Technologies

Apple’s MagSafe Charging Explained: Qi2, Faster Charging and More Accessories

Your MagSafe accessories might work for both iPhones and Android phones as the Qi2 standard expands its reach.

Apple’s MagSafe for phones has evolved quite a bit since its debut on the 2020 iPhone 12 line, bringing magnetic wireless charging from the iPhone to the AirPods. Since Apple’s MagSafe is compatible with the Qi2 wireless charging standard and has proven popular, we’re starting to see Samsung, Google and OnePlus provide support for similar magnetic accessories.

Even better, these wireless charging accessories are cheaper now than when MagSafe debuted, with companies such as Anker and Belkin making Qi2 magnetic charging pads and stands that support 15-watt speeds without Apple’s certification and approval. But if you get a new iPhone 16 and use it with one of Apple’s MagSafe chargers and a 30-watt power adapter, you can get even faster 25-watt charging speeds.

Read more: iPhone 16: What We Know About the Release Date, Leaks and More

But it’s not just about charging. Apple’s MagSafe for iPhone allows for all sorts of magnetic cases, wallets, stands, grips and other accessories that can be quickly attached to the back of an iPhone using built-in magnets. This has led to an assortment of accessories — some officially licensed by Apple and others that are simply magnetic — that take advantage of the feature to provide plenty of customizable options.

So as MagSafe grows, and hopefully starts coming to non-iPhone devices as the Qi2 standard, let’s decipher what Apple’s MagSafe for iPhone exactly is and how to tell the difference between that, non-magnetic Qi2 chargers and accessories that simply magnetically attach to your phone.

What is MagSafe for iPhone?

Apple’s MagSafe for iPhone standard refers to both a series of magnets that have been installed in most new iPhone models since 2020 — outside of the iPhone SE and iPhone 16E — and a wireless charging standard that can recharge an iPhone faster than the original Qi standard.

Apple’s MagSafe allows for accessories that can be attached to an iPhone using magnets. These include MagSafe phone cases, wallets, mounts, grips, chargers, stands and many other options.

Before the launch of the Qi2 standard, Apple’s MagSafe wireless charger was also the only way to get faster 15-watt wireless charging to work on an iPhone, with Apple citing that the magnets allowed a secure fit to help hit those speeds. Now, Qi2 chargers provide the same 15-watt speeds for earlier iPhone models, while the iPhone 16 series can hit 25 watts over Apple’s MagSafe chargers when used with a 30-watt adapter. When using a standard Qi charger, the iPhone caps the rate at half that speed, offering 7.5-watt wireless charging.

What is Qi2 charging, and how is it different from MagSafe?

Qi2 is an open standard and iterates on top of the prior Qi wireless charging standard while incorporating elements of Apple’s MagSafe standard. This includes both magnetic compatibility and a 15-watt wireless charging speed, meaning that any phone that supports Qi2 could potentially support magnetic accessories along with faster wireless charging.

As of right now, however, the onlyAndroid phone that natively supports Qi2 is the HMD Skyline, but there are already several companies making Qi2 accessories that work across both the Skyline and Apple’s iPhone. For its new Galaxy S25 phones, Samsung is now selling first-party cases that are «Qi2 Ready» — meaning that the cases include the magnets needed to support magnetic accessories. OnePlus is selling a similar magnetic case for its OnePlus 13, and Google’s so far announced that it will provide support for the Qi2 standard by contributing toward its development.

Apple has also updated all of itsMagSafe-compatible iPhones to support Qi2, meaning that if you buy a Qi2 wireless charger it should support faster 15-watt wireless charging. Plus, Qi2 phones that include magnets should support the plethora of magnetic accessories that were first released with MagSafe in mind, likely bringing compatibility to docks, mounts, grips and wallet accessories. Some of these Qi2 accessories are also slightly cheaper than MagSafe-certified accessories, which require a certification by Apple in order to get the MagSafe branding.

Which MagSafe accessories can I use?

With the launch of Qi2, there are now several different types of magnetic accessories that could work with your phone. This can get a bit confusing, but if you buy a magnetic phone accessory and your phone supports either MagSafe or Qi2, it should attach and function to varying degrees.

If you buy a MagSafe or Qi2-certified wireless charger, you should be able to use it to get the maximum 15-watt wireless charging speed when you’ve attached it to your phone. This includes charging docks and stands which also include MagSafe or Qi2 branding. If you have an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro, you can get faster 25-watt charging using a MagSafe charger that’s connected to a 30-watt or faster power adapter.

If you buy a magnetic wireless charger that does not specify whether it’s MagSafe or Qi2-certified, that likely means that while the charger will attach to your phone, it will probably charge at the original Qi standard that is limited to a 7.5-watt speed when using it with an iPhone. Results could vary when using one with an Android phone, since some phones do support 15-watt wireless charging over the prior Qi standard.

And if you’re buying a noncharging magnetic accessory — like a wallet or a dock for using your phone as a webcam — that accessory will likely work with any MagSafe-compatible phone regardless of its branding. These accessories are created with the magnets inside the phone in mind and will largely attach regardless of their certification. However, I have noticed — in my own personal experience — that the strength of the magnets can vary between accessory-makers. If you’re buying a magnetic grip, for example, test it out a bit after buying to make sure it fits your needs like you would a pair of shoes, and don’t destroy the box in case you decide to return it.

Which iPhones are compatible with MagSafe?

Every iPhone that’s been released since 2020 — barring the iPhone SE line — is compatible with MagSafe and the Qi2 standard. This includes the iPhone 12 line and later. The iPhone 11 is not compatible with MagSafe, but it does work with the original Qi wireless standard for charging. It just won’t be as fast nor involve magnets.

