Silver MagSafe connector makes no sense

[hotdogcowboy]

The original magsafe connector was white plastic, which was the right choice if you ask me. It looked good connected to my blackintosh and they looked good connected to the MacBook Pros, and it made sense. Ever since gen 1 they've ditched the plastic housing for aluminum. There must be some manufacturing design factor at play here, because the aesthetics of an aluminum connector are all wrong. It looks crappy on the Space Grey, and it doesn't really make sense on the Silver either. No other cable from Apple has anything but a plastic connector housing. There is no aspect of their design language that correlates the connector material to the device material.

Is this a case where the designers wanted two SKUs for magsafe connectors in silver and space grey, but operations won out and veto'd it? Is this just a way to get everyone to buy a space grey cable next year for another $49? Will this usher in the era of Apple Cable Subscription where you get a new magsafe cable in seasonal colors twice a year for $99? Or is this a case of aluminum just being the right material because of the way the steel connector and pogo pins are integrated? Even then, this design was delayed from a Summer release, surely they had time to annodize a few magsafe connectors in space grey while they were waiting for chip deliveries? The iMac Pro got new SKUs for all the color matched accessories, why don't the MacBook Pros get the same treatment?

 

[macintoshmac]

While at it, the LED on the MagSafe could match the color of the device, be it iMac or the space grey and silver MacBooks. The keyboard LEDs could also come with an option to that effect. It is insane that they haven't gone through with this.

The charging block itself could be color-matched as well, in 'unapologetically plastic' iPhone 5c fashion. Blue iMac could come with matching blue power adapter. Space grey MacBook Pro could feature a space grey plastic on the adapter.

Come on, Apple. People get distracted without these color-matched components.

 

[pst23]

I’m coming from a white USBc cord hanging out the side. I can deal with the silver charger. It’s not a big deal to me.

 

[Sanpete]

Silver is the true color of the MBP, part of its essence. The MagSafe connector probably wouldn't work as well in any other color.

 

[vinay427]

While at it, the LED on the MagSafe could match the color of the device, be it iMac or the space grey and silver MacBooks. The keyboard LEDs could also come with an option to that effect. It is insane that they haven't gone through with this.

The charging block itself could be color-matched as well, in 'unapologetically plastic' iPhone 5c fashion. Blue iMac could come with matching blue power adapter. Space grey MacBook Pro could feature a space grey plastic on the adapter.

Come on, Apple. People get distracted without these color-matched components.

Is your sarcasm mocking Apple’s actual decisions? Because they did exactly this color coordination of power cable on the HomePods Mini.

 

[beach bum]

The color doesn’t bother me.. I don’t use it. Mostly the MBP is docked and undocked, the battery lasts until I have to dock it again.

Since this question is being raised, I do wonder that Apple dropped the ball on this considering that the newly colored HomePod mini cord is tinted to match. Go figure.

 

[hotdogcowboy]

Silver is the true color of the MBP, part of its essence. The MagSafe connector probably wouldn't work as well in any other color.

By that logic, what color should the lightning connector be on the iPhone? What is the essential iPhone color and how should that be represented in the charging cable?

Apple's white cables have been iconic. They don't have to be color matched to the device because they already match everything. Typically for their battery powered devices, they allow the cable to be a cable and the device to be the device and they don't feel the need to mix the two. With magsafe, for some reason, they decided to extend the device materiality out onto the charging cable. It mixes metaphors and is an unnecessary complication from my perspective.

 

[mrwood]

I like the Aluminum. I wish more cords had it. The cohesiveness between MacBook Pro MagSafe and iPhone MagSafe is perfect from a materials standpoint.

That being said - I actually prefer the Pro products having BLACK cords.

The Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR have black cords. The iMac Pro, and the Space Gray Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse all came with black lightening cables for charging as well. Even the Space Gray HomePod mini has a black cord.

 

[TinyMito]

Roast me...

I will detail below, because I'm not part of the first-world picky problem.

 

[Sanpete]

By that logic, what color should the lightning connector be on the iPhone? What is the essential iPhone color and how should that be represented in the charging cable?

iPhones have no essence, so it doesn't matter.

 

[hotdogcowboy]

Roast me...

I will detail below, because I'm not part of the first-world picky problem.

Well the discussion is about design, which is a way of being "picky". I'm curious what factors are involved when a trillion dollar company ships a million of something that might appear incongruous to the consumer. At what point is design overridden by economics or manufacturing concerns? What design criteria are Apple prioritizing that we as consumers may be oblivious to, due to scale or manufacturing process or market position?

Apple has made design one of its key differentiating aspects, if you are an Apple customer then design is of some importance to you, admitted or not.

 

[hotdogcowboy]

I like the Aluminum. I wish more cords had it. The cohesiveness between MacBook Pro MagSafe and iPhone MagSafe is perfect from a materials standpoint.

That being said - I actually prefer the Pro products having BLACK cords.

The Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR have black cords. The iMac Pro, and the Space Gray Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse all came with black lightening cables for charging as well. Even the Space Gray HomePod mini has a black cord.

I wonder if one of the arguments internally was for a space grey connector with a black braided cable?

Then someone asks if the usb-c end has to be black or grey or white. And then they say, well we need a black power brick to match. But then they already have 3 different bricks in 67, 96, and 140W, so now they need 6 SKUs just for all the MacBook Pro power adapters. So they just throw their hands up and say Silver is fine and maybe we'll have a better cable next year.

 

[mrwood]

I wonder if one of the arguments internally was for a space grey connector with a black braided cable?

Then someone asks if the usb-c end has to be black or grey or white. And then they say, well we need a black power brick to match. But then they already have 3 different bricks in 67, 96, and 140W, so now they need 6 SKUs just for all the MacBook Pro power adapters. So they just throw their hands up and say Silver is fine and maybe we'll have a better cable next year.

Oddly enough, the Space Gray HomePod mini comes with a black USB-C cord and the standard white 20w power adapter. Granted on the HomePod mini the cord is attached/built-in.

I agree about the multiple SKU's and therefore assembly costs - that's a pretty large con.

I still think a black MagSafe cord with a white power brick in the box would have been acceptable.

 

[hologram]

I, personally, don’t care what color it is, as long as it works.

 

[MBAir2010]

My chord features a bezel
inside a notch.....

 

[Jl006p]

I'm all for the braided cables apple dropped this year. The iMacs came with a color coordinated power cord and usb-c to lighting cable.

It would have been nice for us "pro" users to have gotten something like this instead of white. If it really bothers you I'm sure you can dip it in rit dye lol. Paint it black like The Rolling Stones once said.

I am beyond entertained on these forums. Can't believe people like OP exist 🤣

 

[miamialley]

I’m usually really opinionated on this stuff. While I’d LIKE a space grey cord - it doesn’t really bother me. Go figure. It is weird since the iMacs have color-matched cables and like 8 different color options.

 

[PerfumedPonce]

I would like to Mag Safe leads that match my skin tone.

If Tim Cook is reading this I am a 'summer'

 

[Muttznuttz]

The connector can get warm. Heat dissipation may be a good reason to use aluminium