MagSafe’s name includes “safety,” but there are safety uncertainties, especially with third-party accessories. There is a lot of confusion from the terminology’MagSafe compatible‘ When ‘Made for MagSafe‘. But are they different? And more importantly, is it important?
Asking a question, or making a difference, has bothered me for quite some time. So I decided to investigate this topic. Also, if you want to know the difference between MagSafe compatibility and Made for MagSafe, just continue reading.
Contents
What is MagSafe?
MagSafe is Apple’s unique technology that uses strategically placed magnets. On MacBook, it is used for smooth installation and removal of the charging cable. On the iPhone (iPhone 12 and above), the magnetic ring diversifies the use cases.
First, the magnetic system allows high-speed wireless charging up to 15W. In addition, it opens the locks for great accessories from Apple and third-party manufacturers such as removable wallets, PopSockets, stands, and car mounts.
And it is here that this particular confusion arises. Some manufacturers use MagSafe compatible tags, while others use Made for MagSafe. They may sound similar, but there are big differences between them.
MagSafe compatible
An accessory that is compatible with MagSafe but does not always take full advantage of MagSafe’s power. Manufacturers smartly adapt a series of magnets that attract and attach other magnets to their products, such as the MagSafe-equipped iPhone.
However, they do not provide additional features such as auto-adjustment, fast charging, battery status, etc., except for the basic properties of magnets, that is, they can be easily attached and detached to another magnet.
Made for MagSafe
The Made for MagSafe accessory, on the other hand, combines the power of a magnet with a single-wire NFC antenna. Thanks to that, the iPhone can identify the device and fine-tune / manage certain settings accordingly.
For example, the iPhone instantly recognizes what was made for the MagSafe charger and raises the rate to 15w. Otherwise, 7.5w (half the speed) is the maximum.
In addition, Apple has a certain level of control with Made for MagSafe products, similar to MFI certified (Made for iPhone / iPad), so you can get quality assurance.
All of these are very good, but Made for MagSafe is relatively expensive and not very good than MagSafe compatible products.
Will the performance of MagSafe and Made for MagSafe accessories that are compatible with MagSafe differ?
On paper, the answer is big yes. However, it varies greatly depending on the product and manufacturer. Therefore, when talking about the MagSafe case, the distinction is important because the case may or may not support 15W charging.
However, if you’re talking about simple wallets, PopSockets, etc., both work the same. And it has that feature and doesn’t prove it. Take water resistance certification as an example.
Some phone manufacturers provide water resistance for their devices. They have not obtained IP certification. And while it saves them money and a little hassle, at least officially, they can’t claim water resistance.
Similarly, tagging your device for MagSafe compatibility is much easier than getting Apple’s approval for Made for MagSafe. So it’s much better in performance, but it’s tagged as MagSafe compatible.
Therefore, the heart of the overall situation is that it depends on what you are buying and from whom you are buying it.
Which accessory should I choose? Is it compatible with MagSafe or is it made for MagSafe?
If you want to buy something that affects charging speed or is compatible with Find My, like Apple’s wallet, we recommend the Made for MagSafe accessory. However, in other cases, MagSafe compatible products are suitable.
You may also want to look at brand fairness in the market and reviews of its products. Even without the Made for MagSafe label, it may function like any other competitor.
Therefore, while Made for MagSafe products are almost blindly reliable, we recommend a little research on MagSafe compatible products. But hey, when you’re saving some money, the next few extra hours don’t really matter.
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Currently, the difference between MagSafe compatibility and Made for MagSafe isn’t that big. However, as the MagSafe accessory market expands, Apple may add features such as the MagSafe car mount that automatically enables driving focus on the iPhone.
At that time, it is very important to choose between the two. Our accessories should last a lifetime as we may replace the iPhone every year. What do you think about the matter? Which would you like to choose? Share your opinion in the comments section below.
For more interesting insights into Apple’s ecosystem, check out the following articles:
