# MagSafe: what it gets right, and wrong

> Magnets save your MacBook from a tripped cord, but on iPhone the same name means something slower.
- Title: MagSafe: what it gets right, and wrong · Engadget | Shortify
- Summary: Magnets save your MacBook from a tripped cord, but on iPhone the same name means something slower. MagSafe is a convenience feature, not a speed one. Wired…
- Keywords: magsafe, apple, charging, iphone, usb-c, technology, gets, right, wrong, Engadget
- Source: Engadget — https://engadget.com/2254631/magsafe-charger-pro-and-cons
- Author: Adnan Ahmed
- Published: 2026-09-15T13:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: magsafe, apple, charging, iphone, usb-c, technology
## Back from the dead
Apple launched MagSafe in 2006 as a magnetic power plug for the MacBook Pro, killed it for USB-C in 2015, then brought it back to the MacBook line.

> MagSafe as a technology actually dates all the way back to 2006
## Snap on, no yank
The connector pulls itself into the port, and if someone trips over the cable it pops off instead of dragging your MacBook to the floor.

> there's far less of a chance of your MacBook getting yanked off a desk
## One cable, one job
MagSafe is proprietary, so that cable charges a MacBook and nothing else. A USB-C cable charges everything and also runs displays, drives and peripherals.
## Desk versus bag
The writer used MagSafe while the MacBook lived on a desk, then switched to USB-C once it started traveling. New USB-C cables are easier to justify buying.

> the moment I started carrying it around, relying on USB-C just made more sense
## iPhone MagSafe is wireless
Same name, different thing. It tops out at 15W on iPhone 17e, 15 and older, 25W on newer models, while a wired USB-C charger hits 60W on the iPhone 18 Pro.

> it cannot (yet) charge an iPhone as quickly or efficiently as a wired USB-C or Lightning connection
## Best for overnight
No charger comes in the iPhone box, so you pay extra. It shines on a nightstand stand, and the magnets also carry wallets, car mounts and AirPods cases.
## Key takeaway

MagSafe is a convenience feature, not a speed one. Wired USB-C still charges faster and does more.