Which Android phones are compatible with MagSafe or Qi2 wireless charging?

The HMD Skyline is the first Android phone to support the Qi2 wireless standard, with integrated magnets for attaching magnetic accessories. Outside of that device though, you can often add a «MagSafe-like» experience to an Android phone using magnetic cases that some accessory-makers create. As mentioned earlier, Samsung and OnePlus are starting to provide first-party support with magnetic cases, but there are often third-party options for adding magnets to phones that support wireless charging.

Your success may vary greatly with these options, since you’d be using MagSafe or Qi2 accessories with phones that don’t officially support it. Again, you should treat it like a pair of shoes and be prepared to return it if it doesn’t work for you.

Can I charge my Apple Watch or AirPods over MagSafe charging?

The Apple Watch does not support MagSafe charging: It uses a different type of magnetic wireless charger to refill its battery. Apple’s AirPods are much more flexible, however, as depending on the model, you might be able to recharge with either an Apple Watch charger or a MagSafe-compatible wireless charger.

All AirPods Pro cases support Qi wireless charging using a MagSafe charger or a standard Qi wireless charger. This also extends to the second- and third-generation standard AirPods cases. The new AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation and the AirPods Pro 2 both include Qi/MagSafe wireless charging and can use an Apple Watch charger. The standard AirPods 4, however, lack wireless charging and instead only use wired USB-C charging.

What about MagSafe on Apple’s MacBook laptops?

MagSafe on Apple’s MacBook line is separate from the line of MagSafe accessories for the iPhone. These proprietary laptop chargers — which briefly went into retirement when the MacBook line adopted USB-C charging — attach quickly to compatible MacBook laptops using a magnet and can easily detach in the event the cord is accidentally pulled from the laptop. This is particularly suitable for anyone who has a tendency to trip over power cords.

Should your MacBook include both a MagSafe port and USB-C ports, you can choose either method for recharging your laptop. Just don’t try to slap an iPhone’s MagSafe charger against the computer, as that will do nothing.

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, April 23

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for April 23.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword isn’t terribly tough — for once, the two-part clue was simple. Usually, I beat my head against the desk trying to solve those. Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: With 7-Across, flight option that saves money at the expense of sleep
Answer: RED

4A clue: Like pastel shades
Answer: PALE

5A clue: Appliance on a patio
Answer: GRILL

6A clue: Simplicity
Answer: EASE

7A clue: See 1-Across
Answer: EYE

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Underpaid employee’s request
Answer: RAISE

2D clue: Fashion magazine with a palindromic name
Answer: ELLE

3D clue: Director Guillermo ___ Toro
Answer: DEL

4D clue: Thank God, say
Answer: PRAY

5D clue: «Will you look at that!»
Answer: GEE

How to play more Mini Crosswords

The New York Times Games section offers many online games, but only some are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.

Technologies

FTC Sues Over Uber One, Saying It ‘Deceived Consumers’

The agency accuses the ridesharing company of charging customers without consent and of making it difficult to cancel the service.

The Federal Trade Commission is suing the rideshare company Uber for what it’s calling deceptive business practices involving its Uber One subscription service. In a complaint filed in a San Francisco district court, the FTC cites instances where customers say they were charged for the service when they believed their subscriptions were canceled, or were not allowed to cancel their accounts easily.

Uber One costs $10 a month and allows users to get discounts, free delivery on Uber Eats and cash back, in addition to other perks.

However, the FTC says that customers who sign up for free trials have had difficulty canceling and have ended up with unexpected charges.

«Today, we’re alleging that Uber not only deceived consumers about their subscriptions, but also made it unreasonably difficult for customers to cancel,» FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson said in a press release.

The complaint cites instances where it would take 23 screens and 32 actions to cancel an Uber One subscription.

An Uber spokesperson said that the company doesn’t sign up or charge consumers without their consent and that «cancellations can now be done anytime in-app and take most people 20 seconds or less.»

«We are disappointed that the FTC chose to move forward with this action,» the spokesperson told CNET, «but are confident that the courts will agree with what we already know: Uber One’s sign-up and cancellation processes are clear, simple, and follow the letter and spirit of the law.»

In an email, Uber contested points in the FTC’s complaint, saying that it discloses information about what customers will be charged. «Consumers who canceled were never charged additional fees,» it said.

Subscription services in the crosshairs

Subscription services have been a target for the FTC recently, as it has implemented rules requiring companies to make them simpler and easier to cancel. Last year, California passed a law requiring it to be as easy as a single click for consumers. The changes were, in large part, enacted to combat increasingly sophisticated ways that companies were keeping customers on the hook for paid services.

Expect to see more FTC action against companies that fail to follow the rules on subscriptions, says Syracuse University law professor Shubha Ghosh, who focuses on business, antitrust and intellectual property law.

«Very likely there will be more suits as the FTC, across administrations, seeks to address anticompetitive practices that harm consumers, especially practices that raise prices and limit consumer choices,» Ghosh told CNET. «Ticketmaster is one example. We may see actions against crypto and payday loans online.»

But don’t expect rewards from these FTC lawsuits if you feel you were taken advantage of by a subscription-based service. For customers, it’s not the same as a class action suit in which plaintiffs may get money from court-designated damages, Ghosh said.

«The FTC cannot recover restitution for consumers after the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in [a 2021 case involving] AMG Management,» he said. «The FTC can change business practices, however, through injunctive relief under the Federal Trade Commission Act. The FTC can also obtain refunds for violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the (Better Online Ticket Sales) Act.»