Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Compatible with all role model of iPhone 12 , 13 and 14 , the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack is an intelligent and commodious power pack that magnetically clinch to the iPhone . While underpowered compare to the challenger , it will file a fleet iPhone up to around 60 % , which should be enough to get you through the day to when you have access to a power electrical outlet .
We all know that the battery life of a speech sound is not unlimited and that iPhones do not have a great repute for lasting as long on one bearing as other smartphones .
Unless you wedge near to a power outlet , you ’ll ask a power bank or electric battery type to top up on the move .
Apple ’s recent iPhones boast a technology called MagSafe that offers a hefty solvent than carry around a cabled ability bank .
It give up enabled accessories to magnetically latch on to the back of the iPhone for wireless charging or other functions .
•Best MagSafe portable battery packs and power banks
Apple ’s MagSafe Battery Pack offer a power boost when your iPhone ’s interior battery is running out on you .
Design
The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack is a stocky ( 96 - x-64 - 11 centimetre ) white brick that weighs 114 g.
Clamped to the back of a snowy iPhone , it creates a hump reminiscent of Apple ’s oldSmart Battery Case , see above will .
That full Smart Battery Case ( woefully unavailable for iPhone 12 , 13 or 14 compass ) was derided for its humpback , but we loved it for its overbold feature , battery life history and all - round protective duties . We have tested a third - company alternative – theNewdery Battery Case for iPhone 13 and 13 Pro – if you hope the protection and can exist without the Apple logotype , smart features and prescribed certificate .
The MagSafe Battery Pack is similar in looks when magnetically locked to the phone but lacks the robust protection you get with a assault and battery cause .
you may , and should , of course , keep your precious phone in a protective event , and then to employ this stamp battery pack you ’ll call for to bribe a MagSafe - friendly caseful .
While it match well with a white iPhone , the deficiency of MagSafe Battery Pack color options means it will literally gravel out on any other colour iPhone . In comparison , Anker ’s alike MagGo 622 stamp battery coterie comes in five mellow colours . interpret ourAnker MagGo 622 Battery Pack followup .
Apple ’s pack charge via Lightning cable rather than USB - C ( used by Anker and other magnetic top executive bank maker ) , but this makes sentiency as all iPhone exploiter will have a Lightning cable to turn over . USB - C is the future , though , and these days few bulwark chargers hail with old - standard USB - A ports that put to work with regular Lightning - to - USB cables . No cable’s length is include with the Pack .
The magnetic clamp is warm , ease veneration that it might slip off the speech sound and get damaged or lost .
Battery capacity
The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack has a 1,460mAh bombardment mental ability . An iPhone 12 mini ’s intragroup barrage fire is rated at 2,227mAh , an iPhone 13 at 3,227mAh , and a 13 Pro Max at 4,352mAh .
( We ’ve listed thebattery capacities of every iPhonefor your delectation . )
The Apple Battery Pack therefore looks a snatch runty in power electrical capacity – specially in light of the Anker MagGo 622 ’s 5,000mAh capacity . But milliamp hours do n’t say the whole story .
The Apple ring has a higher voltage potential ( 7.62V ) than the iPhone ( 3.81V ) or the Anker gang , meaning that it can provide more power to an iPhone than its mAh suggest ; in fact , it works out as equivalent to 2,920mAh .
It score more sense to compare each battery ’s Watt Hour spec . The difference between Anker ’s 19.13Wh and Apple ’s 11.13Wh is still heavy ( 172 % more superpower from Anker ) but less distant than the unadapted milliamp evaluation first suggests .
That ’s the good intelligence , but there ’s a further blow to the battery office … and not just for the Apple gang . The Apple Battery Pack should be able-bodied to nearly fully charge an iPhone 13 Pro , but it does n’t get close because of the inherent inefficiency of wireless charging .
When charging wirelessly , up to a astounding 50 % of a battery pack ’s bursting charge to the phone can be lose to bad placement and heat loss , plus other environmental factor – compared to a wired charge connexion .
As the magnetized fit is so precise and strongly locked , MagSafe wireless charging is much more effective than standard Qi wireless charging where the equipment just sits on top of the charger . Anyone who has fiddled their phone into the correct position for wireless charging to commence will know that placement is n’t always easy . With MagSafe , it locks into the accurate position .
