The iPhone battery capacity can be a limiting factor for heavy users who frequently resort to on-the-go charging options. While many have previously depended on power banks, they have come up short because of their wireless charging limitations. The MagSafe battery technology has come to phase out the power banks by providing a smarter, wireless solution, especially for iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and iPhone 14 users. It attaches itself to the phone magnetically and, through Apple’s MagSafe Technology, tops up the phone’s charge.
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It can be a little confusing when choosing the best MagSafe battery pack because of the variety of options on the market today. The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack provides the ideal solution for those seeking native integration, but there are other third-party options that boast better capacity at a competitive price.
After sifting through the market, our rankings for the best products are:
- Best Overall MagSafe Battery Pack: Anker MagGo 633 Magnetic BatteryBest in Native Software Integration: Apple MagSafe Battery PackBest in Versatility: Anker 622 Magnetic BatteryBest Compact MagSafe Battery Pack: Oisle 8000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank Slim and Compact Battery PackBest Budget MagSafe Battery Pack: Anker 521 Magnetic Battery Pack
Best Overall Magsafe Battery Packs: Anker MagGo 633 Magnetic Battery
Anker MagGo 633 Magnetic Battery fits the description of the best Magsafe Battery pack because of its huge capacity, versatility, and numerous accessories. It has a capacity of 10,000mAh, translating to enough power to charge a drained iPhone 14. It has USB-C and USB-A in addition to the magnetic wireless charging option, which means it can also charge other devices. Anker MagGo 633 also has an integrated kickstand that can hold the phone in either portrait or landscape mode when you watch a movie or play a game. It also accepts 7.5W wireless charging and up to 20W when it charges through its USB ports. The list price is $80, making it a good value for the money.
- 2-in-1: The charger wirelessly charges your phone while the practical foldable stand props up your phone for easy viewing.Compact and Powerful: The 10,000mAh small-sized battery contains enough power to charge an iPhone 13 Pro 1.8 times*.Snap On, Power Up: Get a safe and secure wireless charge with the perfectly aligned strong magnets that snap onto your phone for a constant charge.High-Speed Charging: Use the 20W USB-C Power Delivery port and a USB-C charging cable to charge your iPhone 3x faster.What You Get: Anker 633 Magnetic Battery (MagGo), 2ft (0.6m) USB-C to USB-C charging cable, welcome guide, our worry-free 24-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
The disadvantage of this battery pack is related to its huge capacity. It is larger and bulkier than the other devices, making it incompatible with the mini versions of iPhone 12 and 13.
Pros
- Excellent 10,000Ah capacityIt can charge multiple devices through USB-C and USB-AIt has an integrated phone stand
Cons
- It is a little bulkyNot compatible with iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini
Best in Native Software Integration: Apple MagSafe Battery Pack
Apple developed the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack, and since it is used for Apple products, it has the easiest integration with iPhones. It is also very small and thus is compatible even with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 minis. It contains two battery cells with a total capacity of 1460mAh (11.3Wh). The capacity, when tested, translates to charging the iPhone 12 Pro from 0% to 60% charge. That is enough to run through a whole day.
- Attaching the MagSafe Battery Pack is a snap. Its compact, intuitive design makes on-the-go charging easy. The perfectly aligned magnets keep it attached to your iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 13…And it automatically charges, so there’s no need to turn it on or off. There’s no interference with your credit cards or key fobs either.At your desk and need a charge? Just plug a Lightning cable into the MagSafe Battery Pack for up to 15W of wireless charging. Short on time? With a higher than 20W power adapter, you can charge both…This portable charger is recommended to use with a 20W or higher USB-C Power Adapter and USB-C to Lightning Cable (sold separately)Compatibility: iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini
It comes with the smartest features, including initiating an animation on your screen showing the charge in the pack. Connecting the pack for the first time indicates that it will only charge the phone up to 90% to protect its battery. Apple MagSafe Battery Pack is charged through a 20W Lightning connector. The 20W charger is advantageous because it allows charging of the phone and the battery pack simultaneously in a technology known as reverse technology. Apple MagSafe Battery Pack retails for around $100, making it the most expensive product on our list.
It is compatible with iPhone 12 and 13 mini, iPhone 12, 13, and 14, and iPhone 12, 13, and 14 ProIntegrates seamlessly with the iOSIt applies reverse technology, ensuring simultaneous charging of both phone and battery pack
It is the most expensive of its counterpartsIt only comes in white
Best Versatile MagSafe Battery Pack: Anker 622 Magnetic Battery
Anker 622 Magnetic Battery is the most versatile option on our list of the best MagSafe batteries because it comes in multiple colors to match your phone, among other features. It has a capacity of 5000mAh (19.13Wh) in a smaller package without compromising its charging efficiency. Anker 622 is compatible with iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and iPhone 14, but it extends slightly over the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini when attached. It has a foldable kickstand that can support the phone in landscape and portrait positions and can be folded away when not needed.
- Prop It Up: Features a versatile built-in foldable kickstand that keeps your iPhone 14/13/12 upright for a comfortable viewing angle.Strong and Snappy:The super-strong magnet snaps magnetically into place to ensure perfect alignment and an efficient charge.Slim and Compact: The sleek and slim design is only 0.5 inch (12.8 mm) thin, so you can single-handedly take calls, selfies, and more.From Small to Smaller: Anker’s new Mini Cell technology reduces the size of the overall battery without compromising power and charging efficiency.What You Get: Anker 622 Magnetic Battery (MagGo), 2ft (0.6m) USB-C to USB-C cable, welcome guide, worry-free 24-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Based on the user’s hands-on experience, the battery can charge a drained iPhone up to 80%, an improvement from Apple MagSafe performance. It charges wirelessly with 7.5W and comes with an extra USB-C port to charge other devices. Like the Apple MagSafe battery pack, it has reverse charging technology, so one doesn’t need to charge the battery pack and the phone separately.
