MagSafe Battery Packs vs Traditional Power Banks: Which One is Right for You?
Nowadays, power banks are practically everyone’s go-to travel companions. Even though our phones have evolved to be extensions of ourselves and have become increasingly intelligent, their battery life is still a major drawback for most smartphones. Nevertheless, we are fortunate to have power banks and MagSafe battery packs to ensure that we have a problem-free day.
As new ideas are dawning on the technological space, we begin to see competition as well as variations in products. However, we all know that the Apple line has always stood out and will continue to. For this reason, some people are curious to know whether or not the MagSafe battery pack is better than the traditional power banks. If you’re still in the dark, count yourself fortunate because this article will illuminate your path in making the right choices between Magsafe Battery Packs and traditional power banks.
Power banks have been a chief in the game until the advent of MagSage technology brought about more advanced devices like the MagSafe Battery Packs which have undoubtedly boosted users’ confidence over time. At first, when the MagSafe Battery Pack was launched, the controversies and worries surrounding its use, durability, and effectiveness were pretty much exaggerated. Power banks and MagSafe battery packs all have drawbacks just like everything else. Even though these drawbacks won’t stop you from purchasing one, you still need to be aware of its restrictions and the type that is most suitable for you.
Now, Let’s See Some Of The Key Differences…
Easy to Carry, Use Attach to Your Phone
When we look at things just the way they are, it is obvious that the MagSafe battery packs are easier to carry, use and also attach to your phone. If you look at the traditional power banks, they do not have any magnetic technology that would allow them easily get affixed to your smartphone. In some cases, you either look for a safe place to keep both your phone and power bank or you suffer the stress of holding both in your hands. However, with the Magsafe battery pack, you can seamlessly hold your phone and battery pack together as though they are one. You do not have to worry about fall-offs because the MagSafe technology ensures your Phone and battery pack’s safety.
Wireless Effortless Charging
The only way to use the traditional power bank (which is true for virtually all types of traditional power banks) is to connect it to your phone with the aid of a USB cord. Apart from the stress of going about with your cord, you also have to deal with its maintenance. This is because cords get spoilt easily when they’re not properly kept. But the MagSafe battery pack offers you heart-warming wireless charging. Just attach your battery pack to your phone and you’re good to go. No worries about cords.
In addition to the above, the MagSafe Battery Pack has Smart Battery Cover which guarantees additional protection. It also allows you to charge with the least amount of user involvement possible while making use of the MagSafe accessory technology present in iPhone 12 and later.
Efficiency/Effectiveness
We all know that the greater the capacity (mAh) of your power bank, the long-lasting it would be. As a result, when buying traditional power banks, people look for Power banks with the highest possible capacity that they can afford to purchase. In other words, if you have a phone with 4000mAh, a 10000mAh power bank would charge your phone twice over. Although third-party battery packs could still be attached via magnets, MagSafe battery packs are still the ideal choice because they trade size for power and efficiency.
Take for instance, the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a 4,323mAh battery, however, due to the low efficiency of Qi charging, it could only be charged to roughly 50% with a 5,000mAh battery. On the other hand, a 1,460mAh MagSafe Battery Pack could charge an iPhone 14 Pro Max to around 40% of its capacity. The reason why these figures might not even seem to make much sense is that a vital quantity ( which is voltage) is lacking. To make up for the iPhone’s lower 3.81V, the MagSafe Battery Pack’s 7.62V rating converts to an effective 2,920mAh. Given this figure and the great charging efficiency of MagSafe, it is understandable how the MagSafe Battery Pack can effectively supply 1,729mAh to the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
So, Which One is Right for You?
Apart from the difference in cost price (which is reasonably fair) between traditional chargers and MagSafe battery packs, I would definitely opt-in for a MagSafe Battery Pack with those sizes and charging capabilities. Upon start-up, a launch animation for the MagSafe Battery Pack displays how much battery is still inside. If a 20W external power supply is connected, it can also function as a 15W MagSafe charger and it nonetheless provides a large capacity with magnetic attachment in the smallest available form. Apple’s power pack is so compact that it easily fits in any or backpack. Apple even added to the MagSafe Battery Pack’s utility with a mid-life update. Apple upgraded the battery pack’s charging rate in April 2022 from 5W to 7.5W. Depending on the model, settings, use, and environmental factors of your iPhone, the MagSafe Battery Pack offers an extra charge that you won’t find with traditional power banks. If you’re unsure about what to buy, check out the wireless power bank below.
