NFC functionality comes into play by enabling your iPhone to identify what you just attached to it, and then showing a fun animation on your screen that matches your case’s color, for example. You can also opt for a MagSafe wallet that attaches to the back of the phone. The MagSafe wallet even integrates with Apple’s Find My network to remember the last location where it was removed from your phone.
Since MagSafe launched at the end of 2020, I’ve seen many accessories released from companies big and small. I’ve rounded up some of my favorites below.
Also: The best wireless charging pads
Apple’s MagSafe battery pack is one of the smallest packs available, even though pictures can make it look large. Inside are two battery cells with 11.13 Wh of capacity. It’s not capable of charging an iPhone from zero to 100%, but you should get a 50% boost, depending on the phone you own.
As of iOS 14.7, MagSafe is fully integrated with your iPhone’s operating system. For example, when you place the pack on a compatible iPhone, you’ll see an animation on your screen letting you know how much of a charge the pack has. Your phone will then automatically begin charging.
Read the review: Apple MagSafe Battery Pack review: Power on the go
There’s a Lightning port on the bottom of the pack for charging it. If you use a 20W adapter, you can charge both the pack and the iPhone at the same time by plugging the connector into your iPhone. Your iPhone will use reverse wireless charging to top off the battery pack – the only time we’ve seen such a feature from any iPhone model.
This seemingly simple disk was the first Apple MagSafe accessory designed for charging any iPhone model with MagSafe built-in. There is a new MagSafe connector on one end and a USB-C connector on the other. The disk connects to the back of your phone, holding itself in place to ensure proper alignment.
There’s a lot of technology packed into the MagSafe Charger, but you wouldn’t know by looking at the sleek design. And that’s a good thing.
Belkin’s MagSafe Car Mount does not charge your phone, but it does showcase how strong the magnets are and the promising potential of what can be done. I tested it for over a month and liked it – I have yet to see my phone fall off the mount when going over bumpy roads.
My only complaint? When my iPhone 12 Pro was attached to the mount, the combination of the two devices was heavy enough that it pointed the air vents down, no matter how I tried to stop it.
If you’re looking for a car mount that holds your phone in place without any clamps, and you have a MagSafe-compatible case, you can’t go wrong with Belkin’s offering.
This updated version of the MagSafe Wallet can be used with your iPhone’s Find My app, which is great for when you realize it detached itself somewhere between your desk and car. It’s made of real leather and comes in 8 different colors so you can match your iPhone or show off your personal style. You can even use it with a MagSafe case to mix and match visuals.
At around $60, the leather MagSafe Wallet is a bit of an investment for an accessory, but I can almost guarantee that once you use it, you won’t know how you lived without it.
Also: iPhone’s Find My-enabled MagSafe Wallet: 4 things you need to know before you buy
I’d been using the non-pro version of Twelve South’s HiRise for MacBook for about a year with no complaints. It did exactly what it’s designed to do: get my laptop off of my desk and at eye level, while freeing up some desk space. Underneath my laptop, I placed a wireless charging station, making use of the free space.
However, with the HiRise Pro, Twelve South built a MagSafe charging pad directly into the leather-covered base. That means I don’t need a separate charging station under my laptop. Instead, I only have to attach a MagSafe charger – which isn’t included with the HiRise Pro – to the bottom of the base and route the power cable to a nearby outlet.
The system uses a series of magnets around the iPhone’s internal charging coil which sense other compatible devices and hold them securely in place. The magnets are specifically designed for the MagSafe system to protect your iPhone from damage.
If you plan to use a MagSafe charger or attachment along with a case, make sure you buy a MagSafe-compatible case. That means the case has magnets of its own, and it will allow you to charge your phone or keep a MagSafe wallet attached.
Both USB-C Lightning and the MagSafe system have similar charging times, but with the Lightning cable, you have to make sure you’re near a suitable wall outlet when it comes time to recharge your iPhone.
With the MagSafe system, you can purchase a battery pack for power on the go. So if you’re a mobile professional, we recommend the MagSafe battery pack to keep your iPhone charged while you travel or meet with clients off-site. Folks who work from home may want to stick with a traditional cable charger.