Compact sizeNot expensive compared to its main competitorsIt has a built-in kickstand7.5W chargingIt comes in 5 colors – white, gray, green, blue, and purple
It is not compatible with the mini versions of iPhone 12 and 13Its charging is slow
Best Compact Size: Oisle 8000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank Slim and Compact Battery Pack
As its name suggests, the Oisle 8000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank Slim and Compact Battery Pack is the smallest among the best MagSafe battery packs. It has a capacity of 8000mAh, which in theory would charge the iPhone from 0%-100%, but factoring in losses due to various parameters, it doesn’t deliver that in practice. However, it supports considerable battery-boosting capacity. This battery pack has a dual USB-C port, meaning it can charge two other devices.
It also accepts reverse charging, so one can simultaneously charge the phone and battery pack. Additionally, it comes in a variety of color options that one can choose from.
- Small and compact designCompatible with all iPhone 12, 13, and 14 versions. It comes with a variety of color options.
Cons
- At $69, it is expensive considering its size
Best Budget MagSafe Battery Pack: Anker 521Magnetic Battery Pack
Anker 521 Magnetic Battery qualifies as the best budget MagSafe battery pack because it currently retails for $29. It boasts a capacity of 5000mAh (18.5 Wh) with a not-so-thin footprint. Other features compensate for its large size, such as the LED indicator to show the charge level, a USB-C port at the bottom, and a power button to start the charging process when connected to an iPhone device.
- The Anker Advantage: Join the 55 million+ powered by our leading technology.Snap and Go: Simple and convenient way to juice up your phone; just attach PowerCore magnetically to the back of your phone for a 5W wireless charge.Made for iPhone 12: Works flawlessly with iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. (Only compatible with MagSafe phone cases)Superior Safety: Anker’s comprehensive MultiProtect safety system includes foreign object detection, short circuit protection, temperature control, and more.What You Get: PowerCore Magnetic 5K, USB-C to USB-C cable, welcome guide, our 18-month warranty, and Anker’s friendly customer service.
It supports reverse charging properties so that you can charge both devices simultaneously. Because of the USB-C, you can also use it as an external power bank for other devices. For this price, the Anker 521 Power Core is good value for money.
It supports reverse charging technologyIt can be used to charge other devices via the USB-CIt is affordable
It is thicker than most of its counterparts.
How to Pick the Best MagSafe Battery Packs
When on the market for the Best Magsafe battery packs, the following are the main factors one should consider:
- Battery capacityCharging speedCompatibility with your phone Number of portsAdditional features
We’ll go through each of the elements separately.
Battery Capacity
The battery capacity refers to the amount of charge stored and delivered through the MagSafe battery pack. A good MagSafe battery pack should provide enough capacity to allow the possibility of a regular charging session. Most power banks measure this capacity in Ampere hours (Ah); therefore, the higher the Ampere hours, the better the charging capability of the battery pack.
Charging Speed
Charging speed determines how fast the battery can charge your iPhone. When the MagSafe battery pack launched, it could only charge the phone at 5Watts; a firmware update by Apple has allowed the speeds to go up to 7.5 Watts. Therefore, when buying a MagSafe battery pack, it is important to consider one with a charging speed closer to 7.5 watts.
Compatibility With Your Phone
The compatibility of a MagSafe battery pack depends on its size and the size of the phone it will be used with. The mini versions of iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 raise concerns because of their small size. Therefore, many of the larger MagSafe battery packs do not fit on the back surfaces of these two devices.
Ports
The ports on a MagSafe battery pack determine how it is charged and if it can charge other external devices. The presence of USB-C or USB-A ports means you can use the device as an external power bank when you need to charge other devices. The port also determines which type of port you will use when charging the battery pack. For example, the Apple MagSafe battery pack is charged by a lightning connector, while a USB-C cable charges the rest.
Additional Features
One can also consider additional features that would improve the user experience. These features include a kickstand, LED battery level indicator, and a power button. Another important feature is the reverse charging capability that allows somebody to charge the battery and phone simultaneously using one port connected to either of them.
What to Know Before Buying the Best Magsafe Battery Packs
It is important to note that when charging an iPhone attached to a MagSafe battery pack, it is recommended that you use a 20 watts or higher power adapter. This adapter rating will allow the charging of the iPhone at the recommended 15W and the extra power to charge the battery pack.
The iPhone might warm up when charging with the MagSafe battery pack. The MagSafe software, in this case, will limit charging above 80%. When this happens, moving the phone to a cooler place is important because it will only continue charging when the temperature drops.
Using a MagSafe Battery Pack: What It’s Like
Going through a day with the fear that at one time you will have a phone without juice is not a good feeling. The MagSafe battery packs are a good alternative to power banks because of their ease of use. Having them feels less bulky and liberating. There is no need to carry a cable and hold both the phone and the power bank when using an almost drained phone. The MagSafe battery pack attaches itself to the phone, and you can continue using it without needing to connect a cable and power bank. When the phone’s power goes down, it picks up and starts charging.
Because of the compact size of these battery packs, you can store the phone attached to the battery pack in your pocket. Another feature that is also convenient is the reverse charging feature, where you can charge both devices simultaneously when you charge one of them. Some of the best MagSafe Battery packs also allow charging of other devices; therefore, it is a plus.