4 ms·

It’s embarrassing how frequently they’ll yank out an important part and sell it as an add-on.

mbirth 1y ago
Yes, and then don’t even make it compatible with other phones. I’m a big fan of their previous (discontinued) MagSafe battery as that supports reverse charging, charge state display on phone and has the perfect size. This new battery however is only compatible with the Air as other phones have a bigger camera bump.
- badc0ffee 1y ago
  Excuse me, that hump is the Iconic Plateau.
  - numpad0 1y ago
    Signifying flatlining iPhone?
- justinator 1y ago
  why wouldn't it be compatible with other phones?
  - mbirth 1y ago
    See this photo: https://store.storeimages.cdn-apple.com/1/as-images.apple.com/is/MGPG4_AV2?wid=1144&hei=1144&fmt=jpeg&qlt=90&.v=Y0p5KzBmSlV2enJ0MFZpdW9CUlhlVlZya2lKWlJmUEwrYndWOTJiVWJWQUYwVmtIbGRkS25RMVpBRlo0bk5DUXAvZmIyYWJNNGo4aFd6czRKNXFqMEE https://store.storeimages.cdn-apple.com/1/as-images.apple.co... The camera bump on other models protrudes more towards the centre of the body. And thus the battery wouldn't fit (flush) and the Qi charging wouldn't engage properly.
    - justinator 1y ago
      So running the battery perpendicular to this photo isn't an option? I'm sorry if I'm not completely familiar with this product: you are to have this battery attached at all times while you're charging, and it just stays in place? (gawd I sound like I'm from a different planet, I apologize -- wireless charging just never has been interesting to me)
      - altairprime 1y ago
        Yes, the power icon on the back of the phone cases is a set of magnets designed to ensure rotation and x,y center magnetic lock.
- crazygringo 1y ago
  Different phones have different sizes and shapes. Not sure what you expect, for a product designed to match the phone's size exactly? And batteries don't last forever. When you upgrade to a new phone after a few years you'd likely need a new one anyways. Worst case scenario just sell the old one on eBay if it's still holding a good charge!
  - mbirth 1y ago
    The previous MagSafe battery has the size of the MagSafe wallet and thus fits onto all the iPhones that have MagSafe down to the "Mini" variants. It's the perfect emergency power backup. But Apple discontinued this a while ago. Selling a thin phone with half a battery where you have to buy the other half and keep it attached to get a proper battery runtime (turning it into a normal-sized phone) can't be the solution Apple intended. At least I hope so. And that battery doesn't fit other iPhones as the camera bump of those other phones is in the way.
    - hombre_fatal 1y ago
      Well, swappable batteries has the UX advantage of being able to swap in full charges. I don't really understand all the complaining since it's merely a variant of the iPhone for people who prioritize thinness over battery. For over a decade, HNers have complained that they don't want thinness to be forced on them and that there should be a separate SKU for it. Yet when it finally happens, HNers complain about the trade-off.
      - bee_rider 1y ago
        If the outcome is that non-air iPhones are allowed to get a little thicker now, that’d be super cool.
      - mathgeek 1y ago
        Consider that the folks complaining about one thing can be different groups from the ones complaining about another.
- jq-r 1y ago
  And how much better would be if it had a physical connector so it's much more efficient. So you would have a bigger total charge and it wouldn't cook both batteries in the process. One can dream though.
  - nehal3m 1y ago
    Or one can buy. This works very well for me (as a stand and a battery pack): https://freshnrebel.com/magnetic-wireless-powerbank-5000-mah/2pbm5000sg/ https://freshnrebel.com/magnetic-wireless-powerbank-5000-mah... It does the MagSafe thing, but will also offer a charge through the USB-C port.
bigiain 1y ago
I, for one, am looking forward to being forced to purchase the add-on MagSafe headphone adaptor. (And the MagSafe floppy drive.)
- dotancohen 1y ago
  I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
- xgkickt 1y ago
  I’ll wait for the MagSafe MiniDisc.
deleted 1y ago
[deleted]
wilg 1y ago
What on earth are you talking about? It includes a battery and there is both a cheaper and a more expensive version that has more battery, plus an add on battery pack. And you’re complaining about what exactly?
brookst 1y ago
Some people: I don’t want to carry extra battery all the time for the one day a month I need it. Other people: how dare you
Nevermark 1y ago
You could get an iPhone Max as your iPhone Air backup. Or maybe just get the iPhone Max...? Seems like Apple is way ahead of you.

