iPhone 12 MagSafe Tech Charges Twice as Slow as Wired 20W USB-C Charger

MagSafe is one of the iPhone 12’s big new features, offering simple and convenient wireless charging. It’s a pity it’s also so slow.

Along with the brand-new iPhone 12 lineup, Apple also launched its MagSafe wireless charging technology which allows users to easily charge the devices with a new proprietary magnet system.

Unfortunately, according to a new video from the Wall Street Journal, Apple’s MagSafe charger charges over two-times slower than a wired 20W USB-C charger.

In the video, we see how the iPhone 12 charges to 50 percent full in 28 minutes using the 20W fast charger. Meanwhile, the MagSafe charger, which has a 15W output, took an entire hour.

Now, to be fair, the wired charging uses 20W versus the 15W of MagSafe, but we have to wonder if a difference in 5W really means an extra 30 minutes of charging time. That being said, if you’re the type that’s in a hurry, then wired charging is still probably a better choice. However, if you can appreciate the hassle-free nature of wireless charging, maybe investing in the MagSafe system might not be such a bad idea.

The review was also critical of the fact that the combined cost of the MagSafe charger and a 20W power adapter was $58 USD combined, and that the MagSafe charger’s cable is less than a yard in length.