever new Rugged Case delivers a sharp aesthetic with 15-foot drop protection, MagSafe, support for Peak Design’s hard lock SlimLink system, and more.

Update 1/24/24: The Nomad x Peak Design Rugged Case is now available for iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.

One of the downsides of leaving the Max lineup with my iPhone 15 was the battery life. The Max iPhones, thanks to their bigger batteries, keep running and running. While the battery life of the iPhone 15 is fantastic, I have noticed that I can get low by the end of the day if I am traveling or out and about without a charger. To augment that, I’ve been using the Anker Magnetic Battery 10,000mAh.

Everyone knows the story of Apple’s failed AirPower accessory, which Apple announced alongside the iPhone X in 2017 and failed to actually ever release. New images shared by Kosutami this week offer a look at one of the earlier MagSafe prototypes, which were reportedly developed around the same time as AirPower.

MagSafe wallets are a great way to simplify what’s on your everyday carry list while keeping a minimal wallet to avoid hurting your back by sitting on a massive wallet. In this week’s MagSafe Monday, I will review the ESR Magnetic Wallet and explain why it’s a great day-to-day wallet but excels as a travel wallet for plane trips.

We’re kicking off a new weekly series here on 9to5Mac that’ll aim to uncover the best, most unique, and most useful MagSafe and wireless charging accessories. Since the introduction of MagSafe with the iPhone 12, it’s been the primary way I’ve charged my iPhone. Even with the addition of USB-C with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, I’ve continued relying on MagSafe and other wireless chargers for daily and nightly charging. In a sense, it’s MagSafe or bust for me. To kick off the first edition of MagSafe Monday, I want to look at the Belkin Magnetic Wireless Car Charger.

I have been on the lookout for a 3-in-1 charging station for my Apple products that doesn’t break the bank. Don’t get me wrong – there are many options for 3-in-1 chargers, but it seems you have to spend upward of $100 or even $200 for a high-quality Apple 3-in-1 charger. But I think I finally found one that cuts that $100 price point in half while still keeping it high quality. Let’s check out the X23 Pro Charger.