The new iPhone 16e includes a lot of modern features found in the flagship iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models, but also some shortcomings, including one that’s especially surprising: the newest iPhone doesn’t support Apple’s MagSafe technology.
Newest iPhone won’t support MagSafe accessories
Apple first introduced MagSafe to the iPhone back in 2020 with the iPhone 12 line. It’s been supported on every new iPhone model since then except 2022’s iPhone SE.
MagSafe on iPhone enabled secure, convenient wireless charging back before Qi charging actually got pretty good. But it also opened up a world of new accessory possibilities.
Apple over the years has offered MagSafe Wallets, various MagSafe iPhone cases, a MagSafe Battery, and there is a whole ecosystem of third-party MagSafe accessories too.
For example, I use a MagSafe TV mount with my Apple TV 4K to enable FaceTime via the iPhone’s Continuity Camera feature. And every time I drive, my iPhone sits attached to this MagSafe car mount—I’d hate to be without it.
For a feature that’s become so common in the iPhone accessory realm, its absence from the new iPhone 16e is a big surprise.
It’s worth noting that since the introduction of Qi2, which benefits from much of the technology Apple developed for MagSafe, wireless charging has become a lot better than it was before MagSafe.
I use an iPhone 16 Pro and don’t plan to buy the new iPhone 16e. If I did, though, wireless charging wouldn’t be my concern. It’s losing access to the many different MagSafe accessories, such as wallets and car mounts, that would be the biggest loss.
What do you think about Apple not supporting MagSafe on the iPhone 16e? Big deal, or not so much? Let us know in the comments.
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