6 ms·

My favorite part of my touchbar MBP is that it uses USB-C charging. MagSafe is neat, but I don't miss the $80 proprietary charger with a cable that's fixed to t

My favorite part of my touchbar MBP is that it uses USB-C charging. MagSafe is neat, but I don't miss the $80 proprietary charger with a cable that's fixed to the brick and will probably fail if you do anything other than leave it sitting at a desk. Could this be talking about an iPhone 12 style magsafe with a large pad? Not sure how that would work, you'd have to set your computer on top of it to have enough contact area. Couldn't go on the back of the screen (too thick), so I'm not sure where else it would be. And can it do a high enough wattage? A thin connection like the pencil charging along the side of the computer perhaps, but I'm even more skeptical of wattage with that approach, and it'd mean yet another special cable. It's certainly true that Apple has been on a big magnets kick lately. MagSafe for iPhones, Pencil charging on the iPad, the Magic Keyboard mounting, and the Apple Watch charger all come to mind.

BugsJustFindMe 6y ago
> MagSafe is neat, but I don't miss the $80 proprietary charger with a cable that's fixed to the brick No law of physics requires a cable with a magnet on one end to not be detachable from the brick on the other end. So while I too do not lament that the cable is no longer affixed to the bricks, I would like Apple to make a magsafe cable that is just not attached that is also not shitty (all those third party USBC attachments have terrible weak magnets that can't even hold themselves in place and I believe can cause power delivery problems).
- kube-system 6y ago
  Physics might not, but the tech spec might.
- wlesieutre 6y ago
  The other important aspect of USB-C versus MagSafe is that I have USB-C cables hooked up on charges all around my apartment. There's a multi-port charger at my desk, one in the living room, and another in my bedroom. Laptop uses the same charging cable from these as my iPad does. Sometimes I hook another charger up in my kitchen if I'm using my iPad for recipes and want to charge it while I cook. There's another a USB-C charger that lives in my bag, along with a USB-C cable which can also charge my iPad and a power bank. Even if they make this a new cable with USB-C on one end and NewMagSafe on the other, it'd mean buying a whole bunch of new cables if I wanted to actually use it. And I'd need to buy a whole bunch of chargers too, because the ones I have are mainly a single USB-C port and a couple USB-A ports. If they want to make yet another proprietary charging cable, fine. I don't really care as long as USB-C charging is still supported.
  - roywashere 6y ago
    But the new MacBook would still have USB-C for peripherals right? So it could be, if those still would support USB-PD, that the new MacBook can be charged over magsafe or, if you happen to be near USB-C, using your 'legacy' USB-C charger for 'backwards compatibility'. That would be pretty sweet!!
    - wlesieutre 6y ago
      One can hope
- ravenstine 6y ago
  Interesting you say that because I've been using a 3rd party USB-C to Magsafe connector to charge my Macbook and it works great. The magnet is even stronger than the OEM ones. Never had a problem with it.
  - duluca 6y ago
    Can you share the link for the cable? Would love to check it out.
    - ravenstine 6y ago
      This is the exact one I bought: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F7BHZLK https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F7BHZLK I got it half expecting it to be a piece of crap, but I've been really happy with it so far. Mind you, the power source still needs to have a certain output to charge your Macbook, but it's allowed me to use the same USB-C charger that comes with newer Macbooks with my 2015 Macbook. EDIT: I hope that was what you were picturing. I suppose someone reading my comment could have interpreted it as a magsafe-to-usb-c connector.
      - BugsJustFindMe 6y ago
        I was talking about the things that add magsafe charging while still allowing data transfer for current usbc macs. I'm simultaneously sad and happy to not be proved wrong. :(
        panda88888 6y ago
        This is what I use with my Intel 16” MBP and M1 Air. Magnetic Thunderbolt3 USB C Adapter 24Pins USB-C Connector, Support PD 100W Quick Charge, 40Gbp/s Data Transfer and 6K@60Hz 4K@60Hz Video Output Compatible for MacBook Pro/Air and More Type C Devices https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0896QK2J5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_-pPaGbENP6KK1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0896QK2J5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_...
