MagSafe Monday: Pioneer joins the MagSafe accessory market with the SDA-SC600

The Pioneer brand is one I’ve trusted for car accessories since Y2K was a concern. I loved their audio gear in my younger days. Pioneer’s SDA-SC600 aims to bring that kind of trusted quality to a MagSafe car mount, bringing Qi2 wireless charging and a built-in fan.

MagSafe Monday: Every Monday, Bradley Chambers looks at the latest and greatest in the MagSafe and wireless charging industry to help you get the most out of your Apple devices that support wireless charging.

Pioneer’s SDA-SC600 is a MagSafe air vent mount that holds your iPhone for maps, calls, Siri, etc, and Pioneer also includes a metal ring in the box so non-MagSafe iPhones and Android devices can still mount and use MagSafe technology .

The Pioneer SDA-SC600 is Qi2-compatible, which is almost the latest standard (Qi2.2). Car chargers have historically been one of the weaker links in the MagSafe ecosystem, often topping out well below what you’d get from a wired charger. Qi2 is what you need to ensure a GPS navigation device doesn’t drain faster than you can charge it.

The fan is key in hot climates

Fast MagSafe charging generates heat, which can pose a challenge depending on your climate. Especially right now, I get into my car on 95-degree days, and it’s blistering inside. Pioneer’s integrated cooling fan is built specifically to fight this heat, forcing a slower charge. If you live somewhere with real summers, this is essential for a MagSafe car charger. Pioneer also lists the SDA-SC600 as temperature-resistant more broadly, so it’s built to hold up in extreme cabin conditions at both ends of the weather extremes.

Pioneer also added subtle RGB lightning for as something to set itself apart from other chargers. In the box, you get the mount itself, the air vent adapter, the metal ring for non-MagSafe devices, and a USB-C to USB-C cable to power charger/

Wrap up on Pioneer SDA-SC600

Overall, the Pioneer SDA-SC600 is a solid option for a MagSafe car charger. The light is a nice touch. It supports modern speeds and the fan should keep it cool. The light is a nice touch at night as well.

You can pick up the new Pioneer SDA-SC600 from Amazon or directly from Pioneer.