HaloLock 10,000mAh Kickstand Wireless Power Bank (59.99)
Conclusion
Without a large battery, you can now keep your iPhones charged in a compact style while moving around. Also, because it is MagSafe, it is compatible with every iPhone as long as it is an iPhone 12 or later and had a MagSafe cover. Other battery packs can accomplish the same thing, but some of those first models, which were introduced in the summer of 2020, are so large that they would not work with the iPhone 14 Pro’s enormous camera bump.
Considering everything, the MagSafe Battery Pack is undoubtedly a great investment and we’re eager to see what Apple will do next in this area.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack hands-on: What do you get for 99?
The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack packs some perks of the Apple ecosystem, but it sure is pricey.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Doesn’t get noticeably warm
- Thinner than competitor
- Compatible with iOS 14 Batteries widgets
Cons
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Apple has replaced its iPhone charging cases with the new Apple MagSafe Battery Pack. It’s a.sized power brick that snaps onto any iPhone 12 model, and is basically meant to make sure your iPhone stays charged even through a long day.
But at 99 the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack is far from cheap. That’s more than twice as much as Anker’s competitor, which also has a higher capacity. This hands-on Apple MagSafe Battery Pack review will explain what you get in exchange for that difference, and my initial impressions of the pack.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack: Price and release date
The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack costs 99 and is available on Apple.com and Amazon. That’s a pretty mountain of pennies, especially when compared to the higher-capacity Anker Magnetic 5K pack costs 45.
Apple announced the MagSafe Battery Pack on July 13, 2021, and the release date was July 19.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack: Compatibility
The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack snaps right onto the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. For my testing, I’ve used it with my iPhone 12 Pro Max.
The MagSafe Battery Pack can also charge the Qi-enabled Airpods Pro and Airpods via their cases.
This means it’s primarily for those with the latest iPhone, and those who will buy upcoming iPhones, such as the iPhone 13 (which is expected to still have MagSafe).
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack: Design
The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack is made so simply that I can’t even feel annoyed with Apple for not including anything close to an instruction manual. It’s a thin, matte white rectangle with rounded corners on the outer side.
In my hand, the MagSafe Battery Pack feels a little bulky, but I’ve gotten used to it in the last 24 hours. importantly, it doesn’t warm up noticeably in my And compared to using my iPhone with a portable charger, it’s a lot more sleek and seamless.
On the inner side, the battery pack offers a soft-touch gray surface with a white ring to indicate the MagSafe connection. (You’re going to want to aim that for the Apple logo on your phone.) Finished with a gray Apple logo on the outer side, The MagSafe Battery Pack has achieved almost the platonic ideal of Apple’s minimalist aesthetic.
The MagSafe Battery Pack measures 3.7 x 2.5 x 0.4 inches and weighs 4 ounces, making it 33% thinner (and a tad lighter) than the Anker PowerCore Magnetic 5K (3.7 x 2.5 x 0.6 inches, 4.6 ounces).
Apple’s accessory features one Lightning port, which is the primary way to charge it. You can also charge the MagSafe Battery Pack from a Qi-based power charger.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack: How it works
As simple as it gets, the MagSafe Battery Pack snaps onto the back of an iPhone 12 (and, as I mentioned, all upcoming MagSafe iPhones), and just starts charging immediately. It’s delivering juice via a very slow 5W rate.
After snapping it on, you’ll then see your phone’s current battery charge amount on your screen, plus the percentage of remaining battery life in the MagSafe pack. The MagSafe pack’s charge amount will appear in the Batteries widget.
The magnetic connection of the MagSafe Battery Pack is acceptable when you’re using it snapped on the back of an iPhone 12. That said, when I was using it, I kept thinking it could be tighter, as it was a teeny bit looser than I’d like. I was excited to figure out that the strength of the magnetic connection increases when you’ve got a MagSafe phone case in between the iPhone and the battery pack.
When you connect a lightning cable to the battery pack and to a power source, you’ll get 15W charging, and you can get faster rates with a 20W power adapter.
This means, essentially, that you’re going to be keeping your iPhone afloat when it’s got a charge. This isn’t the kind of recharging speed for those trying to bring a dead iPhone back to 100% or close to that.