MagSafe charging stay ineffective ( it ’s still wireless after all ) but mayhap loses only 30 % of the affiliated electric battery bursting charge because the placement is so precise – and that impart the Apple pack nigher still to the Anker pack because the higher - capacity battery lose more of its charge at 30 % than the smaller one .
For wired MagSafe charging , read our roundup of thebest MagSafe chargers . Remember that , while wired , the factual charging is wireless so add up with the same limitation , although , when connected to a 20W or higher rampart charger , it can charge an iPhone 12/13 at up to 15W compared to the MagSafe Battery Pack ’s 7.5W.
Charging power
When Apple in the beginning released the MagSafe Battery Pack it could charge an iPhone at just 5W , compare poorly to rival magnetic battery packs that charge at 7.5W.
Thankfully , Apple has fixed this inadequacy with afirmware update(2.7 ) .
If you already own the Battery Pack , to get 7.5W commove on the go you ask to update it to the late firmware . This can be done in two shipway : one super slow , one super - fast . Guess which one we recommend .
The firmware update can begin automatically after you attach your battery pack to your iPhone but this method can take about a week !
If you ’d favor an update that takes five minutes , plug your Lightning cable’s length into the battery pack and the other end into your Mac or iPad . The firmware update will then speedily bring your pack up to date and raring to go at 7.5W.
Battery pack tests
We essay the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack and its competition with a simple battery recharge shootout . We allow our tryout - unit iPhone 13 Pro ( 3,095mAh battery capacity ) debilitate to just 5 % and then set the Battery Pack to employment recharge the telephone .
We then assign it a sexual conquest of whatever percentage it managed to charge the iPhone to and deduct the 5 % ; we try each model at least twice . It ’s not a real - world test of day - to - day purpose where you ’ll likely be using your phone for various labor ( of vary battery employment ) . But it does give us a mark that we can use to liken different stamp battery - pack models .
The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack score 60 % in our trial , show that it wo n’t supply a 100 % recharge , or anywhere near it .
On the plus side , its superfluous battery life is somewhat greater than with Apple ’s old Smart Battery Case .
Apple’s smart advantages
So far we ’ve been let down by the Apple MagSafe Pack ’s battery living , especially in comparability to its inexpensive non - Apple rivals .
But , with its advantage of own the computer hardware and software , Apple ’s battery mob has impudent features up its sleeve that are drop from the alternatives .
For starters , just as with the AirPods , the MagSafe Battery Pack shows its charge in the Battery widget on the iPhone ’s Today horizon – just swipe aright from the rest home cover to see all your Apple battery charge info in one place .
Third - party gadget lack this ready to hand iPhone info link .
Apple ’s assault and battery pack can institutionalise the earphone simultaneously with the Lightning cable , reaching a maximum 15W charge as long as the wall charger is rated at least 27W.
The iPhone can even reverse saddle the MagSafe Battery Pack if its internal battery is full and connected to world power .
The MagSafe Battery Pack stops providing a charge if the iPhone strive 90 % . This offers your iPhone ’s national battery protective cover as batteries survive longer when not charged to the upper limit each time .
Another protective feature film is that if the iPhone becomes too hot , the MagSafe Battery Pack stop excite over 80 % .
The MagSafe Battery Pack mechanically charges the iPhone , so there ’s no need to release it on or off . Most third - company MagSafe electric battery pack require you to advertize a clit to lead up charge up .
Price
The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack is available in one sizing and one people of colour ( livid ) . It costs US$ 99 / £ 99 / CA$119 / AU$139 / € 109 .
Alternatives from Anker and Belkin are less expensive and with higher battery capacity , but do lack Apple ’s smarter features .
The Apple barrage fire face pack is compatible with all models of the iPhone 12 , 13 and 14 kitchen stove . Some of the larger third - party battery packs are too large for the mini iPhones .
Verdict
We ’d have jazz a full protective Smart Battery Case from Apple , as we got for the iPhone 11 and earlier , but Apple has set its heart on MagSafe and so detachable is the only option , and it has to be in white .
Compatible with all models of iPhone 12 , 13 and 14 , the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack is an level-headed and convenient power mob that magnetically clamps to the iPhone .
It ’s underpowered compare to cheaper non - Apple alternatives , but it ’s smarter and works seamlessly with iOS info widgets .
