New Apple patent shows wired MagSafe charger for iPhones, may replace Lightning port in future | HT Tech

New Apple patent shows wired MagSafe charger for iPhones, may replace Lightning port in future

According to the patent that was submitted to the USPTO or United States Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday, Apple is planning to work on a three-pinned MagSafe charger.

By: HT TECH
| Updated on: Mar 03 2021, 18:06 IST
iPhone Lightning Port.
iPhone Lightning Port. (Unsplash)
iPhone Lightning Port.
iPhone Lightning Port. (Unsplash)

Apple revived its MagSafe branding last year during the iPhone 12 launch event. The company, which first introduced MagSafe for MacBook devices years ago, introduced it for wireless charging on iPhones in 2020. However, it looks like the firm is planning to bring MagSafe charging in the wired form to future iPhones. This is shown in a new patent (via Patently Apple) where Apple has shown a new kind of connectivity port using a version of its magnetic MagSafe charger to charge an iPhone.

This might also mean that the company may be looking at ways to finally ditch the Lightning Port and replace it with a wired MagSafe charger.

According to the patent that was submitted to the USPTO or United States Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday, Apple is planning to work on a three-pinned MagSafe charger which is similar to what we have found in older MacBook computers. The company also talks about different pin designs in the patent that would connect the charger to the device. In one of the illustrations, it is shown with a more round design, while in the other one it has a more flat surface design.

Not sure which
mobile to buy?

Also read: Apple tipster doubles down on MagSafe battery pack speculation, coming to iPhone 12

Apple MagSafe wired charger for iPhones. 
Apple MagSafe wired charger for iPhones.  (Patently Apple)
image caption
Apple MagSafe wired charger for iPhones.  (Patently Apple)

Although the patent does not mention anything about the iPhone, the illustrations do show the bottom part of the handset with a MagSafe charger concept.

Having a MagSafe wired charger will have its own advantages over the Lightning port. The main advantage here will be that MagSafe will allow you to easily detach the charger from the iPhone if it gets tripped on.

For now, Apple is marketing it's MagSafe on the iPhone at the backside, wherein they can also connect other accessories. However, after this patent, it might be a possibility that the MagSafe charge on the back of the device might only be used for placing the accessories such as the rumored MagSafe battery pack or the wallet. It will leave the MagSafe charger on the bottom, with the sole purpose to charge the handset.

Also read: Apple explains how iPhone 12, MagSafe chargers can affect users with medical implanted devices

On a related note, Apple analyst Ming Chi-Kuo recently said that Apple might not be switching to a USB type-C connector anytime soon. That's because the USB type-C connector has low specifications as compared to Lightning and MagSafe.

Kuo added that, if the iPhone abandons Lightning port, it may immediately adopt a portless design with MagSafe.

According to a recent report by Bloomberg, Apple is expected to bring MagSafe to the Mac devices as well. The tech may show up in the upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, sporting a similar design to the previous iterations, in addition to fast charging speeds.

Catch all the Latest Tech News, Mobile News, Laptop News, Gaming news, Wearables News , How To News, also keep up with us on Whatsapp channel,Twitter, Facebook, Google News, and Instagram. For our latest videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel.

First Published Date: 03 Mar, 18:06 IST
NEXT ARTICLE BEGINS