Yesterday Apple’s MagSafe Duo Charger arrived on my doorstep, and I used to be anxious to get it unboxed and take it for a take a look at drive. This $129.00 wireless charger was first revealed on the iPhone 12 occasion, the place Apple formally introduced the arrival of latest MagSafe equipment for all 4 of the corporate’s new iPhone 12 fashions. Is it definitely worth the steep asking value? Watch our MagSafe Duo Charger overview video for the small print.
Specifications
- Includes MagSafe-enabled charger for iPhone 12
- Uses 20W USB-C Power Adapter for quicker wireless charging as much as 11W
- Uses 27W or greater USB-C Power Adapter for quicker wireless charging as much as 14W
- Includes Apple Watch puck charger that raises to assist Nightstand mode
- Charger folds in half for a travel-friendly profile
- Backwards appropriate with Qi-enabled machine like AirPods, or iPhone 11
- Includes 1-meter USB-C to Lightning Cable
- Does not embody energy adapter
Video: MagSafe Duo Charger overview
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Unboxing and design
The MagSafe Duo Charger comes packaged in a small white field that’s unmistakably Apple. Inside, you’ll discover the MagSafe Duo Charger, 1-meter USB-C to Lightning Cable, and a Designed by Apple in California packet that includes security and dealing with, regulatory compliance info, and a guaranty abstract.
The MagSafe Duo cost contains a soft-touch silicone floor in an off white colour. The center of the charger contains a versatile space that may be folded in half for simple storage. There are two charging surfaces on the highest of the MagSafe Duo Charger — an ordinary MagSafe Wireless Charging connector, and a pivoting Apple Watch puck-style connector. Behind the Apple Watch charger, you’ll discover the Lighting enter for connecting the USB-C to Lightning cable, and beneath the MagSafe floor, you’ll discover a refined embossed Apple emblem.
Wireless charging
Compared to wired charging, wireless charging is an inefficient solution to energy your units, and consequently, it takes an extended time to recharge your iPhone utilizing this technique. The main advantage of wireless charging is comfort, and many individuals are prepared and keen to surrender effectivity for the comfort of simply with the ability to place your iPhone on a wireless charging floor as a substitute of plugging it in.
MagSafe, Apple’s magnetic accent lineup for iPhone 12, improves wireless charging by auto aligning to the charging floor by way of strategically-placed magnets. In different phrases, you not should take care of the interminable train of making an attempt to align an iPhone 12 excellent with the charging coils contained in the wireless charging floor. In Apple Legacy communicate, it simply works.
Apple features a 1-meter USB-C to Lightning cable for connecting to the MagSafe Duo Charger, nevertheless it’s strategically omitted the wanted USB-C energy adapter required to drive electrical energy to the charging surfaces. What for those who don’t have already got a USB-C energy adapter? Apple will fortunately promote you both its new 20W or 30W USB-C variations.
In order to eke out the quicker 14W wireless charging velocity, Apple says {that a} 30W energy adapter (or greater) is required. In different phrases, to get the very best efficiency out of the MagSafe Duo, you’ll be able to find yourself spending as a lot as $178 when coupled with Apple’s $49.00 30W USB-C energy adapter. For people who don’t care concerning the quickest speeds, Apple’s $19.00 20W USB-C Power Adapter will yield you speeds as much as 11W.
Interestingly sufficient, each of these wattage scores fall wanting a standalone MagSafe Wireless Charger + 20W USB-C Power Adapter setup. Apple says as much as 15W wireless charging velocity is feasible for iPhone 12 customers with that exact configuration.
Using the MagSafe Duo
Putting the MagSafe Duo to make use of was straightforward sufficient. I linked the 30W adapter from my M1-based MacBook Air, and away I went. As anticipated, putting my iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro down on the MagSafe Duo Charger resulted in a fast auto-aligning magnetic connection. After presenting a MagSafe animation and corresponding sound impact to confirm connectivity, the iPhone 12 started charging.
