You know how they say you need to learn to walk before you can learn to run? Somehow Apple’s 2015 ‘Camel Hump’ Smart Battery Case for the iPhone makes complete sense to me now. Back in 2015, it was the ‘butt’ of many a joke, as people called it all sorts of things (even comparing it to Kim Kardashian’s internet-breaking 2014 Vogue magazine cover), now it feels like it was paving the way for something greater… the MagSafe Battery Pack!
Simply put, the MagSafe Battery Pack is a neat, wireless power-bank that snaps right onto your iPhone 12-series smartphone, relying on the MagSafe feature to hold it in place while it replenishes your battery. It’s a slick, white, pocket-friendly accessory that works without needing cables or even needing to be switched on. It’s perhaps the most elegant way to charge your iPhone while on the go, and given that it comes from Apple, it just ties well into the company’s ecosystem of products.
The MagSafe Battery pack comes in white with a subtle gray Apple logo on it (since it blocks the logo on your iPhone when it snaps on). It comes with a 1460 mAh battery on the inside (that can juice your iPhone up to 50%) and supplies power to your iPhone at a less-than-impressive 5W. The battery pack itself charges via a lightning port at its base and supports pass-through charging too, so you can simultaneously charge the wireless battery pack as well as your iPhone. Apple’s software cleverly manages the power delivery to both the devices, and when plugged in, bumps up the power supply to 15W-20W (depending on your charger), resulting in a faster charge. Given that it’s ultimately an Apple accessory, you can see your MagSafe Battery Pack’s overall battery level on your iPhone too (just like with other Apple products like the AirPods and Watch).
The product doesn’t come cheap, though. Apple’s priced it at $99 which seems like a lot for a 1460 mAh wireless battery pack… especially considering that third-party companies like Anker and Mophie are selling MagSafe wireless chargers with 5000 mAh batteries (that’s enough to charge your iPhone twice) for half the price. For that extra ‘Apple Tax’, it sure better come with some great features, like built-in ‘Find My’ tracking!
Designer: Apple
