Apple’s newest MagSafe Charger offers faster wireless charging than its predecessor when used with an iPhone 16. However, it does not live up to Apple’s claim of powering up the newest iOS handsets as quickly as a USB-C cable.
I tested the new power puck with an iPhone 16 to see how fast it can charge, and how warm it makes the handset. Here’s what I found out.
Apple’s iPhone 16 MagSafe Charger (2024) review
While longer battery life might be the holy grail for iPhone owners, the ability to quickly charge up a depleted device provides some solace. In recent years, Apple slowly but steadily increased the rate at which iPhones can charge. But fast top-ups come with some important trade-offs. MagSafe wireless charging is convenient — juicing up an iPhone is as simple as putting the device down. The alternative, plugging in a cable, is hardly an ordeal, but it’s not as easy as wireless charging.
Apple’s innovation of adding magnets to the charging mats opens up a world of possibilities, including the many brilliant charging stands on the market. But there’s no doubt wireless charging acts slower than plugging a USB-C cable into the iPhone. Then during the launch of the iPhone 16 series Apple said it removed the limitation by introducing a MagSafe charger as fast as a cable. So I got one and tested it.
Table of contents:
- Charging puck on a cable
- Apple MagSafe Charger performance
- Wired versus wireless
- The real benefit of wireless charging: Convenience
- Apple MagSafe Charger (2024) final thoughts
- Pricing
Charging puck on a cable
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The Apple MagSafe Charger is essentially a wireless charging mat at the end of a USB-C cable. It’s a very basic design but it works. I keep one on my bedside nightstand secured in an Elago Charging Tray.
Like many Apple accessories, the only color option is white. But at least it matches my AirPods charging case. You do get a choice of cable length: 1 meter or 2 meters. And the cable is more rugged than the cruddy ones Apple used years ago.
Apple says the MagSafe Charger supports charging at up to 25W on the iPhone 16 models, which will charge an iPhone 16 to 50% in 30 minutes (when plugged into a 30W adapter or higher, according to the specifications page for the iPhone 16).
So whether MagSafe or USB-C, the maximum charging speed for the iPhone 16 models is the same: half a charge in half an hour.
iPhone 16 MagSafe Charger performance
But does the new MagSafe Charger work at the same speed as a USB-C cable?
Nope.
To be clear, Apple says the wireless charger supports charging at up to 25W on the iPhone 16 models. Using a multimeter for USB cables, my testing showed that Apple actually understated the device’s capabilities: it operated at up to 29W with my iPhone 16 Plus. Apple’s original charging puck tops out at 18W. I used a 50w charging brick for these tests.
Unfortunately, the top charging speed is only active when the handset’s battery is low — around 20% or less. Above that, my tests show the device draws under 20W.
The final result: half an hour of charging pushed my iPhone 16 Plus battery level up 33%. That’s well below the 50% Apple claimed. Still, two hours of charging took my handset from 13% to 100%.
The limiting factor might be heat. Wireless charging always warms up the iPhone, and my digital thermometer says mine rose to 90 degrees and stayed there consistently during the charging process. I think the device may have slowed down its own charging to avoid getting any hotter.
And just so there’s no confusion, the extra speed boost requires both the new puck and the new handset. When used with an iPhone 15, Apple MagSafe Charger (2024) tops out at 18W. And the max charging rate of Apple’s original MagSafe puck with the iPhone 16 series is also 18W.
Wired versus wireless
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Ignoring wireless charging for a moment, Apple also claims that 30 minutes of charging with a USB-C cable sending 20W raises an iPhone 16 battery level by 50%.
Confirmed.
My testing found that my iPhone 16 Plus can charge at 28W when I use the USB-C port. That’s more than Apple says anything about, and about 5W over the iPhone 15 series. And a test run found that half an hour of charging increases the handset‘s battery by a full 50%.
But to reach that goal, I had to start with the battery under 20%. Going from a battery level of 50% to 100% takes about 1.5 hours.
Convenience versus speed
An important aspect of both wired or wireless charging is that charging speeds slow down tremendously as your iPhone’s battery level approaches 100%. As my testing shows, at that point both wired and wireless charging occurs at about 10W or less. That means the performance advantage of USB-C goes away, but the convenience of MagSafe really kicks in.
So, in the end, whether you turn to USB-C or wireless charging should depend on how you use your iPhone. If you charge the device once a day, and you need the quickest charge possible, then USB-C is still the way to go.
But if you work at a desk, get yourself a MagSafe charger and occasionally place your iPhone on it. Your device will always be ready to go, you won’t have to fool around with a cable, and you can even take advantage of iOS’s excellent StandBy mode.
iPhone 16 MagSafe Charger (2024) final thoughts
I love wireless charging, and I wish Apple’s new puck had lived up to the claims of performance on par with USB-C. While it is quicker, wired charging still wins the race.
That said, the 2024 version of Apple MagSafe Charger works well with an iPhone 16 or earlier. And while it’s an improvement on its predecessor, the difference isn’t significant enough to replace the original version with the new one.
★★★☆☆
Pricing for Apple’s new MagSafe Charger
The price for Apple MagSafe Charger (2024) depends on the cable length. And it’s an official product so you’re paying the Apple Tax. The 1-meter version costs $39 and the 2-meter variant goes for $49.
Those links go to the 2024 version with the speed boost for the iPhone 16 series. The older version remains on the market, so be careful you don’t buy it accidentally. Definitely don’t pay full price for the older version.
Apple did not provide Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out more in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.