I discover the MagSafe Duo extra dependable than single-area Qi chargers in the case of establishing a reference to iPhone 12, however you continue to should pay a little bit of consideration to ensure a magnetic connection is made. Unlike the now-scrapped AirPower wireless charging mat, or the Nomad Base Station/Base Station Pro, you’ll be able to’t simply sloppily lay it wherever on the floor and have a assured cost.
On the suitable aspect of the MagSafe Duo Charger is the place you’ll find the Apple Watch puck charger. Like the Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock launched a number of years again, the MagSafe Duo Charger’s Apple Watch connection can lie flat or can pivot 90 levels by way of a built-in steel hinge to accommodate watchOS’ Nightstand mode.
If you don’t but personal an iPhone 12, don’t fear, as a result of the MagSafe wireless charger on the left aspect of the unit can cost any Qi-enabled machine, like AirPods, or older iPhone fashions that assist the wireless charging commonplace. Just remember that you received’t get the complete advantages of MagSafe, specifically auto-aligning magnetic connectivity and the quicker speeds made potential by Apple’s proprietary tech.
One of the great issues concerning the MagSafe Duo Charger is that it might fold in half when not in use, which is useful for touring. And as a result of the facility cable is nothing greater than a removable USB-C to Lightning cable, its type issue can get pretty compact when folded.
The folding performance works each methods, so you’ll be able to fold the unit for journey, or fold it the other means for a single charging floor with a smaller footprint. This primarily turns the MagSafe Duo right into a “MagSafe Solo.”
Charging velocity
I ran 4 exams with the MagSafe Duo. Two whereas charging solely the iPhone with the 20W after which 30W adapter, and two whereas charging each the iPhone 12 and Apple Watch with the 20W after which 30W adapter. I did this as a result of I wished to see what distinction the extra highly effective adapter had on charging velocity, and the way the addition of an Apple Watch affected charging velocity. The outcomes are beneath.
My greatest takeaway from this take a look at is that the 30W combo is quicker, however not quick sufficient to warrant dropping one other 50 bucks for a quicker charger for those who don’t already personal one.
9to5Mac’s take
The MagSafe Duo Charger is noteworthy for its skill to cost each an Apple Watch and an iPhone or different Qi-enabled machine on the similar time. It’s additionally price for those who’re an iPhone 12 proprietor, and need the quicker charging speeds and magnetic connectivity solely provided by MagSafe. In addition, the charger’s portability and flexibility make the MagSafe Duo price contemplating as effectively.
Yet, regardless of its benefits, MagSafe Duo has limitations. The incontrovertible fact that it might solely cost a single Qi machine or iPhone 12 is price noting. This unit is primarily advantageous for those who’re an Apple Watch proprietor. If you don’t personal an Apple Watch, you’re in any other case lacking out on half of the performance.
The different excellent problem with the MagSafe Duo Charger is that it doesn’t include an influence adapter, and the included 1-meter USB-C to Lightning cable may stand to be longer. Instead, you’ll must cough up one other $35.00 for a 2-meter USB-C to Lightning Cable in case your setup requires the additional slack. For these counting, that brings us to $213 earlier than tax for the MagSafe Duo Charger + 30W USB-C Power Adapter + 2-meter USB-C to Lightning Cable. Fortunately, you’ll find some reductions on these merchandise when ordering from on-line retailers like Amazon.
As nice-looking and as moveable because the Duo could also be, I can’t assist however really feel that it’s overpriced given what it does and what it lacks. It lets you join as much as two units — so long as a kind of units is an Apple Watch — and it supplies marginally quicker charging in a package deal that may fold up for portability. Yet, if velocity is what you’re searching for, then wired charging can’t be beat, and if general charging comfort is what you’re after, then corporations like Nomad do it higher, for my part.
What do you consider the MagSafe Duo Charger? Sound off within the feedback along with your ideas and opinions.
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