MagSafe 2 charger on an iPhone 16
Apple’s iPhone 16 has far faster MagSafe charging than previous models, assuming you get the newest charger. Here’s what you need to know.
The MagSafe charger has magnets that snap into place on the back of an iPhone for a secure connection and efficient charging. The magnetic alignment feature is compatible with iPhone 12 and later.
One of the critical improvements in the version of MagSafe is its ability to deliver up to 25W of power when paired with a sold-seperately 30W USB-C Power Adapter. For iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro users, Apple says you can charge up to 50% in approximately 30 minutes.
The new speed is a significant upgrade over the previous generation, which topped out at 15W with the 20W USB-C adapter.
For iPhone 12 or later models, the new MagSafe charger still offers fast wireless charging of up to 15W when used with a 20W USB-C Power Adapter. For older iPhone models, like the iPhone 8, the MagSafe charger provides wireless charging speeds of up to 7.5W.
The MagSafe charger comes with a 1-meter USB-C cable, but a 2-meter option is also available for those needing a bit more length. Additionally, the charger is fully compatible with Apple’s MagSafe accessories, including a range of cases and wallets that magnetically attach to your device.
MagSafe versus Qi2
Qi2 is an industry-wide standard that isn’t specific to MagSafe, but it incorporates similar magnetic alignment features. MagSafe, on the other hand, is Apple’s proprietary implementation of this technology, which leverages the Qi2 standard to improve charging efficiency and power delivery in the new charger.
While MagSafe provides the best experience with iPhone models equipped with magnetic alignment, it can also be used with any Qi-enabled device. However, the magnetic attachment feature only comes with iPhone 12 or later, unless you’ve added it with a third-party case or accessory.
Older iPhones that support Qi charging will need to have the charger aligned manually for optimal performance.
While third-party 25W wireless chargers are still rare, they’re expected to become more common as Qi2 is adopted more widely.