You can also refuel wirelessly-charging Airpods cases by placing them on the MagSafe Battery Pack’s magnetic side. It doesn’t snap on, but it works either way.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack: Battery Life
Herein lies the biggest potential flaw of the MagSafe Battery Pack. Apple doesn’t make any claims of how long it will extend the life of your iPhone 12. That may be because such data varies by model, but a range of battery life would have been nice.
Teardowns have revealed the MagSafe Battery Pack has a capacity of 1,460mAh. That’s less than 30% of the 5,000mAh Anker Magnetic 5K.
Based on how fast the MagSafe Battery Pack emptied, though, we’re guessing any claim might not have been that long. In the morning, I attached the two when both were charged, and by 4:30 p.m. I was at 16% on the MagSafe Battery Pack with the iPhone still at 89%. Normally, my iPhone would be much lower, probably in the 40-50% range.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack: Outlook
As I’ve noted in this hands-on Apple MagSafe Battery Pack review, Apple’s accessory comes with a lot less battery life than Anker’s competing brick, and it’s nearly twice as expensive. So, why would you buy this thing (which I did)?
Primarily, you’d buy the MagSafe Battery Pack because there’s a general assurance that Apple-made accessories may work better with the iPhone. You see that born out by the integration with the Batteries widget, and the home screen as well. It’s also got a thinner design, as well.
I look forward to reporting back once I’ve had more time with the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack, which I expect I’ll use all-day long on my upcoming trip to Las Vegas.
First impressions: Apple’s MagSafe battery pack isn’t perfect, but you’ll probably still want to get one
When Apple first unveiled the iPhone 12 and MagSafe back in October, it immediately hit me that the perfect use case was for battery packs. Finally, nine months later, an official Apple MagSafe battery pack is here. We’ve got our hands on one and have plenty of thoughts to share.
Design and finish
First and foremost, the battery pack isn’t silicone like Apple’s previous Smart battery cases. It’s a soft-touch plastic that feels unlike any other existing Apple product. In fact, it feels almost like the inside of the original 2006 white MacBook. The white soft-touch plastic is also an entirely different shade of white than Apple’s white silicone case. It’s much lighter and much more explicitly white. So if you were planning on using the MagSafe battery pack with a white MagSafe case, just know that they don’t quite match. It won’t look as seamless as the old white Smart battery cases.
The battery pack itself is thicker than the iPhone 12 inside of a MagSafe silicone case. It’s pretty chunky. It’s also fairly heavy and certainly adds a bunch of weight to your light iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 mini. It certainly will make the stainless steel pro models feel even heavier than they already do. But keep in mind that this battery pack is easily removable — that’s the main benefit of MagSafe. Unlike the old battery cases, you can keep a case on and remove the battery when you don’t want the extra weight.
On the other side of the battery pack, there’s a smooth silicone gray pad that prevents the back of your iPhone from getting scratched up. On the bottom of the battery pack, there’s a lightning connector that lets you charge the battery on its own or charge both your iPhone and the battery pack together. There’s also a small LED next to the connector like the one on the Airpods charging case that indicates the power status.
The MagSafe battery pack fits nicely on the back of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro Max sizes, but it can feel a bit awkward because of how thick it is. On the iPhone 12 mini, though, it feels more natural. This is because the MagSafe battery pack is just as wide as the iPhone 12 mini, so it feels flush with the case. One concern I have is that you can see the thin white edges sticking out from the front of the iPhone 12 mini. This is because the magnets let the pack shift around a bit.
Charging
The MagSafe battery pack snaps right onto the back of your iPhone 12 like the MagSafe wallet, although the magnets are significantly stronger. While charging both the battery pack and the iPhone together, you can feel the battery get warm. This shouldn’t be surprising given that the battery is using Qi charging coils.
When the battery is connected to an iPhone, you can connect a lightning charger directly to the battery, or you can plug it into the iPhone. As we’ve written about, when you plug your lightning connector into your iPhone, you can use it to wirelessly charge the battery pack in reverse.
Since the MagSafe battery pack is basically just a Qi charger with magnets, it can charge any other Qi-compatible device. For example, you can plop your Airpods or Airpods Pro on the MagSafe battery pack if you remove it from your iPhone. Technically you could also charge Android phones, older Qi-compatible iPhones, and other wireless earbuds with Qi charging cases. This is a really great bonus that comes with the battery being easily removable.
