MagSafe explained: what it is and which accessories are actually worth it

MagSafe is one of those features people own without ever using. Introduced on the iPhone 12 and present on every iPhone since, it is a ring of magnets under the back glass that lets accessories snap on in exactly the right place. Once you start using it, the cable-free convenience is hard to give up.

How it works

The magnets do two jobs: they align a wireless charger to the phone's charging coil so it charges faster and more reliably than a plain pad, and they hold accessories — wallets, stands, grips, mounts — firmly to the back without any adhesive. Anything labelled MagSafe or 'magnetic' clicks into the same spot every time.

The accessories worth having

A magnetic charger is the core of it: rest the phone on it and it charges, snapped perfectly into place, with no fiddling for the sweet spot. A 3-in-1 stand extends that to your watch and earbuds on a single base — the tidiest bedside or desk setup there is.

A magnetic power bank is the standout for travel: it snaps onto the back of the phone and tops it up on the move, with nothing to plug in or hold. A magnetic grip or ring stand makes a large phone one-hand-friendly and doubles as a kickstand for video. A magnetic card wallet holds a couple of cards on the back and is there when you need it, gone when you don't.

What to skip

You do not need the official-brand versions to get the magnetic experience — the magnet array is a published standard, so well-made third-party accessories snap on and charge exactly the same for far less. And if you keep a card wallet on your phone, take it off before wireless charging; a stack of cards between the phone and charger blocks it.

What about Samsung and Pixel?

Newer phones are adopting the same idea under the Qi2 standard, which adds MagSafe-style magnets to non-Apple phones. If your Galaxy or Pixel supports Qi2, magnetic accessories work the same way; if not, a magnetic case adds the ring so you can still use them.