TheiPhone 16and16 Promay not be colossal advancements, but they do offer a few meaningful upgrades, like A18 processors, more RAM, and Camera Control buttons. Some smaller enhancements may have flown under your radar – after all, the average person probably isn’t concerned about things like a “cinematic” audio mix, 4K 120fps recording, or shooting Spatial Video for a$3,500 AR headset.
They are, however, concerned about MagSafe, because a lot of people depend on wireless charging – plus, some of us have invested a lot in accessories. So what’s new with MagSafe in the iPhone 16 lineup?
Why I’m buying the iPhone 16 over the Pixel 9
Apple knows how to discourage switchers.
Apple iPhone 16
Faster charging is here at last
With some caveats
With the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, MagSafe is finally moving on from a 15W charging limit to 25W. It’s roughly comparable with the phones' wired charging speeds, so you may no longer need to hunt around for a USB-C cable when you need more juice quickly.
There are some catches, though, beginning with the fact that existing MagSafe accessories are still capped at 15W. You’ll have to replace them to charge any faster, and it’s going to take a while for third-party options to arrive en masse. In the meantime, Apple is hoping you’ll buy its$39 charging puck– which doesn’t even come with a wall adapter.
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Speaking of which, you may need a new wall adapter regardless of which accessories you’re using. 25W speeds are only achievable with bricks rated for 30W or more, whereas a 20W unit used to be enough.
Lastly, while the iPhone 16 series isQi2-compatible, chargers that aren’t certified for both that and MagSafe are stuck at 15W.
How does the iPhone 16’s wireless charging compare?
Speed carries risks
Favorably, for the most part. Samsung’sGalaxy S24series is rated for 15W, and the best you’re able to do with a current-gen Google phone is 23W on thePixel 9 Pro XL– even then you need a second-generation Pixel Stand. The iPhone 16 only starts to look inferior next to Chinese phones like theHonor Magic 6 Pro, which can do a whopping 66W. That’s enough for a 0 to 100% recharge in 40 minutes. Even theOnePlus 12supports 50W via a custom charger.
Wireless charging is inherently less efficient than USB-C, and that wasted energy is emitted as heat.
Why would some of the world’s largest tech corporations be lagging behind? It’s probably a question of safety and prolonging battery life. Wireless charging is inherently less efficient than USB-C, and that wasted energy is emitted as heat. The more watts you pump through, the more heat there is, which can affect the longevity of a battery and a phone in general. That’s why some wireless chargers include their own fans – even 15W can produce noticeable heat if you leave a device juicing long enough.
Companies like Apple are presumably unwilling to push wireless tech too far for fear of lawsuits, recalls, and bad publicity. Indeed, as recently as June 2024, 132,000 Baseus power banks had to berecalledbecause of overheating risks – Apple would probably lose billions of dollars if it had to recall millions of iPhones, not to mention it would scare off shoppers.
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