Software
The MagSafe battery pack integrates with iOS 14.7, so you’ll see its charge in the battery widget and on the Lock Screen. Unfortunately, iOS 15 beta 3 doesn’t include the necessary components to correctly show the battery pack’s status. Although you can see the charge with a different icon. Hopefully, we’ll get beta 4 soon. In the meantime, you can see what the MagSafe battery pack looks like in the battery widget below from an image on Apple’s website.
When charging your Airpods on the MagSafe battery pack, you’ll see their charge status in the battery widget as well. This is expected behavior, of course, since they already do that when on another Qi charger.
The MagSafe battery pack is far from perfect. It’s thick, and it’s heavy, but it provides necessary utility. This is an Apple product that absolutely tackles function first and form second. There are surely plenty of reasons behind Apple’s decisions with this accessory, particularly due to limitations and safety concerns that come with Qi technology. The battery itself weighs about a quarter of a pound, so it’s not particularly light. It’s 2.5″ x 3.75″ and just under half an inch thick.
Lots of folks were wondering if the MagSafe battery pack would work when you have a case on your iPhone. The answer is yes! At the moment, we’ve only been able to test the MagSafe battery pack with Apple’s first-party cases or approved third-party MagSafe cases. It likely won’t work well with cases that aren’t Apple-approved.
If you charge your iPhone using an iPad Air or iPad Pro, keep in mind that you cannot charge it when the MagSafe battery pack is connected. You can charge them separately, but not together.
If you were a fan of Apple’s most recent Smart battery cases and frequently used the built-in shutter button, you’ll be sad to know there isn’t one on the MagSafe battery pack. Instead, you’ll just have to use the volume buttons.
In terms of battery capacity, we expect that the MagSafe pack can recharge an iPhone 12 mini entirely while it can likely recharge the other three models enough to save you in a pinch. We’ll be back in a few days to let you know how the battery performs, but it’s too early to tell.
Conclusion
The MagSafe battery pack is available for pick up at Apple retail stores starting today for 99. You can also order one online and have it shipped to your home. The battery pack is available in one color, white. So you can’t pick one up to match your red or black MagSafe cases.
Are you picking up a MagSafe battery pack for your iPhone 12? Let us know in the Комментарии и мнения владельцев below!
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This Is the Best iPhone 12 MagSafe Battery
Apple added MagSafe charging to the iPhone 12 lineup last fall, and though the original MagSafe Apple used in its laptops was far more innovative, the iPhone version of magnetic charging has least one excellent use: letting you power up your smartphone on the go with a cord-free portable charger. But which one is right for your needs? Here are our picks.
We tested four MagSafe-compatible wireless batteries — also often referred to as portable chargers, or power banks — from four companies known for delivering reliable and safe iPhone accessories. Yes, you can probably find cheaper alternatives if you dig deep on Amazon, but is it really worth risking your 1,000 smartphone to save 15 on a MagSafe battery? Here are the four models we tested:
What Is MagSafe?
For those unfamiliar, MagSafe debuted on the iPhone 12 lineup in late 2020. Apple baked a ring of internal magnets encircling a Qi wireless charging coil on the back of each iPhone 12 model. The new feature is designed to serve two purposes: make it easier to properly align the charging coils between the phone and a compatible wireless charging pad so that the transfer of energy is as efficient as possible, and to make it easier to attach accessories to the back of the iPhone, or the iPhone to accessories like car mounts and desk chargers.
For 80, Apple will sell you a leather wallet that piggy-backs on your iPhone, but a portable charger that does the same is far more useful. We’ve already seen portable chargers upgraded with wireless Qi pads so you can charge your smartphone while away from your desk without a cord, but using those solutions while walking or riding the subway can be a challenge as you struggle to keep the charging coils aligned. With MagSafe, the alignment happens automatically, and the battery hangs off your iPhone so you can forget it’s there.
The MagSafe Battery With the Best Design
Whether or not you choose to put a case on your iPhone, you’re making a decision that reflects your tastes and aesthetics as much as it does your desire to protect your investment. So there’s no shame in picking a MagSafe battery based purely on how it looks.
Of the four batteries we tested, there are two options to consider, and choosing one will come down to your own personal tastes. All four offer pretty bland designs, but the size, shape, and finish of the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack and the Mophie Snap Juice Pack Mini make those two stand out.
