MagSafe

MagSafe is Apple's magnetic charging and accessory system, introduced with iPhone 12 in 2020 and present on every iPhone since (excluding iPhone SE). A ring of magnets in the back of the phone snaps onto compatible chargers, wallets, mounts, and cases — both for alignment and to power the wireless charging coil at higher speeds than standard Qi.

How MagSafe charging works

• iPhone 12-15: Up to 15W wireless charging via the Apple MagSafe Charger paired with a 20W+ USB-C power adapter.
• iPhone 16 (Qi2 + MagSafe): Up to 25W with the second-gen Apple MagSafe Charger and a 30W+ adapter. Standard Qi2 wireless chargers also use the magnetic alignment for ~15W on most pads.
• Standard Qi (non-MagSafe): Caps at 7.5W on iPhone, no magnetic snap.

What MagSafe accessories exist

The accessory ecosystem is huge: cases, wallets that snap to the back, car mounts, kickstands, battery packs, mounts for refrigerators and tripods, and yet more chargers. Standards-track Qi2 (introduced 2024) brings MagSafe-style magnetic alignment to non-Apple wireless charging products too — so a Qi2 charger built for any phone will magnetically attach to an iPhone with MagSafe.

MagSafe and Android

Android phones don't have MagSafe natively, but the broader Qi2 standard (which Android phone makers can implement) brings the same magnetic-snap experience. Google Pixel 9 family does not include native magnets but works with magnetic Qi2 charging when the phone is in a magnetic case. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra ships with Qi2-compatible magnets in the form of optional magnetic cases. The category is moving toward universality.

Practical buying advice

If you're buying iPhone 12 or later, the MagSafe ecosystem is genuinely useful — battery packs that snap on, car mounts that don't need clamping, wallets that come on/off easily. The standard charger is $39 and works for years. For Android: check for Qi2 support specifically; not all wireless-capable Android phones have magnets.