Apple MagSafe Battery Pack hands-on: What do you get for $99?

Our Verdict

The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack packs some perks of the Apple tree ecosystem, but information technology sure is pricey.

For

Easy to employ
Doesn't get noticeably warm
Thinner than competitor
Compatible with iOS 14 Batteries widgets

Against

Dull-charging
Lower chapters than Anker's model
Expensive

Tom's Guide Verdict

The Apple tree MagSafe Bombardment Pack packs some perks of the Apple ecosystem, but it certain is pricey.

Pros

+
Easy to use
+
Doesn't get noticeably warm
+
Thinner than competitor
+
Compatible with iOS 14 Batteries widgets

Cons

-
Irksome-charging
-
Lower chapters than Anker's model
-
Expensive

Apple has replaced its iPhone charging cases with the new Apple MagSafe Battery Pack. It'southward a pocket-sized power brick that snaps onto any iPhone 12 model, and is basically meant to brand sure your iPhone stays charged fifty-fifty through a long day.

But at $99 the Apple MagSafe Bombardment Pack is far from inexpensive. That's more than twice every bit much as Anker's competitor, which also has a higher chapters. This easily-on Apple MagSafe Battery Pack review will explicate what yous become in exchange for that difference, and my initial impressions of the pack.

The all-time portable chargers and power banks
Plus, the all-time phone bombardment life

Apple tree 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 mount 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 appointment was July xix.

Apple MagSafe Bombardment Pack: Compatibility

Apple MagSafe Battery Pack review — (Image credit: Henry T. Casey)

The Apple MagSafe Bombardment Pack snaps correct 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 tin also charge the Qi-enabled AirPods Pro and AirPods via their cases.

This means it'due south primarily for those with the latest iPhone, and those who will buy upcoming iPhones, such as the iPhone 13 (which is expected to however take MagSafe).

Apple tree MagSafe Battery Pack: Blueprint

The Apple tree MagSafe Battery Pack is made so simply that I tin't fifty-fifty feel annoyed with Apple for not including anything close to an instruction manual. Information technology's a sparse, matte white rectangle with rounded corners on the outer side.

In my mitt, the MagSafe Battery Pack feels a little beefy, but I've gotten used to it in the last 24 hours. More chiefly, it doesn't warm up noticeably in my pocket. And compared to using my iPhone with a portable charger, it'southward a lot more sleek and seamless.

On the inner side, the battery pack offers a soft-touch grey surface with a white band to indicate the MagSafe connexion. (You're going to desire to aim that for the Apple logo on your phone.) Finished with a gray Apple logo on the outer side, The MagSafe Bombardment Pack has achieved almost the platonic platonic of Apple's minimalist artful.

The MagSafe Battery Pack measures three.7 x 2.5 x 0.four inches and weighs 4 ounces, making information technology 33% thinner (and a tad lighter) than the Anker PowerCore Magnetic 5K (3.7 x 2.5 10 0.6 inches, 4.6 ounces).

Apple'southward accompaniment features one Lightning port, which is the primary mode to charge information technology. Yous can likewise charge the MagSafe Battery Pack from a Qi-based power charger.

Apple tree MagSafe Battery Pack: How it works

As simple every bit it gets, the MagSafe Battery Pack snaps onto the dorsum 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, y'all'll then come across your telephone's current bombardment charge amount on your screen, plus the percentage of remaining battery life in the MagSafe pack. The MagSafe pack'south charge corporeality will appear in the Batteries widget.

The magnetic connexion of the MagSafe Battery Pack is acceptable when yous're using it snapped on the dorsum of an iPhone 12. That said, when I was using it, I kept thinking "it could be tighter," as it was a teeny flake looser than I'd similar. I was excited to figure out that the strength of the magnetic connection increases when you've got a MagSafe telephone case in between the iPhone and the battery pack.

When yous connect a lightning cable to the bombardment pack and to a power source, you'll get 15W charging, and you can get faster rates with a 20W power adapter.

Apple MagSafe Battery Pack review: Batteries widget — (Prototype credit: Henry T. Casey)

This means, essentially, that you're going to exist 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 dorsum to 100% or close to that.

You can as well refuel wirelessly-charging AirPods cases by placing them on the MagSafe Battery Pack's magnetic side. Information technology doesn't snap on, just it works either fashion.

Apple tree MagSafe Battery Pack: Battery Life

Herein lies the biggest potential flaw of the MagSafe Bombardment Pack. Apple doesn't make any claims of how long information technology volition extend the life of your iPhone 12. That may be considering such data varies by model, only a range of battery life would take been overnice.

Teardowns take revealed the MagSafe Battery Pack has a capacity of 1,460mAh. That'due south 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 ii when both were charged, and by iv:30 p.grand. I was at xvi% on the MagSafe Battery Pack with the iPhone even so at 89%. Unremarkably, my iPhone would exist much lower, probably in the 40-50% range.

Apple tree MagSafe Bombardment Pack: Outlook

Every bit I've noted in this hands-on Apple MagSafe Battery Pack review, Apple's accessory comes with a lot less battery life than Anker'south competing brick, and information technology's nigh twice as expensive. So, why would you purchase this affair (which I did)?

Primarily, you'd buy the MagSafe Battery Pack because there's a general assurance that Apple-made accessories may piece of work better with the iPhone. Y'all come across that born out by the integration with the Batteries widget, and the dwelling screen as well. It's also got a thinner pattern, as well.

I look forward to reporting back in one case I've had more time with the Apple MagSafe Bombardment Pack, which I look I'll use all-day long on my upcoming trip to Las Vegas.

Henry is a senior editor at Tom's Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past 6-plus years. Prior to joining Tom'southward Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.