If you’re all in on Apple (and are dismayed at the Apple logo on the back of your iPhone getting hidden while it charges) Apple’s very minimalist battery will probably appeal most to you, but its bright white finish will also stand out if you didn’t opt for the gold or silver iPhone 12 Pro colour options, or the brighter shades of the iPhone 12 and 12 Mini. The fabric-like finish of the Mophie Snap Juice Pack Mini looks quite nice, and will certainly blend in better if you opted for a blue or grey iPhone 12 Pro or the darker 12 and 12 Mini shades.
The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack was also the smallest of the four batteries we tested (Apple designed it to fit the smallest iPhone 12 model) with the Mophie Snap Juice Pack Mini having a slightly larger footprint but the same thickness. Both will fit all of the standard and supersized models of the iPhone 12, but while Mophie’s solution will function just fine with the iPhone 12 Mini, the battery will overhang off the bottom of the device by almost five millimetres, and it will need to be completely removed in order to use the Mini’s camera. So iPhone 12 Mini users may want to stick with Apple’s option.
Winner: Tie between the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack and the Mophie Snap Juice Pack Mini
The Fastest-Charging MagSafe Battery
On the scale of fastest to slowest charging solutions for your iPhone 12, topping it up wirelessly with a MagSafe battery falls somewhere near the bottom of the list, besting only those emergency hand-cranked chargers and connecting your device to the tiny solar cell you’ll find on a cheap calculator. You’re trading speed for convenience as a result of the inefficiency of wireless charging and battery makers not wanting to over-stress the life cycle of these accessories.
Using an Apple-certified MagSafe wireless charger plugged into a wall, you can recharge your iPhone 12 at speeds of up to 15W, but those speeds are cut down to just 7.5W with the Zens Magnetic Dual Powerbank and the Mophie Snap Juice Pack Mini, and just 5W with the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack and the Anker PowerCore Magnetic 5K. None of these options are speed demons, but given its price and capacity, Mophie’s solution comes out on top here.
Note: The wireless charging speeds of some of these batteries can be increased when plugged into a wall adaptor, even hitting as fast as 15W with Apple’s power bank, but that negates the portability benefits of using these types of accessories, so for this head-to-head we’re not taking that functionality into consideration.
Winner: Mophie Snap Juice Pack Mini
The MagSafe Battery With the Most Capacity
The Anker PowerCore Magnetic 5K and the Mophie Snap Juice Pack Mini both have enough capacity to recharge a completely dead iPhone 12 Mini back to full capacity, while Mophie’s solution claims to do the same with an iPhone 12 as well. (Anker promises only a 95% recharge with the iPhone 12.) The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack actually offers the least capacity of all four options, despite being the most expensive option, because Apple designed it to fit the smallest of the iPhone 12 models. As a result, when paired with the iPhone 12 Pro Max, it will only recharge its battery back to a capacity of around 55%.
But there are a lot of factors at play that affect the efficiency of wireless charging (including the environment and how you use your iPhone). As a general rule you should use these portable chargers more as a way to top off your iPhone so it lasts through the day rather than as a way to completely recharge a dead phone. If that’s what you’re after, companies like Zens also sell gigantic, 10,000 mAh MagSafe batteries that will completely recharge any of the iPhone 12 models, at the cost of adding considerable size and weight to your smartphone.
Winner: Mophie Snap Juice Pack Mini
The MagSafe Battery With the Best Functionality
All four of these MagSafe batteries are essentially just nondescript bricks, but there is some variation in how they work, including additional functionality. The Mophie, the Anker, and the Zens batteries all feature buttons that activate a multi-LED power metre so you know how much charge the battery has left, as well as activating or turning off the flow of power through the wireless coil. This can help save battery life when the charger isn’t actually attached to an iPhone, but it can also result in situations where you attach the battery, forget to turn it on, and then wonder why your phone suddenly dies.
The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack works differently. There’s no power button because the accessory automatically starts charging an iPhone 12 (or other Qi-compatible device) as soon as it’s attached. A single LED on the battery pack indicates its charge status, but on devices running iOS 14.7, a charging status report will also appear on the iPhone lock screen when the pack is attached (indicating both the phone and battery’s charge level). The iOS battery widget in the Today View or on the home screen will also report how much charge the accessory has left.