- cronix 6y ago
  > I would like Apple to make a magsafe cable that is just not attached that is also not shitty Bonus points if they make them in a flavor/odor that cats hate. Apple chargers are the only gear my cat has ever chewed on, and I'm not alone in that. I've had to replace 3 cords now. https://www.google.com/search?q=apple+charger+cat+chew https://www.google.com/search?q=apple+charger+cat+chew
  - dkarl 6y ago
    Weird. When my puppy was teething last year, he chewed the ends off a bunch of Apple USB-C and Lightning cables, but didn't touch any other cables (including our non-Apple USB-C and Lightning cables, of which we have plenty.)
  - yborg 6y ago
    Wonder if it's something like this: https://www.prestigeimports.net/are-rodents-chewing-the-wiring-in-your-porsche-or-audi/ https://www.prestigeimports.net/are-rodents-chewing-the-wiri...
ardy42 6y ago
> My favorite part of my touchbar MBP is that it uses USB-C charging. MagSafe is neat, but I don't miss the $80 proprietary charger with a cable that's fixed to the brick and will probably fail if you do anything other than leave it sitting at a desk. Magsafe is more than neat, it pretty much solved the major annoyance with laptop power cables (e.g. someone trips on cable, and laptop gets jerked around, eventually damaging something). Apple likes to toot its own horn way to much, but they deserve tons of credit for Magsafe.
- dtwest 6y ago
  I love the design of the MagSafe chargers, you point out a great advantage of them, but sadly they aren't durable. And like the parent comment said, they are expensive. I'm on my second for my current laptop and it's frayed on the end so I'm soon to be on my third. Hopefully a next iteration of MagSafe takes this issue more seriously.
  - massysett 6y ago
    Shore it up by wrapping electrical tape around it. To be stylish, find some white electrical tape.
    - ghaff 6y ago
      That works for a while so long as it's not fraying near the Magsafe connector itself. I eventually threw out my older charger because there was more electrical tape than original coating. My current one started deteriorating right at the connector so it's patched up with epoxy paste to provide strain relief. I tend to agree that Apple isn't going to retreat on USB-C. That just doesn't make a lot of sense. And whatever minor virtues Magsafe may have, I'm happy when traveling not to have to remember a one-off charger for a laptop. (Which I have forgotten a couple of times.)
      - RedShift1 6y ago
        I just bought my first macbook, a 2015 model. Looking at the charger, the connection with the magsafe connector looks ok (but definitely weaker than regular barrel jacks), but it seems to me that people get the tendency to unplug it by pulling the cable instead of pulling on the connector. Perhaps that's why they deteriorate rapidly?
908B64B197 6y ago
> I don't miss the $80 proprietary charger with a cable that's fixed to the brick and will probably fail if you do anything other than leave it sitting at a desk. The Surface charger is a version of MagSafe that's pretty much immune to that.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
aesthetics1 6y ago
I have always believed that the MagSafe connector should be on the brick. A short, regular USB type C cable to the power brick and a MagSafe connector between the brick and the wall. Bonus points if the brick incorporates a small hub with additional ports. This would allow you to choose between using a regular USB type C power cable or the proprietary brick with MagSafe built in.
tfsh 6y ago
+1 I really like the interoperability of the USB-C charging on my 2019 Mac. With the same charger I can charge my phone, laptop, headphones and bluetooth speaker. Having to carry only one cable (and one brick) around is great.
shahar2k 6y ago
I've been using these -https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N1CB4B1/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N1CB4B1/ basically anything I own with a lightning or usb micro port gets a magnetic plug (and any usb c device that I dont charge once a day) and becomes an instant magsafe device.
rock_artist 6y ago
I’m with you about USB-C. I really like my MagSafe but many of them worn off (just like Apple Lightning cables). What I really love in USB-C is that it’s a standard! Brave Apple switched everything to this type of connector. I actually get that. but if you’ve sticked to it for 6 years. keep it.
new_realist 6y ago
Likely Apple will still support USB-C charging even after adding back MagSafe.

