There are two types of MagSafe — one for charging Macs and one for charge iPhones — but they are very different engineering science that just portion out a common name .
Since around 2006 Mac laptop have been load via a cable that used MagSafe , a clever standard that connected the charging cable television service to the MacBook via attractor that meant it was not only easy to associate , it disconnect if you tripped over the cable television service ( which meant your laptop did n’t smash to the flooring ) . MagSafe disappeared from Apple laptops with the comer of shoot down via USB - coke in about 2016 , but returned again in 2021 with the 14 - inch and 16 - inch MacBook Pro and in June 2022 with the updated MacBook Air .
Apple clearly wish the name because it also used MagSafe as the name for its organization for wirelessly excite the 2020 iPhone 12 forrader .
Tha MagSafe cable on the late-2023 MacBook Pro.
What is MagSafe for iPhone
iPhones from the iPhone 8 onwards have been able to point wirelessly as well as via a cable ( wire charging ) . To start with , Apple used the common Qi ( enounce “ chee ” ) standard . You send the back of your iPhone on a Qi burden launching pad and when the whorl of the launching pad was correctly aligned with the coil in the back of the iPhone , radiocommunication charging would start .
It was easy to misalign the coils and so charge up would either be very slow or not mesh at all — often entrust you waking up to a numb earphone that you thought was wirelessly load overnight . thwarting .
Apple came up with a neat answer , which it call MagSafe ( familiar name ? ) . The Mag place upright for Magnetic . Each iPhone in the iPhone 12/13/14/15 series contains a ring of magnets ramp up around the Qi charging ringlet . As a outcome , you’re able to snap charging accessories onto these iPhones .
Tha MagSafe cable on the late-2023 MacBook Pro.
Apple ’s MagSafe battery charger – which is sold individually for$39/£45 – is a round disc that includes magnet that attach to the magnet inside the iPhone to align mechanically . Apple sells a identification number of MagSafe products , including courser , case and stands made by itself or trusted partners – you canview the assemblage here . We have tested thebest MagSafe charger for iPhoneand also thebest MagSafe bombardment battalion and power banks for iPhone .
Because the magnets allow for more exact alinement – and due to improved inner components – MagSafe allows for faster charging .
With MagSafe you may charge at up to 15 James Watt ( 15W ) . Qi also has a theoretical maximum of 15W but it is less effective due to the misalignment issue , and many pop chargers were rated at only 5W anyway . Apple pegs iPhone burster via Qi back to 7.5W in favor of its own MagSafe , although the later Qi2 standard should enable certified chargers to reach 15W just like with certified MagSafe .
When plug in to a USB - C charger , via the Lightning porthole ( iPhones pre reading 15 ) or USB - C port ( from iPhone 15 ) , iPhones can charge at up to 20W or higher , and therefore faster .
Charging via a cable will always be faster as the connection is far more effective than radio where some amount of power is lost due to the connecter and alignment .
Because of its firm magnetic alignment , MagSafe is more effective than standard Qi charging , but still not as fast as using a cable .
Tha MagSafe cable on the late-2023 MacBook Pro.
MagSafe iPhones still support existing chi - enabled wireless charging at rates up to 7.5W – but only certified “ Made for MagSafe ” chargers are capable of charging at the full 15W.
There ’s a new Qi standard coming . Read : What is Qi2 ? Is Qi2 iPhone wireless charge better than MagSafe ?
Which iPhones have MagSafe?
The iPhone SE does not hold MagSafe , although you may wirelessly charge via Qi . Note that the iPhone 12 miniskirt only bearing at 12W with MagSafe .
Officially you should be able to practice MagSafe charging with elderly iPhones , but it come out that there are also problems using MagSafe with old iPhones . For example , if youuse a MagSafe charger with an iPhone 11charging can take a very long time .
Why MagSafe is best for iPhone wireless charging
MagSafe should ensure that iPhones are properly aligned to their wireless charger – when conjunction does n’t happen they may not commove .
Problems with MagSafe for iPhone charging
Apple sells a Apple ’s MagSafe battery charger ( for$39/£45 ) . It comes with an integrated USB - C cable length , but it does n’t admit a superpower adaptor in the box , so you will need to buy a freestanding USB - C power transcriber if you do n’t already have one .
Read our roundup of thebest iPhone USB - snow wall chargersor for more power thebest USB - 100 chargers for Mac . you may safely use a 100W battery charger with a 15W MagSafe pad , so as long as the charger is rated at over 20W you will have all you need .
likewise , there is alsono power adapteror MagSafe charging line included with the iPhone .
MagSafe 3 cable
What is MagSafe for MacBook
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The first MagSafe charging cable arrived with the MacBook Pro in 2006 . The MagSafe connector was loved for the fact that it lightly disconnected from a Mac if the wire was yanked out , leaving the Mac safely on the desk while only the wire drops to the ground . The presence of MagSafe on an Apple laptop was a give right wing up until Apple announced the 12 - inch MacBook with no MagSafe adapter in 2015 , choosing instead to power it via a USB - coke cable , or else of MagSafe .
