MagSafe

One of the key new features with the iPhone 12 lineup was MagSafe technology. When it was introduced initially, I was somewhat underwhelmed by it. As time has gone on and more accessories have been released, it’s become one of my favorite aspects of the iPhone 12 mini, though. I recently purchased the Anker PowerWave to use at my desk, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite iPhone accessories in recent years. If you want to use your iPhone 12 as a webcam, read on to see how the PowerWave will help with that.

It seems like companies are finally starting to put out convenient and functionally useful MagSafe accessories because Apple certainly isn’t thus far. This is the ChargeFast MagSafe battery pack. It’s a 5000 mAh portable battery pack that can charge via either MagSafe or with a cable. For $55 from ChargeFast, this is a pretty convenient accessory, and it works very well with my iPhone.

Earlier this month, a study from the Heart Rhythm Journal indicated that the iPhone 12’s new MagSafe technology can deactivate pacemakers in certain situations. Apple has responded to these claims by updating a support document on its website with new advice for iPhone 12 users with implanted pacemakers and defibrillators.

It continues to emphasize, however, that the iPhone 12 does not “pose a greater risk of magnetic interference to medical devices than prior iPhone models.”

Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today released some interesting details about the upcoming MacBook Pro. Kuo describes this as the first major redesign of the laptop in five years, and will represent a significant upgrade over even the latest 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro. The new MacBook Pro will feature 14-inch and 16-inch sizes and feature ARM Apple silicon instead of Intel CPUs.

However, Kuo shares some much more surprising tidbits, namely that the Touch Bar will be gone in favor of physical function keys, the MagSafe charging connector returns along with more built-in IO ports that mean most users will not need to purchase additional dongles according to Kuo …

Wrapping up its time at CES, Scosche is out today with three new MagSafe mounts for iPhone 12. The latest MagicMount options include a window/dash mount, cup holder mount, and a 4-in-1 kit that let’s users get the perfect view of their iPhone in cars and at home.

Satechi is out with one of its first MagSafe compatible multi-device chargers for iPhone 12 and AirPods at CES this week. The Aluminum 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand features a floating upright wireless charger for your iPhone 12 with a dedicated spot for wirelessly charging AirPods neatly below. And it happens to be one of the most affordable MagSafe friendly options released so far, however there are a couple of caveats.

PopSockets is embracing the iPhone 12’s new MagSafe functionality with a handful of new accessories. Leading the way today is the PopGrip for MagSafe, which is a grip that attaches magnetically to MagSafe-compatible cases for iPhone 12.

At CES this week, Belkin has announced its second MagSafe charger. This one is a dual-wireless charger for iPhone 12 and AirPods and comes with a more affordable price tag compared to the Belkin Boost Up Charge Pro that recently debuted.

I’ve tried a couple of Grovemade products before, and they tend to have three things in common: they use natural materials like wood and leather; they are beautiful; and they are expensive. The Grovemade MagSafe Stand ticks all three boxes – though the ‘expensive’ element is partly Apple’s fault this time.

I’ve said in the past that I prefer charging stands to charging pads. Whether it’s on my desk, beside the sofa or beside the bed, it makes more sense for me to have my phone upright, where I can see the screen, rather than flat on the surface, where I can’t. For that reason, Apple’s MagSafe charger didn’t interest me – until now …

When Apple revived MagSafe with the iPhone 12 lineup, one question brought up was how these latest devices with more magnets would interact with medical devices like pacemakers. Apple’s official word was that iPhone 12/MagSafe wouldn’t interfere more than previous iPhones. Now one of the first medical studies has been published that shows a pacemaker being deactivated by the iPhone 12.

MagSafe was one of the headline features for the iPhone 12 lineup this year. While there are plenty of first-party and third-party options to charge at home, the only MagSafe compatible car mount doesn’t keep your iPhone charged. For the past month, I’ve been using the ESR HaloLock car vent mount to keep my iPhone 12 mini charged in the car while giving me a clear view of turn-by-turn directions.

A little over two months after the release of the new iPhone 12, and we still only have a handful of third-party MagSafe accessories on the market. One such accessory, Belkin’s awkwardly-named MagSafe Car Vent Mount Pro, is now available. While a magnetic car mount seems like a natural fit for the MagSafe ecosystem, is Belkin’s new accessory worth it? Watch our hands-on video for the details.

Belkin’s Boost Charge Pro with MagSafe and Apple’s MagSafe Duo chargers take very different approaches to solve a similar problem. In a world where everything has to be recharged, combination chargers that can reduce cables and plugs in our life are really practical. While Apple’s first-party combo charger is described best as a minimalistic travel charger, Belkin aces utility in what may be the best MagSafe combo charger.

The Apple MagSafe Wallet is an ideal accessory for users that want to carry as little as possible when out in the world. Cases have existed before that have paired a wallet with your iPhone, but with the iPhone 12’s new MagSafe functionality, the wallet conveniently snaps right into place.

While the official iPhone Leather Wallet with MagSafe is a great option, there are also third-party offerings as well. In this brief hands-on video, we take the official wallet for a spin and take one of the more popular third-party MagSafe-compatible wallets for a test drive, as well.

A pair of newly granted Apple patents shows a MacBook wirelessly charging an iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. They describe two-way charging coils that can be used to charge the MacBook itself, but also used to allow the MacBook to charge other devices.

The patents also show an iPad charging an iPhone and Watch (right), and follow a separate patent application for a MagSafe battery case, which can charge both an iPhone and a set of AirPods …

There was a time when forgetting to take your wallet with you when leaving home could really spoil your day. Apple Pay changed that, but even in London – where you can use contactless payment for almost everything – there are still occasions when you need a physical card.

But for those using the MagSafe wallet, Apple could easily eliminate the risk altogether …

Although my iPhone 12 Pro Max and the MagSafe leather case arrived on day one, the MagSafe wallet I ordered with them only turned up last week.

I wasn’t sure what I was going to make of it. It was a neat idea, but early hands-on videos suggested it might not work too well in practice …