MagSafe Battery Pack: Convenient with Apple’s New iPhone 12 Accessory

Last week, Apple released the MagSafe battery pack which, next to the MagSafe wallet, is one of my favorite accessories for the iPhone 12 family. When the iPhone 12 launched in October, the MagSafe load was the most surprising and curious addition. Apple took Qi wireless charging, which is used by current iPhone models and most Android phones, and magnets added. MagSafe ensures that your iPhone 12 is perfectly positioned to charge as efficiently as possible. It also allows a number of new accessories such as wallets, tripod mounts and PopSockets.

The MagSafe battery costs $ 99 (£ 99, AU $ 139). That’s double the price of other magnetic batteries from third-party companies like Anker and Mophie. Apple adds a bit of iOS integration, like the ability to monitor the MagSafe Battery Pack’s battery charge from the iOS battery widget.

My biggest criticism is that I would have liked it to be available when the iPhone 12 launched. As the proud owner of an iPhone 12 Mini, it gives me that extra boost to spend a full day at the iPhone 12. instead of having to recharge it at the end of the afternoon. And I have friends who really wanted to buy a 12 Mini, but worried about how they would cope with the shorter battery life and get the base iPhone 12 instead. I was able to see several getting a 12 Mini and a MagSafe battery – and be very happy.

Likewise, I can see people in an Apple Store buying a new iPhone 12, or the iPhone 13 highly prevalent, and grabbing a MagSafe battery from the shelf. If you’re looking for something that can double as a charging cradle and wireless battery pack on the go, the MagSafe Battery Pack is a solid option. But if you’re ready to part with some of Apple’s built-in niceties, there are third-party options that offer better value for your money.

I used the MagSafe battery for five days and here is everything you need to know.

How does MagSafe battery charge an iPhone?

It starts charging when you slap it on the back of an iPhone. There is no button to press. It charges the phone at 5 watts, which is equivalent to using an old Apple USB-A charger.

When plugged in, the MagSafe battery supports direct charging at 15 watts faster. You need to use a 20-watt wall charger, which costs an additional $ 19 on top of the pack’s $ 99 price.

What iPhone models does the MagSafe battery work with?

For full functionality, you need an iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, or 12 Pro Max. If you have an iPhone with wireless charging, you can use the MagSafe battery as a Qi wireless charger. You can’t stick it on the back.

The following iPhone models support wireless charging:

• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 12 Mini
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 11
• iPhone SE (2020)
• iphone xs
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone X
• iPhone 8
• iPhone 8 Plus

How much does the MagSafe battery cost?

It costs $ 99. But if you want to get the most out of it, especially for direct charging, you need a 20-watt wall charger (which Apple sells for $ 19). This brings the price closer to $ 120.

What does the MagSafe battery pack come with?

Battery and documentation are in the box. That’s it. You don’t have a Lightning to USB-C cable or wall charger.

Is there a MagSafe Battery Pack phone case?

No. Some people were hoping that Apple would release a battery case like it had in the past. But the MagSafe battery is actually more versatile, as you can use it as a wireless battery on the go or plug it into a wall as a MagSafe charger. Since this is not a case that lives semi-permanently on your phone, you can use it to charge other Qi wireless phones and accessories as well.

What else can I charge with the MagSafe battery?

You can use it to charge your AirPods or AirPods Pro case, wireless iPhone models, and Android phones that support Qi charging. It just won’t charge them very quickly.

The battery pack has great iOS integration like showing the battery percentage of the pack in the iOS battery widget. Your iPhone will automatically stop charging once the device is at 90%. This helps to extend the battery life of your iPhone. If you want to charge beyond that, just activate low power mode from the control panel and long press the icon.

Can you charge the MagSafe battery with an iPhone 12?

Yes. When your iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro or 12 Pro Max is plugged into power and the MagSafe battery pack is connected, it will charge both the phone and the pack. When I tried this my iPhone 12 Mini first charged to 80% and then the MagSafe battery started to charge.

How much does the MagSafe battery charge my iPhone?

I tested it with several models in the iPhone 12 family. I attached a fully charged MagSafe battery to each version of the iPhone 12, which all had empty batteries. Here’s roughly what you can expect it to load:

• iPhone 12 Mini at 80%
• iPhone 12 and 12 Pro at 60%
• iPhone 12 Pro Max at 50%

Is it true that you cannot charge an iPhone above 90%?

Yes and no. To protect the longevity of your phone’s battery, MagSafe Battery will stop charging your iPhone when it reaches 90%. You can easily get around this by putting your iPhone in low power mode and long pressing the low power icon in the control panel.

What colors is the MagSafe battery pack available in?

It is only available in white. Different colors would be nice and would be, especially at a time when you can buy a yellow iMac.

What does the MagSafe battery charger look like on the different models of the iPhone 12 family?

It is perfectly flush with the sides and bottom of the iPhone 12 Mini. Otherwise, there is a little gap between it and the sides of other models. This is roughly the height and width of the MagSafe wallet. Here’s what it looks like on each iPhone 12 model:

What is the weight of the MagSafe battery?

At 115 grams (just over 4 ounces), it’s solid and a bit heavy. It feels great on the iPhone 12 Mini and 12: I started noticing the weight when I got it on the iPhone 12 Pro. If you have it on the iPhone 12 Pro Max, it’s very heavy: the combo weighed just over 342 grams (12 ounces).

What is the capacity of the MagSafe battery?

The MagSafe battery has a capacity of 1460 mAh (11.13 Wh).