Other POLL: Do you prefer MagSafe or Wired charging ?

[trifid]

but I can't plug and unplug the magsafe one handed so it doesn't do me any good on the nightstand.

Valid point and I share the same observation, but there is a solution for that, I did a cheap hack and used velcro to tape the adapter, and if you want a more 'stylish' option there are several 3rd party accessories that secure the magsafe base to a surface as well.

I really like this solution of magsafe as a nightstand, because you can place the iphone without looking easily. It snaps in place giving you feedback that it's secure which ensures proper wireless charging.

 

[macsound1]

Valid point and I share the same observation, but there is a solution for that, I did a cheap hack and used velcro to tape the adapter, and if you want a more 'stylish' option there are several 3rd party accessories that secure the magsafe base to a surface as well.

I really like this solution of magsafe as a nightstand, because you can place the iphone without looking easily. It snaps in place giving you feedback that it's secure which ensures proper wireless charging.

True, but wouldn't work for someone like my gf who charges her phone on the nightstand, wants the feedback that it is indeed charging, but sometimes runs the phone to 1% and wants to lay in bed doom scrolling before falling asleep. Then she'd need two chargers for two purposes.
I get your point though...

 

[xxray]

Wired. Faster, more efficient, safer, better for the battery (less heat). Also, easier for travel.

Wireless is convenient, but sometimes my phone misses the charger or gets bumped off (haven't used the new MagSafe), it's slower, and I really am not comfortable with the heat it generates on my phone.

 

[Barbareren]

Did you hear me say it was a bad thing? LOL. I'm just saying the convenience of wireless charging, especially when MagSafe paired with the 20W brick is VERY fast already, makes the wired charging option pointless/overkill to me. Obviously I still HAVE a cable so I COULD charge it wired if I wanted to, but I just don't see the need.

What, are you all draining your batteries to empty and just DYING to watch the rest of that movie or whatever so you want to charged wired to save a few minutes of charge time? I guess if I were constantly draining my battery and having to charge multiple times a day, it might be marginally better to charge with the cable. But at least for my usage, it makes no difference.

Sure, because the difference between 12W «wireless» charging (12 mini) and 20W wired charging is «pointless» and only «marginally» faster, LOL.

If you have a Mini, like I do, and you’re quite the heavy user, being able to plug it in for only 20 minutes to top it off during a long work day is a godsend. My Mini actually charges faster than both my Apple Watch and my AirPods Pro despite their much smaller batteries.

 

[usagora]

Sure, because the difference between 12W «wireless» charging (12 mini) and 20W wired charging is «pointless» and only «marginally» faster, LOL.

If you have a Mini, like I do, and you’re quite the heavy user, being able to plug it in for only 20 minutes to top it off during a long work day is a godsend. My Mini actually charges faster than both my Apple Watch and my AirPods Pro despite their much smaller batteries.

Well I don't have a 12 Mini, so I get 15W. Yes, I consider 20W pointless for me because I don't need it to charge any faster than it already does. Your felt needs are different with your Mini. It's ok!

 

[LFC2020]

Use to be anti wireless charging, due to how slow it charges, once I got the belkin 3-1 MagSafe charger I'm now a believer. 😊

No more tangled cables all over the floor, charges at a very nice speed, the 3-1 charger is what apples stupid MagSafe puck that takes 4 hours to charge $65+$29 for 20W adapter rip off should've been. 🤦‍♂️😂

 

[usagora]

Use to be anti wireless charging, due to how slow it charges, once I got the belkin 3-1 MagSafe charger I'm now a believer. ?

No more tangled cables all over the floor, charges at a very nice speed, the 3-1 charger is what apples stupid MagSafe puck that takes 4 hours to charge $65+$29 for 20W adapter rip off should've been. ?‍♂️?