BugsJustFindMe 6y ago

> MagSafe is neat, but I don't miss the $80 proprietary charger with a cable that's fixed to the brick No law of physics requires a cable with a magnet on one end to not be detachable from the brick on the other end. So while I too do not lament that the cable is no longer affixed to the bricks, I would like Apple to make a magsafe cable that is just not attached that is also not shitty (all those third party USBC attachments have terrible weak magnets that can't even hold themselves in place and I believe can cause power delivery problems).

kube-system 6y ago
Physics might not, but the tech spec might.
wlesieutre 6y ago
The other important aspect of USB-C versus MagSafe is that I have USB-C cables hooked up on charges all around my apartment. There's a multi-port charger at my desk, one in the living room, and another in my bedroom. Laptop uses the same charging cable from these as my iPad does. Sometimes I hook another charger up in my kitchen if I'm using my iPad for recipes and want to charge it while I cook. There's another a USB-C charger that lives in my bag, along with a USB-C cable which can also charge my iPad and a power bank. Even if they make this a new cable with USB-C on one end and NewMagSafe on the other, it'd mean buying a whole bunch of new cables if I wanted to actually use it. And I'd need to buy a whole bunch of chargers too, because the ones I have are mainly a single USB-C port and a couple USB-A ports. If they want to make yet another proprietary charging cable, fine. I don't really care as long as USB-C charging is still supported.
- roywashere 6y ago
  But the new MacBook would still have USB-C for peripherals right? So it could be, if those still would support USB-PD, that the new MacBook can be charged over magsafe or, if you happen to be near USB-C, using your 'legacy' USB-C charger for 'backwards compatibility'. That would be pretty sweet!!
  - wlesieutre 6y ago
    One can hope
ravenstine 6y ago
Interesting you say that because I've been using a 3rd party USB-C to Magsafe connector to charge my Macbook and it works great. The magnet is even stronger than the OEM ones. Never had a problem with it.
- duluca 6y ago
  Can you share the link for the cable? Would love to check it out.
  - ravenstine 6y ago
    This is the exact one I bought: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F7BHZLK https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F7BHZLK I got it half expecting it to be a piece of crap, but I've been really happy with it so far. Mind you, the power source still needs to have a certain output to charge your Macbook, but it's allowed me to use the same USB-C charger that comes with newer Macbooks with my 2015 Macbook. EDIT: I hope that was what you were picturing. I suppose someone reading my comment could have interpreted it as a magsafe-to-usb-c connector.
    - BugsJustFindMe 6y ago
      I was talking about the things that add magsafe charging while still allowing data transfer for current usbc macs. I'm simultaneously sad and happy to not be proved wrong. :(
      - panda88888 6y ago
        This is what I use with my Intel 16” MBP and M1 Air. Magnetic Thunderbolt3 USB C Adapter 24Pins USB-C Connector, Support PD 100W Quick Charge, 40Gbp/s Data Transfer and 6K@60Hz 4K@60Hz Video Output Compatible for MacBook Pro/Air and More Type C Devices https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0896QK2J5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_-pPaGbENP6KK1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0896QK2J5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_...
cronix 6y ago
> I would like Apple to make a magsafe cable that is just not attached that is also not shitty Bonus points if they make them in a flavor/odor that cats hate. Apple chargers are the only gear my cat has ever chewed on, and I'm not alone in that. I've had to replace 3 cords now. https://www.google.com/search?q=apple+charger+cat+chew https://www.google.com/search?q=apple+charger+cat+chew
- dkarl 6y ago
  Weird. When my puppy was teething last year, he chewed the ends off a bunch of Apple USB-C and Lightning cables, but didn't touch any other cables (including our non-Apple USB-C and Lightning cables, of which we have plenty.)
- yborg 6y ago
  Wonder if it's something like this: https://www.prestigeimports.net/are-rodents-chewing-the-wiring-in-your-porsche-or-audi/ https://www.prestigeimports.net/are-rodents-chewing-the-wiri...

ardy42 6y ago

> My favorite part of my touchbar MBP is that it uses USB-C charging. MagSafe is neat, but I don't miss the $80 proprietary charger with a cable that's fixed to the brick and will probably fail if you do anything other than leave it sitting at a desk. Magsafe is more than neat, it pretty much solved the major annoyance with laptop power cables (e.g. someone trips on cable, and laptop gets jerked around, eventually damaging something). Apple likes to toot its own horn way to much, but they deserve tons of credit for Magsafe.

dtwest 6y ago
I love the design of the MagSafe chargers, you point out a great advantage of them, but sadly they aren't durable. And like the parent comment said, they are expensive. I'm on my second for my current laptop and it's frayed on the end so I'm soon to be on my third. Hopefully a next iteration of MagSafe takes this issue more seriously.
- massysett 6y ago
  Shore it up by wrapping electrical tape around it. To be stylish, find some white electrical tape.
  - ghaff 6y ago
    That works for a while so long as it's not fraying near the Magsafe connector itself. I eventually threw out my older charger because there was more electrical tape than original coating. My current one started deteriorating right at the connector so it's patched up with epoxy paste to provide strain relief. I tend to agree that Apple isn't going to retreat on USB-C. That just doesn't make a lot of sense. And whatever minor virtues Magsafe may have, I'm happy when traveling not to have to remember a one-off charger for a laptop. (Which I have forgotten a couple of times.)
    - RedShift1 6y ago
      I just bought my first macbook, a 2015 model. Looking at the charger, the connection with the magsafe connector looks ok (but definitely weaker than regular barrel jacks), but it seems to me that people get the tendency to unplug it by pulling the cable instead of pulling on the connector. Perhaps that's why they deteriorate rapidly?

908B64B197 6y ago

> I don't miss the $80 proprietary charger with a cable that's fixed to the brick and will probably fail if you do anything other than leave it sitting at a desk. The Surface charger is a version of MagSafe that's pretty much immune to that.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

aesthetics1 6y ago

I have always believed that the MagSafe connector should be on the brick. A short, regular USB type C cable to the power brick and a MagSafe connector between the brick and the wall. Bonus points if the brick incorporates a small hub with additional ports. This would allow you to choose between using a regular USB type C power cable or the proprietary brick with MagSafe built in.

tfsh 6y ago

+1 I really like the interoperability of the USB-C charging on my 2019 Mac. With the same charger I can charge my phone, laptop, headphones and bluetooth speaker. Having to carry only one cable (and one brick) around is great.

shahar2k 6y ago

I've been using these -https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N1CB4B1/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N1CB4B1/ basically anything I own with a lightning or usb micro port gets a magnetic plug (and any usb c device that I dont charge once a day) and becomes an instant magsafe device.

rock_artist 6y ago

I’m with you about USB-C. I really like my MagSafe but many of them worn off (just like Apple Lightning cables). What I really love in USB-C is that it’s a standard! Brave Apple switched everything to this type of connector. I actually get that. but if you’ve sticked to it for 6 years. keep it.

new_realist 6y ago

Likely Apple will still support USB-C charging even after adding back MagSafe.