Yes, and then don’t even make it compatible with other phones. I’m a big fan of their previous (discontinued) MagSafe battery as that supports reverse charging, charge state display on phone and has the perfect size. This new battery however is only compatible with the Air as other phones have a bigger camera bump.

badc0ffee 1y ago
Excuse me, that hump is the Iconic Plateau.
- numpad0 1y ago
  Signifying flatlining iPhone?
justinator 1y ago
why wouldn't it be compatible with other phones?
- mbirth 1y ago
  See this photo: https://store.storeimages.cdn-apple.com/1/as-images.apple.com/is/MGPG4_AV2?wid=1144&hei=1144&fmt=jpeg&qlt=90&.v=Y0p5KzBmSlV2enJ0MFZpdW9CUlhlVlZya2lKWlJmUEwrYndWOTJiVWJWQUYwVmtIbGRkS25RMVpBRlo0bk5DUXAvZmIyYWJNNGo4aFd6czRKNXFqMEE https://store.storeimages.cdn-apple.com/1/as-images.apple.co... The camera bump on other models protrudes more towards the centre of the body. And thus the battery wouldn't fit (flush) and the Qi charging wouldn't engage properly.
  - justinator 1y ago
    So running the battery perpendicular to this photo isn't an option? I'm sorry if I'm not completely familiar with this product: you are to have this battery attached at all times while you're charging, and it just stays in place? (gawd I sound like I'm from a different planet, I apologize -- wireless charging just never has been interesting to me)
    - altairprime 1y ago
      Yes, the power icon on the back of the phone cases is a set of magnets designed to ensure rotation and x,y center magnetic lock.
crazygringo 1y ago
Different phones have different sizes and shapes. Not sure what you expect, for a product designed to match the phone's size exactly? And batteries don't last forever. When you upgrade to a new phone after a few years you'd likely need a new one anyways. Worst case scenario just sell the old one on eBay if it's still holding a good charge!
- mbirth 1y ago
  The previous MagSafe battery has the size of the MagSafe wallet and thus fits onto all the iPhones that have MagSafe down to the "Mini" variants. It's the perfect emergency power backup. But Apple discontinued this a while ago. Selling a thin phone with half a battery where you have to buy the other half and keep it attached to get a proper battery runtime (turning it into a normal-sized phone) can't be the solution Apple intended. At least I hope so. And that battery doesn't fit other iPhones as the camera bump of those other phones is in the way.
  - hombre_fatal 1y ago
    Well, swappable batteries has the UX advantage of being able to swap in full charges. I don't really understand all the complaining since it's merely a variant of the iPhone for people who prioritize thinness over battery. For over a decade, HNers have complained that they don't want thinness to be forced on them and that there should be a separate SKU for it. Yet when it finally happens, HNers complain about the trade-off.
    - bee_rider 1y ago
      If the outcome is that non-air iPhones are allowed to get a little thicker now, that’d be super cool.
    - mathgeek 1y ago
      Consider that the folks complaining about one thing can be different groups from the ones complaining about another.
jq-r 1y ago
And how much better would be if it had a physical connector so it's much more efficient. So you would have a bigger total charge and it wouldn't cook both batteries in the process. One can dream though.
- nehal3m 1y ago
  Or one can buy. This works very well for me (as a stand and a battery pack): https://freshnrebel.com/magnetic-wireless-powerbank-5000-mah/2pbm5000sg/ https://freshnrebel.com/magnetic-wireless-powerbank-5000-mah... It does the MagSafe thing, but will also offer a charge through the USB-C port.

bigiain 1y ago

I, for one, am looking forward to being forced to purchase the add-on MagSafe headphone adaptor. (And the MagSafe floppy drive.)

dotancohen 1y ago
I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
xgkickt 1y ago
I’ll wait for the MagSafe MiniDisc.

deleted 1y ago

[deleted]

wilg 1y ago

What on earth are you talking about? It includes a battery and there is both a cheaper and a more expensive version that has more battery, plus an add on battery pack. And you’re complaining about what exactly?

brookst 1y ago

Some people: I don’t want to carry extra battery all the time for the one day a month I need it. Other people: how dare you

Nevermark 1y ago

You could get an iPhone Max as your iPhone Air backup. Or maybe just get the iPhone Max...? Seems like Apple is way ahead of you.