The integration between the iPhone 12 lineup and Apple’s MagSafe battery is completely seamless, which it makes it the easiest to use of the four options we tested, but it’s also the most expensive of the lot.
It’s a similar situation when it comes to recharging the battery packs themselves, with Apple doing its own thing. The Mophie, the Anker, and the Zens all feature a USB-C port on the bottom edge for recharging the power bank from an adaptor, while Apple’s battery pack charges uses a Lightning cable. It’s not ideal, but is something Apple users will already have on hand.
All of the MagSafe batteries we tested can be used to wirelessly charge other devices, too, like wireless earbud cases, and even other non-Apple smartphones. But while the Mophie, Anker, and Zens can also be used to charge other devices non-wirelessly using a USB-C cable connection, Apple’s solution can’t. It can, however, wirelessly draw power from an iPhone 12 and charge itself when the phone is connected to and charging from a Lightning cable, which is a faster solution for charging both together.
All four batteries secure themselves well to the back of an iPhone 12, but the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack definitely held on the strongest, with the Anker offering almost just as secure a magnetic connection.
Apple’s solution offers the best interoperability with the iPhone 12 lineup, which is not a surprise, but the Zens Magnetic Dual Powerbank offers additional functionality the other three do not. It actually offers wireless charging on both sides of the battery (only one is MagSafe-compatible). This means while it’s charging your iPhone, you can also plop your wireless earbuds on it and have them charge at the same time. The caveat is that it means your iPhone will have to be placed face down for the dual charging to work, the battery’s capacity will be split between two devices, and the feature makes the Zens the thickest of the four batteries we tested as a result of the dual Qi coils.
Zens has also added a kickstand to its Magnetic Dual Powerbank so you can prop your iPhone 12 up at an angle for better hands-free viewing while it’s charging. However when paired with an iPhone 12 Pro, we found the device would always end up slightly skewed because the MagSafe magnets didn’t hold quite strong enough to keep it level.
Although it was the most expensive of the four options, and we’re still looking forward to the day when Apple ditches the Lightning cable and port altogether, the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack offers the best features and functionality when used with any of the iPhone 12 models. The premium pricing is also further justified when you consider the MagSafe Battery Pack can also charge the iPhone 12, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max at up to 15W speeds when connected to a 20W power source, matching the functionality of Apple’s US39 (53) MagSafe Charger.
Winner: Apple MagSafe Battery Pack
The Best iPhone 12 MagSafe Battery
Although it’s the most expensive option we tested, with the least capacity, and a finish that doesn’t match a single colorway in the current iPhone lineup, we still feel the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack is worth the premium pricing. The only users who should consider a MagSafe portable charger are those with an iPhone 12 model that actually includes the MagSafe feature, and it probably comes as no surprise that of the four batteries we tested, Apple’s offering offers the best interoperability with Apple’s smartphones.
Being able to check the exact charge level of the MagSafe battery alongside the iPhone’s remaining charge within iOS is far more informative than a set of four LEDs that light up, but the fact that the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack starts charging your device automatically when it’s attached, instead of requiring you to remember to power up the battery first, is actually a big plus for its usability. Apple has also included some clever battery preservation features in the accessory, limiting charging to 90% capacity unless a user specifically asks it go past that. If you have a 20W power source, the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack offers even more value for the price because it will charge the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro models at speeds of up to 15W, so it can serve double-duty as a replacement for Apple’s MagSafe Charger. We just hope Apple offers it in other colours soon.
If you’d rather not spend another 140 on a device you’ve already spent well north of 1,000 on, that’s completely understandable. Of the three non-Apple offerings we tested, the Mophie Snap Juice Pack Mini is an excellent value at 70 with 7.5W charging speeds, a 5,000 mAh capacity, and an inoffensive design.
It offers the added flexibility of charging other non-wireless devices through a USB-C cable (Apple’s cannot). iPhone 12 Mini users may still want to stick with Apple as the Mophie’s larger footprint means it will actually partially cover the device’s camera while it’s magnetically attached.
It’s also important to keep in mind that these recommendations are specifically for iPhone 12 users looking for a portable charger that will stick to back of their smartphones. If you’re ok with a cord, you can get batteries that will charge an iPhone multiple times over for a lot less money than these options.