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MagSafe Accessories We Want for the iPhone 12
Turns out, magnets are still cool
By Charlie Sorrel Charlie Sorrel Senior Tech Reporter Charlie Sorrel has been writing about technology, and its effects on society and the planet, for 13 years. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on October 21, 2020 03:03PM EDT Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Phones Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Key Takeaways
MagSafe is a magnetic circle on the back of all iPhone 12 models. It aligns charging pads, and allows stick-on accessories.The MagSafe name comes from the beloved breakaway power connector on old MacBooks.The iPhone 12 MagSafe charger is like a big Apple Watch charger. The iPhone 12's MagSafe charger is mag-nificent. Quick snap-on charging, just like the Apple Watch, and easy enough to get right while drunk or in the dark. But what else could the magnetic circle be used for? All new iPhone 12s have a magnetic loop on the back, which has two purposes so far. One is to stick accessories onto the iPhone. The other is to perfectly align a contact charging pad so it can charge at twice the speed of regular Qi charging pads. Apple has already announced a stick-on wallet (which is apparently prone to falling off), a charger, and phone cases that stick on the back. Here are some more ideas. Power Bank
This one seems inevitable. You can't use a Qi charging bank in your bag because your iPhone would just fall off. One solution would be to hold them together with a rubber band. Another would be a MagSafe battery power bank. You could stick the iPhone to the top, tuck it into a pocket, and let it do its thing. I expect to see one of these from Mophie or Anker pretty soon. In fact, why wouldn't Apple make its own snap-on battery case? Hello Moto
Back in 2016, Motorola invented Moto Mods—accessories that snap onto the back of compatible phones using magnets. Sound familiar? The thing is, they were better than Apple's MagSafe, thanks to a grid of 16 contacts. The phone could power the accessories, and the accessories could talk to the phones. Excellent Mods included an entire Hasselblad camera, complete with a huge lens, and even an Amazon Alexa smart speaker. That's one that will never, ever be seen on the back of an iPhone. There’s even a community of hackers who make their own. Maybe something similar will spring up around MagSafe? PopSockets
This is a bit of a cheat because PopSockets has already announced plans to make a MagSafe version. PopSockets, if you're not familiar, are little pop-out handles that stick to the back of your phone. They're like plastic mushrooms, and they can act as stands, or really easy-to-hold handles. Hopefully, they can find a way to make the magnetic connection strong enough, because early reviews of the iPhone 12 say the magnets on the iPhone itself aren't even strong enough to stick it to the refrigerator. Camera Accessories
Accessory lenses, like those from Moment’s high-quality lenses and Olloclip’s clip-on adapters, let you extend the range of your iPhone's cameras. Usually, they offer close-up, telephoto, or extra-wide options. The trouble has always been attaching the lenses. Leave them on all the time, and you can't put your iPhone in your pocket. One workaround has been a special case with a bayonet mount, but you know what's better? Magnets, that's what. How about MagSafe lenses? Just slap them on when you need one, and it automatically aligns itself, perfectly. And while we're here, how about a MagSafe tripod or stand? Mounts
Wall mounts, car mounts, fridge-magnet mounts, back of the iPad mounts. As mentioned above, early reports of the iPhone 12 say the magnets are weak, and that the wallet accessory falls off when you put it onto your pocket, which seems like it misses the whole point of a wallet accessory. But if you put the strong magnet into the car mount, or other mount, then your problem should be solved. I probably wouldn't trust it on bike handlebars on a cobbled street, but a kitchen mount would be fine. And those mounts could easily include chargers. Game Controllers
Instead of slotting the iPhone into a game controller, you could just stick it to the front. The connection would probably have to be Bluetooth, unless Apple has included some secret Smart Connector-like way for accessories to communicate with their host iPhones. Still, Bluetooth is good enough for game consoles, so we'll take it. More Accessories
There will surely be a whole lot of accessories that use MagSafe. One of the coolest things about Apple introducing new tech in its products is seeing how third parties make use of them. Hopefully, we'll see all kinds of clever add-ons for these phones. Or maybe it will all end in tears, like Motorola's Moto Mods. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Remove a PopSocket The 4 Best Charging Stations of 2022 The 9 Best iPhone Accessories, Tested by Experts The 6 Best iPhone 12 Cases of 2022 Apple MagSafe Charger Review: A Premium Price for Wireless Charging How to Screen Record on the iPhone 12 How to Charge an iPhone 12 Apple iPhone 12 Review: The Best New iPhone in Years How to Use the iPhone Camera Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Review: Bigger Can Be Better Expert Tested: The 9 Best Wireless Phone Chargers in 2022 Motorola Moto Z4 Review: Moto Mods Can't Boost an Average Phone What Is a PopSocket? The 9 Best Apple Watch Accessories, Tested by Experts Apple iPhone 12 mini Review: Big Things Come in Small Packages The 5 Best Car Phone Holders of 2022 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies