Alternative to MagSafe

Diving0 · Nov 18, 2016

This was posted earlier by someone, but a lot of people are talking about wanting a MagSafe alternative for the new Macbook Pro so I figured I would share a link to a kickstarter that I backed.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/436147229/snapnator-your-macbook-snap-feature-is-back

Fairly small foot print and it it works as shown I think it will be well worth it. Mine is set for delivery in beginning of January.

Thoughts?

phloo · Nov 18, 2016

Pootmatoot · Nov 18, 2016

I suspect the nubbin will become extremely irritating, if you're on the move a lot.

A version - if possible - that's as flush as possible (ie where the connector starts on that model) might be more usable.

Make Apple Great Again · Nov 29, 2016

This has already been mentioned many times on here, but I just want to post this for those who don't already know.

A company on kickstarter called snapnator designed a magsafe like device for USB-C... this looks thinner than the Breaksafe one that came out earlier this year and also seems to work just as well as an Apple USB-C charging cable directly plugged into your MBP... per this video they posted today:

They start shipping in January according to their kickstarter... and I honestly think this is the best and cheapest option to get magsafe back and also protect your computer in the long run... it's a great investment for a $2500-$4000 machine IMO.

This is their original video introducing snapnator:

rawweb · Nov 29, 2016

This has been discussed in dozens of topics, including a video you shared. Might suit better to further this discussion in those already existing topics. You may want to be careful with directly promoting and advertising other products per the forum rules.

RandomRazer · Nov 29, 2016

wont happen. apples owns the rights to magsafe and i doubt they will let third partys make one, even if its ana dapter

UnluckyXIII · Nov 29, 2016

RandomRazer said:
wont happen. apples owns the rights to magsafe and i doubt they will let third partys make one, even if its ana dapter

Griffin already make one and it's available on the market;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Griffin-BreakSafe-Magnetic-USB-C-Cable/dp/B01CQTK6GU

marc55 · Nov 30, 2016

UnluckyXIII said:
Griffin already make one and it's available on the market;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Griffin-BreakSafe-Magnetic-USB-C-Cable/dp/B01CQTK6GU

Unfortunately the Griffin has some negative reviews in the respect that the magnet is weak and disconnects easily.

Additionally, the Griffin is rated at 60W, and the MBP charger is 61W- What difference that makes, I don't know.

Grolubao · Nov 30, 2016

I never back up projects. Release it, get those reviews going and then I'll buy it

maflynn · Nov 30, 2016

Please use this thread for this discussion
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/alternative-to-magsafe.2016024/

oimachi · Jan 13, 2017

Hi, does anyone know if this is available? I want to buy a new macbook but I am finding the need of dongles and adapters a little annoying. (I need to buy a pro just to get more than one port??????)

Anyhow, I have magsafe 2 chargers and would like to be able to keep using them - is there yet another accessory I can buy in order to do so?

Thank You!

New_Mac_Smell · Jan 13, 2017

People who were originally complaining about using dongles/adapters have mostly come round the the reality that it's no different than it was before since actually owning the device, just FYI. It's not that bad, switch cables and buy an adapter for when necessary.

In terms of using your old MagSafe chargers, I don't think it's possible. Like all computers you'll have to use the charger it came with, it was nice having so many years of being able to use the same chargers but it's switching over now. At least USB-C isn't proprietary so you'll be able to use aftermarket stuff as and when it becomes available, or other chargers from other computers too.

BarracksSi · Jan 13, 2017

There may be a market for an adapter to connect a MagSafe charger to a modern MB/MBP.

But there's probably a healthy market for used MagSafe chargers as owners of older laptops will want them.

When I get around to updating from my mid-2012 to a future Mac laptop, you can be sure I will include both my MagSafe chargers if I ever sell the 2012 model. I'm sure the new owner will appreciate them.

rawweb · Mar 13, 2017

My 2016 MBP accessory pipe dream: I for one would love to see a "MagSafe to USB-C adapter". My day is spent periodically switching between thunderbolt displays and cinema displays depending on where I am and have grown tired of crawling under desks to plug in my power brick. Would love to be able to adapt the displays native MagSafe to USB-C to charge up my 2016. Might also solve a lot of people's desire to keep MagSafe around. You could theoritically use older generation power bricks with such an adapter. Of course, not sure how many people out there would even want such a thing or if it's even technically possible. Just day dreaming!

For the record: I don't mind USB-C charging at all.

jerryk · Mar 13, 2017

There have been attempts, and there are threads on it.

rawweb · Mar 13, 2017

jerryk said:
There have been attempts, and there are threads on it.

Thanks, I'll dig around, didn't find anything at first look. Mostly chatter of people wanting a USB-C MagSafe solution instead of just adapting existing magsafe.

jerryk · Mar 13, 2017

rawweb said:
Thanks, I'll dig around, didn't find anything at first look. Mostly chatter of people wanting a USB-C MagSafe solution instead of just adapting existing magsafe.

Ok. I misunderstood. I don't think anyone has mentioned a solution for using the old magsafe connected to power the new systems

A quick question though. Why not just buy an extra USB-C charger and leave one at each monitor location?

BarracksSi · Mar 14, 2017

OP, good idea. I'd be totally satisfied with using my existing MagSafe adapters to power a new MB/MBP. The only drawback would be whenever I get around to selling my older MBP. I'd need to include the MagSafe adapter in the sale.

I realized that having a magnetically-attached data connection is a disaster waiting to happen, so the idea of a magnetic USBC-to-everything should be DOA. USBC-to-power is fine, though.

rawweb · Mar 14, 2017

BarracksSi said:
OP, good idea. I'd be totally satisfied with using my existing MagSafe adapters to power a new MB/MBP. The only drawback would be whenever I get around to selling my older MBP. I'd need to include the MagSafe adapter in the sale.

