iPhone 16e Doesn't Have MagSafe

[brilliantthings]

Yay! I have a relative hanging onto an iPhone 11 because they are concerned about MagSafe interfering with their pacemaker. Some Medtronic representative convinced them it was an issue.

Strong magnets are used to temporarily disable pacemakers. If a strong magnet like a device that has MagSafe, comes too close to a pacemaker, the pacemaker will be disabled. This can be life-threatening for some. I think it’s fantastic that there is now an iPhone with more modern features that doesn’t have MagSafe.

 

[Tagbert]

Strong magnets are used to temporarily disable pacemakers. If a strong magnet like a device that has MagSafe, comes too close to a pacemaker, the pacemaker will be disabled. This can be life-threatening for some. I think it’s fantastic that there is now an iPhone with more modern features that doesn’t have MagSafe.

The information about risks of pacemakers and magnets is not clearly on the risk side. It probably depends on the specific model of pacemaker and the actual strength of the magnets. In a medical situation where they use magnets to disable a pacemaker, they are likely using much stronger magnets. The magnets on a iPhone are not particularly strong. If you have a pacemaker, I would talk to your cardiologist before making a change, but don't assume that there is a problem without actual evidence.

 

[brilliantthings]

The information about risks of pacemakers and magnets is not clearly on the risk side. It probably depends on the specific model of pacemaker and the actual strength of the magnets. In a medical situation where they use magnets to disable a pacemaker, they are likely using much stronger magnets. The magnets on a iPhone are not particularly strong. If you have a pacemaker, I would talk to your cardiologist before making a change, but don't assume that there is a problem without actual evidence.

This is one study with actual evidence

 

[Tagbert]

This is one study with actual evidence

Good to see this. I don't have time to really dig into this tonight but from the photo in the article it looks like they were placing the phone directly on the chest above the pacemaker. That suggests that more normal positions would not exhibit the effect since magnetic strength falls off so quickly. Best to keep it in your pants pocket and not a jacket pocket.

 

[brilliantthings]

Good to see this. I don't have time to really dig into this tonight but from the photo in the article it looks like they were placing the phone directly on the chest above the pacemaker. That suggests that more normal positions would not exhibit the effect since magnetic strength falls off so quickly. Best to keep it in your pants pocket and not a jacket pocket.

True. But some with pacemakers might decide they prefer a phone without MagSafe.