Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on October 27, 2020 and was updated on November 11, 2020 with new findings.

The Apple Event on October 13th, 2020 made waves in the industry with the launch of iPhone 12’s MagSafe that allows accessories – including wireless chargers – to be magnetically snapped onto the back of the iPhone using a “ring” of small magnets positioned around the receiver. Apple claims the new phones can charge wirelessly up to 15 watts, but FCC filings show that is only possible with Apple MagSafe chargers operating at 360KHz. Qi charging speeds are limited to 7.5 watts.

In light of this announcement, the NuCurrent team got to work on answering some of the pressing questions with a teardown of the iPhone 12 to test and analyze the:

• Performance of all iPhone 12 models and MagSafe chargers
• Impact of MagSafe magnets on Qi transmitters
• iPhone 12 charge times and device heating

Apple’s iPhone 12 and MagSafe charger represent a different approach to wireless charging, but is different always better? In this case, we don’t think so.

How Does The MagSafe Stack Up As A Wireless Charging Transmitter?

The Apple MagSafe wireless charger was clearly designed with iPhone 12 (and future iPhone versions) in mind. The charging speed for a MagSafe with an iPhone 12 is good (about as fast as Qi chargers work under the EPP Qi Spec), but all other iPhones take over 5 hours to charge with the MagSafe, and Android phones can take even longer.

The user experience is more of a toss-up and a matter of preference. Some industry reviewers dislike the experience, equating it to having your phone plugged in (albeit with the plug on the back of the phone instead of the bottom). Others are concerned about damage to the phone and their accessories.

• PSA: BEWARE of MagSafe Accessories [YouTube]
• Apple’s New MagSafe Charger Is a Waste Of Money [YouTube]
• Apple’s new MagSafe Charger is SLOWER than you Expect [YouTube]
• Apple Warns MagSafe Charger Can Leave Circular Imprints on Leather Cases [MacRumors]

Other industry reviewers find the user experience to be simple and elegant, allowing for an expanded ecosystem of Apple MFi magnetic products like phone sleeves and wallets. Some are even predicting that this spells the end of the Lightning connector on future iPhone models, which will mean that iPhones would soon ONLY charge wirelessly (more on that from us at a later date).

• Apple MagSafe For iPhone 12: Complete Review [Forbes]
• Apple’s revived MagSafe charging standard opens the door for a portless iPhone [The Verge]

Conclusion: The Apple MagSafe charger works reasonably well with iPhone 12s, but the user experience is a toss-up and the MagSafe charger is sub-par for other phones including, surprisingly, pre-iPhones 12 models.

How Does The iPhone 12 Stack Up As A Wireless Charging Receiver?

The biggest value of Qi wireless charging for phones is likely the convenience of knowing that you can charge your device anywhere a charge spot exists – hotel, rental car, restaurant, office, night stand, etc. The iPhone 12 has preserved this convenience factor by maintaining compatibility (but not certification) with the Qi standard. However, as shown below, the iPhone 12 is lagging its competition in its performance within the Qi ecosystem.

Conclusion: iPhone 12s work on Qi chargers, so customers receive the convenience of wireless charging on the go. However, Android phone manufacturers are outpacing Apple when it comes to developing phones that don’t sacrifice interoperability in pursuit of faster charging speeds.

Immediate Opportunities: Infrastructure & Multi-User Wireless Charging

As a feature, wireless charging continues to grow within the phone category, which means that there will be an ever-increasing demand for infrastructure and multi-device wireless charging options.

Apple’s MagSafe solution – which is not Qi-certified – provides the best charging experience for the iPhone12, and that’s it – it’s an Apple solution for Apple products.

So, when it comes to public or multi-user charging infrastructure like cars, furniture, boats, hotels, restaurants, etc., the strongest option is the one that brings together user experience, charging volume, power transfer, interoperability and safety.

NuCurrent’s MP-A17 does exactly that. It is the only Qi-certified transmitter that provides the greatest spatial freedom (3x more distance between coils) and the fastest available charging speeds (15W). This technology is already available in the market via PopSocket’s PopPower Home product, and others are coming to market this year.

To discuss an MP-A17 transmitter design for your product please contact us.

Near-Term Considerations For Device Makers

Leading global phone manufacturers are exploring proprietary charging solutions to bring additional value to their customers. Some include faster charging solutions similar to MagSafe (Oppo and Huawei have 40W wireless charging) and others include turning the phone into a charging device (Samsung phones ‘reverse charge’ lower-power devices like earbuds and watches).

Stay tuned for our next installment where we’ll talk about how NuCurrent’s technology and expertise will bring this new era of innovative device charging solutions to market.

Image: Apple MagSafe teardown and analysis is underway.

Initial iPhone 12 and Apple MagSafe Findings

Pros

• Apple has made a next-level commitment to wireless charging for iPhones with its flagship product.
• The magnetic fastening mechanism “MagSafe” provides a new user experience that combines wireless charging and accessories such as wallet phone cases and portable magnetic chargers.
• This development paves the way for the rumored removal of the iPhone’s Lightning Port, which would seal the device, making wireless charging the iPhone’s only recharging method.

Cons

• Makers of accessories and chargers will have to adapt designs to the proprietary design scheme and pay licensing fees to operate in the MagSafe environment.
• NuCurrent’s preliminary testing shows that MagSafe magnets in the iPhone 12 degrade the performance of standard Qi chargers (check for updates on our dedicated page as those details emerge).
• 15-watt Qi chargers will only be allowed to charge Apple phones at half the rate of Apple’s proprietary standard (7.5 watts), despite the iPhone being capable of charging up to 15 watts with the MagSafe charger.
• Magnets are rare-earth materials that are heavy and costly. Apple went out of its way to talk about how they are all recycled, but with Apple’s volumes over time, it’s fair to wonder if this ecosystem is sustainable (in terms of both cost and weight).

Watch This Space

• Apple – along with other leading phone manufacturers globally – are turning to proprietary charging technologies to deliver fast charging speeds and other user benefits, situating Qi as the standard for interoperable infrastructure (e.g. Automotive, Furniture, Hotels) but proprietary chargers as the best charging experience on a closed platform.