It’s no secret that every company in the smartphone sector borrows concepts from competitors. Numerous recent iOS improvements by Apple have drawn influence from Android, while Google has also adopted a handful of Apple’s core ideas. These actions frequently lead to improved or evolved versions of the initial implementation, but occasionally they fail. However, there is one feature that Apple’s rivals appear to have completely overlooked when compared to the iPhone, whether it be the Pixel 7 or the Galaxy S22: MagSafe.
If you haven’t recently used an iPhone, the name “MagSafe” might make you think of Apple’s laptop chargers rather than its mobile devices. This version of MagSafe, which debuted with the iPhone 12, is a collection of magnetic accessories that includes wallets, PopSockets, stands, car mounts, and more. In addition, wireless charging is supported, whether using wired pucks or detachable battery packs. Fundamentally, it’s just another way for Apple and independent producers to provide extra accessories to iPhone owners. Having said that, I believe that is a really negative viewpoint on what is, in fact, an excellent instrument when used properly.
Since purchasing an iPhone 14 Pro Max last month, which gave me my first experience with MagSafe, I’ve developed a deep affection for what I believe to be the best wireless charging technology available. It is the fastest non-specialized wireless charger available at 15W. Similar to a conventional cable, the wired puck lets you continue using the phone while it is connected, but it also frees up the Lightning port for other devices, like a dongle for wired headphones. The magnet, meanwhile, is sturdy and reliable and ensures precise alignment each time you use it.
Not to mention the extra accessories that are available in this location. Although I don’t care for wallet cases, the fact that anyone can choose to use one is amazing. If anything, it encourages me to go out and get one.
My experience with MagSafe has been so good that I’m shocked that every Android maker hasn’t copied it in the years since it first appeared. Of course, this is not to suggest that no corporation has adopted the basic idea. Prior to ceasing production of all of its phones, LG utilised a bad pogo pin adaptor on some of its Dual Screen accessories. With comparable design and faster speeds than Apple, Realme’s MagDart puck has attracted the attention of rivals like Oppo and Nubia. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 was also there, albeit that was more of a coincidence than anything more.
The MagSafe experience has also been added to Galaxy and Pixel devices by third-party cases for Android phones, such as Mophie, Peak, Moment, and others, either through proprietary methods or just by adding the magnets required for MagSafe to function. After all, all that is required is for the puck to remain in position in order for any Qi-compatible phone to charge from these accessories.
Of course, not everyone wants to look at a case. Even though I don’t anticipate the next Samsung or Google to add support for Apple’s own line of magnet-powered peripherals, I’m surprised they haven’t made an effort to integrate their own take on the idea. MagSafe isn’t the be-all and end-all of magnetic accessories, and I think it’s possible for Android phones to create an even more advanced version of this capability than what iOS users have seen.
And in a world where Google and Samsung are both working to develop their own ecosystems, the availability of detachable accessories might make all the difference. The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro’s curved straps prevent wireless powersharing, which may be enabled with a straightforward magnetic charging dock. Any laptop, regardless of its OS, could install high-quality webcams with a simple magnetic mount thanks to a platform-neutral implementation of Continuity Camera. The possibilities are truly limitless in this case, effectively turning our cellphones into modular parts in a larger technological universe.
Alternatively, as we’ve seen with Apple’s version, a MagSafe-like feature on the Galaxy S23 would inspire rival wallet accessories like PopSockets. I still believe that is a good conclusion, even though it is less thrilling than my own (though vague) vision of the future.
To some, MagSafe is probably just a pointless gimmick that Android device makers have chosen to ignore. However, I believe it to be a practical tool and a clever development of wireless charging that truly motivates me to utilise it. And if the idea were ever seriously adopted by Android firms, whether as a shared standard or merely as a feature offered by individual companies, I believe it could be developed further.