Maybe I'm misreading your post, but the MagSafe Charger is $39.00 and the 20W adapter is $19.00 from Apple, not $65.00 + $29.00. Even cheaper on Amazon. The Belkin 3-in-1 on Amazon ranges from $120-$150 and provides the same 15W max charging that the MagSafe+20W adapter does. Yes, it provide the convenience of being able to charge your Apple Watch and/or AirPods too, but the charging speed is the same.

 

[LFC2020]

Maybe I'm misreading your post, but the MagSafe Charger is $39.00 and the 20W adapter is $19.00 from Apple, not $65.00 + $29.00. Even cheaper on Amazon. The Belkin 3-in-1 on Amazon ranges from $120-$150 and provides the same 15W max charging that the MagSafe+20W adapter does. Yes, it provide the convenience of being able to charge your Apple Watch and/or AirPods too, but the charging speed is the same.

Not in Australia it ain’t ??? Got the 3-1 at a discounted price, the apple puck doesn’t charge anywhere near as fast as the 3-1 charger.

 

[jimbobb24]

Definitely MagSafe/wireless. I don't understand why some people are married to wired charging in 2021 nor wired headphones.

Some people might not like wireless/MagSafe because of how bad it is for the planet in terms of energy waste compared to wired charging.

 

[usagora]

Not in Australia it ain’t ??? Got the 3-1 at a discounted price, the apple puck doesn’t charge anywhere near as fast as the 3-1 charger.

Understood about the regional issue with cost. I'm sorry, though, but the max is 15W for either the Belkin or MagSafe. It's not physically possible to charge it any faster wirelessly. Perhaps your MagSafe was defective or you weren't using it with a 20W adapter so it wasn't receiving sufficient power for max charging.

 

[JCoe13]

It depends for me. At night - always wired. I like to use my phone in bed so the cable lets me charge and use. It also ensures that it doesn't fall off the wireless charger and die the next day (iPhone 11 Pro, so no MagSafe). Once I upgrade phones, I still plan to use a cable at bedside since I prefer a 30W fast charger. At my desk, I prefer wireless charging because I can just drop it on the mat and not worry about plugging and unplugging the cable.

 

[LFC2020]

Understood about the regional issue with cost. I'm sorry, though, but the max is 15W for either the Belkin or MagSafe. It's not physically possible to charge it any faster wirelessly. Perhaps your MagSafe was defective or you weren't using it with a 20W adapter so it wasn't receiving sufficient power for max charging.

the 3-1 not only charges faster, it charges more consistently at 15W compared to the apple MagSafe puck.

Check out some videos online, number 1 knock on the apple MagSafe puck is how slow it charges, it can’t keep a steady 15W charge like the Bellini 3-1, whoever is telling you they both charge at the same speed Is lying.

 

[Spetsgruppa]

i prefer wireless or using a magnetic charging cable.

 

[usagora]

the 3-1 not only charges faster, it charges more consistently at 15W compared to the apple MagSafe puck.

Check out some videos online, number 1 knock on the apple MagSafe puck is how slow it charges, it can’t keep a steady 15W charge like the Bellini 3-1, whoever is telling you they both charge at the same speed Is lying.

Mine charges really fast (much faster than the Qi charger I was using before). ?‍♂️ Can't imagine anyone thinking it was lacking in that area. I guess everyone else got a defective one and I have the only two that are working as designed

 

[LFC2020]

Mine charges really fast (much faster than the Qi charger I was using before). ?‍♂️

Might be faster than your previous Qi charger, but it doesn’t charge as fast as the belkin 3-1.

 

[usagora]

Might be faster than your previous Qi charger, but it doesn’t charge as fast as the belkin 3-1.

By the way, all this talk (including wireless vs wired) got me curious, so I downloaded this app called Amperes Light. Here are 4 test results using my MagSafe + 20W adapter and 4 test results using my USB-to-Lightning cable + 20W adapter:

MagSafe...............................USB-to-Lightning................