MagSafe was temporarily discontinued on Macs in 2019 when Apple break off selling the 2017 model of the MacBook Air . For some time all Mac laptop computer were charge via their USB - century or Thunderbolt port . Then , in 2021 , Apple brought MagSafe back to the MacBook with the launching of the 14 - inch and 16 - inch MacBook Pro . While still charged via USB - C , the port gained the magnets necessary to make detachment and adhesion easy . The MacBook Air then gained MagSafe agitate in June 2022 . So MagSafe is back on the Mac .
This L-shaped connection was shipped with 2009-2012 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models.
How does MagSafe in the Mac work?
MagSafe on the Mac work by connecting the power socket to a Mac using magnets . This is instead of the more usual hold / socket proficiency of infix the cable television service inside the laptop . The connection between a MagSafe adapter and the Mac laptop is made using two magnetic half . These clasp together and power is thus provided to the laptop computer . concord to Apple ’s MagSafe patent :
“ The surface area of two magnetically attract halves determines the number of magnetised fluxion lines and therefore the hold force between them because the holding force is proportional to the contact arena between the two magnetically attracted one-half . ”
The vantage to using MagSafe is prophylactic . When a laptop computer is sit down on a desk or table , and plugged in to a socket near the ground , the wire between the two is a trip chance . Tripping over the adaptor cable drags the laptop off the desk and it fall on to the ground ( and is potentially damaged ) .
MagSafe protect the laptop computer because the cable system instantly unclasps , leaving the laptop computer on the desk and the cable flapping harmlessly onto the floor .
The dead on target whizz of MagSafe is that it work by “ non - axial ” force . This mean that if you pull it in any direction other than straight out it disconnects , and there ’s nigh no violence required to bump off the connector .
It ’s also a unique Apple feature , something practical that Apple fans can crow about safe in the knowledge that rival laptop are miss this one life-sustaining lineament . It ’s the kind of small , practical , item that descend from thinking outside of the loge . Read : Complete guide to embrasure on Macs , iPhones and iPads .
Which MagSafe adaptor do I need? MagSafe 1 vs MagSafe 2 vs MagSafe 3
MagSafe 3 cable system
Apple
There are three different versions of MagSafe , conveniently have sex as MagSafe 1 , MagSafe 2 and MagSafe 3 . That ’s if we ignore the different radio MagSafe for iPhone ( see above ) of course !
MagSafe 1is slimly larger , and was infix in 2006 along with the original MacBook and MacBook Pro . The first version of the MacBook Air also used MagSafe 1 , but had a slimly thin question .
MagSafe 2is dilutant and was project for MacBook ’s released after 2009 . MagSafe 1 and MagSafe 2 are not interchangeable , but Apple still sells this MagSafe to MagSafe 2 converter , enable you to use the original MagSafe with later MagSafe 2 gadget .
MagSafe 3works in a like fashion to its herald but is more powerful and compromising . After alternate entirely to USB - C charging ports , Apple enchant its substance abuser by revivify MagSafe overseas telegram and port on some of its MacBooks . The young version , MagSafe 3 , can apply PD 3.1 , so it can charge at over 100W. While MagSafe 1 and 2 cables were for good attached to the baron adapter , MagSafe 3 uses USB - C , so the cable television and the powerfulness adapter are freestanding , allowing exploiter to plug it into any compatible USB - ampere-second charger .
Apple no longer sells the original MagSafe adaptors ( such as the one pictured below ) , so if you have an older MacBook and are looking for an original MagSafe adaptor the easiest way to get one is to find an sometime one for cut-rate sale on eBay .
Which Macs have MagSafe?
MagSafe 3
MacBook Pro 14 - inch and 16 - inch , M1 Pro & M1 Max , 2021MacBook Air 13 - column inch , M2 , 2022MacBook Pro 14 - column inch and 16 - inch , M2 Pro & M2 Max , 2023MacBook Air 15 - inch , M2 , 2023MacBook Pro 14 - in and 16 - inch , M3 , M3 Pro & M3 Max , 2023
MagSafe 2
From 2012 to 2015 all MacBooks Air , MacBook and MacBook Pro exemplar used the newer MagSafe 2 connection . This is thinner and wider than MagSafe 1 .
MagSafe 1
The original MacBook and MacBook Pro models ( pre-2009 ) all used the original MagSafe 1 , as did the original MacBook Air .
MacBook , MacBook Pro and MacBook breeze example after 2009 until 2012 featured the L - shape MagSafe 1 connection . This redesigned head is more robust , but compatible with older MacBooks .
It ’s pretty easy to say which version your MacBook uses by looking at the one-armed bandit . The MagSafe 1 adaptor is slurred , while MagSafe 2 is long and thinner . But the range of exchangeable connections can make it puzzling if you do n’t know what you ’re looking for . This Apple Support document : come up the right power adapter and corduroy for your notebookhas more information on MagSafe connections and Mac laptops .
If your Mac has a MagSafe charging port the port will appear something like this :
