Return of MagSafe on MacBooks
Was it necessary?
Apple decided to make a fairly significant change to its laptops in 2016. MacBooks got a major redesign, with a significantly thinner body and a switch from traditional connectors to USB-C only. Apple fans, of course, were not happy with this. Compared to the 2015 MacBooks, we lost the much-loved MagSafe 2 connector, HDMI port, USB-A, and many others that were commonplace until then.
Since then, Apple users have had to rely on all sorts of reducers and hubs. However, what was most disappointing to some was the loss of the aforementioned MagSafe power connector. It was magnetically attached to the MacBook and was therefore characterized by its simplicity and safety.
If someone tripped over the cable while charging, it would not take the entire laptop with it — only the connector itself would be dislodged, while the MacBook would remain intact in the same place. But in late 2021, Apple implicitly acknowledged the earlier mistakes and decided to fix them. It introduced a redesigned MacBook Pro (2021) with a new design (thicker body) that also boasted the return of some connectors.
Namely, HDMI, SD card reader, and MagSafe. But is the return of MagSafe the right move, or is it instead a relic we can do without?
Do we even need MagSafe anymore?
The truth is that apple people have been calling for the return of MagSafe since 2016. It’s not surprising. The MagSafe connector was one of the most popular things about Apple laptops back then, and it was simply not an option — until the significant change. Since then, however, things have changed dramatically.
The USB-C port that Apple put all its trust in back then has become a global standard and can be found virtually everywhere. The various accessories and more have also changed accordingly, making it possible to make the most of these connectors today. USB-C, by the way, also serves as a power supply via Power Delivery technology.
There are even Power Delivery-enabled monitors that can be connected to a laptop via USB-C, which does not only for image transfer but also for charging. It is precise because of the sheer dominance of USB-C that the question is whether the return of MagSafe even makes sense anymore.
The USB-C connector has a clear goal — to unify the cables and connectors used into one so that we can get by with a single cable in as many cases as possible. So why bring back an older port that will require another, essentially useless cable?
Safety
As mentioned above, the MagSafe power connector is widespread not only for its simplicity but also for its safety. That’s one of the reasons Apple has relied on it for so long. Since people could charge their MacBooks virtually anywhere — coffee shops, living rooms, busy offices — it was only natural that they should have a secure option.
Indeed, one of the reasons for switching to USB-C was the increased battery life of laptops at the time. For this reason, according to some speculation, there was no longer a need to stick with the older port. Accordingly, Apple users could charge their device in the comfort of their home and then use it without restriction.
This has been pointed out by some current users, who years ago called for the return of MagSafe, but today it does not make sense to them at all. With the advent of new Apple Silicon chips, the endurance of the new MacBooks has increased significantly. This is again related to the fact that users can charge their laptops comfortably at home and do not have to worry about accidentally tripping over the connected cable.
MagSafe 3 innovation
Although the return of MagSafe may seem unnecessary to some at first glance, it has a rather important rationale. Apple has now come out with a new generation — MagSafe 3 — that takes things a few steps further than the previous one. The new laptops currently support fast charging; for example, the 16″ MacBook Pro (2021) can now handle up to 140W of power, ensuring it charges much faster.
Something like this wouldn’t be possible with USB-C Power Delivery, as the technology is limited to 100W. At the same time, the return to MagSafe goes hand-in-hand with the aforementioned USB-C boom. While some may feel that the arrival of another connector is unnecessary for this reason, in reality, we can also look at it precisely the other way around.
If we didn’t have MagSafe available and needed to charge our Mac, we would lose one rather important connector that could be used to connect all sorts of accessories. This way, we can use an independent port for charging and not disrupt our overall connectivity.
How do you see the return of MagSafe? Do you think it’s a significant change from Apple or is the technology already obsolete and we would be comfortable with USB-C?
Thank you for reading this article! If you enjoyed it, please leave me 👏🏻 and follow me for more content like this! 😊👍