So if these results are accurate, both MagSafe AND wired charging can yield sometimes significantly different results - I guarantee the Belkin is the same if you tested it with this app. I also find it noteworthy that the wired charging isn't yielding much more power than the MagSafe (and actually less during one of the tests)...at least if this app is accurate.

 

[GSWForever8]

Wired because it’s cheaper and faster lol.

 

[Ian Richard Markham]

Is this a magsafe charger? I use it to charge my JUUL device.

 

[Böhme417]

While I do use a wireless charger on my nightstand regularly, I would say I still prefer wired charging. Wireless is fine for overnight charging, but it is just too slow for any other time. I like the idea behind MagSafe. Being able to charge your phone and be magnetically mounted somewhere is certainly a more elegant solution than a cable and clamp holder in your vehicle. But, as others have said, MagSafe makes my phone very hot - definitely to the point of being uncomfortable to hold - and it doesn't even charge very fast.

 

[jakeuten]

I actually ended up getting the MagSafe duo device to clear up some wire clutter on my nightstand and I enjoy it a ton. I always know where my watch and phone are when I wake up and it charges fast enough for me.

 

[usagora]

While I do use a wireless charger on my nightstand regularly, I would say I still prefer wired charging. Wireless is fine for overnight charging, but it is just too slow for any other time. I like the idea behind MagSafe. Being able to charge your phone and be magnetically mounted somewhere is certainly a more elegant solution than a cable and clamp holder in your vehicle. But, as others have said, MagSafe makes my phone very hot - definitely to the point of being uncomfortable to hold - and it doesn't even charge very fast.

Are you using a case? I'm wondering if that's why I'm not experiencing this "uncomfortable to hold" kind of heat you and several others have mentioned. I use the Apple leather MagSafe case with my 12 Pro and all it does is get warm, but maybe the case is dissipating the heat.

I'm also wondering if some of the people saying MagSafe is slow are charging through a non-MagSafe case, which would cause a weaker connection. Because mine charges quite fast (at least it sure seems fast...will need to actually time it one of these days just for kicks). If you see my post (41) where I ran 4 charging tests in a row for both MagSafe and wired, the results are very close.

 

[George Dawes]

I've got it on my 8plus , it gets VERY hot and is VERY slow , wired is so much faster it's crazy !!!

Yes I'm using a case , sure that's part of the problem ....

 

[usagora]

I've got it on my 8plus , it gets VERY hot and is VERY slow , wired is so much faster it's crazy !!!

Yes I'm using a case , sure that's part of the problem ....

Of course, with the 8 Plus it's Qi charging, so it will be much slower than with a MagSafe phone like the 12 line. MagSafe is really designed for the 12 and the fact that it's compatible with Qi charging phones like the 8-11 is just a bonus for when you need a charger in a pinch for one of those phones I guess.

 

[Böhme417]

Are you using a case? I'm wondering if that's why I'm not experiencing this "uncomfortable to hold" kind of heat you and several others have mentioned. I use the Apple leather MagSafe case with my 12 Pro and all it does is get warm, but maybe the case is dissipating the heat.

I'm also wondering if some of the people saying MagSafe is slow are charging through a non-MagSafe case, which would cause a weaker connection. Because mine charges quite fast (at least it sure seems fast...will need to actually time it one of these days just for kicks). If you see my post (41) where I ran 4 charging tests in a row for both MagSafe and wired, the results are very close.

I'm getting these results with Apple MagSafe cases. I have both the leather and silicone cases (mostly use the silicone one as it's better for cleaning regularly and try to avoid using the leather one with it to prevent the ring).

 

[ian87w]

Don’t have the new iPhones, but if I did, I would probably prefer wired charging. No worries about case compatibility. Besides, wireless charging is less efficient and heat is the worst enemy of battery.

But I’m sure Apple would drop the port and force everyone to go with MagSafe. More accessories to sell, and quicker battery life depletion means more frequent upgrades. That Tim Cook sure is smart….