I realized that having a magnetically-attached data connection is a disaster waiting to happen, so the idea of a magnetic USBC-to-everything should be DOA. USBC-to-power is fine, though.

It would certainly be great for using the older apple displays, which I still love and are everywhere for me both at home and work...

Doubtful Apple would ever make an official solution since they left the display business, but other third parties could see some small success with it.

BarracksSi · Mar 14, 2017

rawweb said:
It would certainly be great for using the older apple displays, which I still love and are everywhere for me both at home and work...

Doubtful Apple would ever make an official solution since they left the display business, but other third parties could see some small success with it.

Just to go further on this tangent --

Having the power get disconnected by accident is no problem whatsoever. MagSafe was especially useful because power cables often end up on the floor (as both my and my wife's laptops are right now; and everyone in my coding class last year, too) and are easy to trip over. If the cable got tugged — and they did — no work was interrupted, no data was lost.

Magnetic breakaway cables for connecting displays, though? Or external hard drives, printers, music keyboards, etc? Totally unnecessary, I believe, because the other devices are on the same table or desk, or at least on a neighboring table. They're not creating a trip hazard. Pop off a cable to an external drive in the middle of a copy operation or backup and you've got corrupted data.

Interruption in power? Meh. Resetting a data connection? No thanks -- I want that cable plugged snug and tight in that socket.

rawweb · Mar 15, 2017

BarracksSi said:
Just to go further on this tangent --

Magnetic breakaway cables for connecting displays, though? Or external hard drives, printers, music keyboards, etc? Totally unnecessary, I believe, because the other devices are on the same table or desk, or at least on a neighboring table. They're not creating a trip hazard. Pop off a cable to an external drive in the middle of a copy operation or backup and you've got corrupted data.

Interruption in power? Meh. Resetting a data connection? No thanks -- I want that cable plugged snug and tight in that socket.

Huh?

I think you've completely misunderstood my original post. I'm talking about MagSafe power attached to the 24", 27" LED Cinema Display and the 27" Thunderbolt Display. My "dream" I mentioned was to convert MagSafe to USB-C power so I can continue charging my laptops with these trusty old displays. Then I wouldn't need to crawl around the floor looking for power at the various desks I visit. This proposed adapter does not need to transmit data...

BarracksSi · Mar 15, 2017

rawweb said:
Huh?

I think you've completely misunderstood my original post. I'm talking about MagSafe power attached to the 24", 27" LED Cinema Display and the 27" Thunderbolt Display. My "dream" I mentioned was to convert MagSafe to USB-C power so I can continue charging my laptops with these trusty old displays. Then I wouldn't need to crawl around the floor looking for power at the various desks I visit. This proposed adapter does not need to transmit data...

Gotcha (the pic helps me understand what you're saying a lot better), and I think it's a pretty narrow use case.

It does transmit data to run the display (and any peripherals attached to the display; it has other ports in the back, doesn't it?), so you're not going to want the thunderbolt connection to pop loose. But, yeah, a little adapter piece between the existing MagSafe cable in your pic and the USB-C port on the laptop would be good.

On the other hand, though, Apple has an adapter to go from the USBC/Thunderbolt3 port to Thunderbolt 2 -- but it doesn't supply power from a Thunderbolt display to the MBP. Plus, that doesn't go with the DisplayPort and MiniDisplayPort connectors on the older displays, and I don't know if daisy-chaining adapters to do USBC-to-HDMI-to-DisplayPort would work.

I think your idea is one for Belkin or Griffin to take up and get into production. It'd only have to work with either MagSafe or MagSafe2 (those were the only two plug sizes, I think) and would fit into all the newer Mac laptops.

marc55 · May 9, 2017

So it looks like there are two front runners out there; the Griffin which doesn't have a great review history on Amazon, and the Snapnator

So have you guys found any drawback's to the Snapnator?

Thank you

martinocando · May 9, 2017

In my case, I used to have a 15 inch 2015 MBP, and purchased a second Magsafe 2 adapter, just to keep it at home, so I don't have to commute every day with the heavy adapter in my bag pack. Whatever I can save in terms of weight will make my shoulders happier.

Anyway, I received my 2016 MBP with TB a few days ago, and now have a perfectly working 85W Magsafe adapter which I can't use anymore. I know that the idea with USB-C is to use only one cable to transmit data, and power the computer, but since I'm already using the factory adapter with the long USB-C (although USB 2.0 speed) cable, just for power, why can't I just get a small adapter to use my former charger, which is just shy of the power needs of my new MBP by 2 Watts? It just doesn't make any sense.

Is there any possible way of finding such an adapter, or even building one? It just infuriates me having to spend almost 80$ for a new adapter, which doesn't comes with a cable or even the wall plug extension.

bartvk · May 10, 2017

martinocando said:
Is there any possible way of finding such an adapter, or even building one?

There is no such adapter as far as I know. As for building -- well, how good are your electronics skills?

It just infuriates me having to spend almost 80$ for a new adapter, which doesn't comes with a cable or even the wall plug extension.

Just sell the old one. You'll get enough money to buy two new ones from a 3rd party. The beauty of the USB-C port is that it's a standard. Sure, you can use Apple's big fat heavy 87W charger. However, I get through the day with a 45W charger. Here are two very well tested ones:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D8C6ULO (Anker)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ET762XS (iVoler)

In a pinch, I've charged my MBP with a 40W Nintendo Switch charger!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N7RUZ49

Alternative to MagSafe

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