In 2020, Apple completely refreshed the iPhone 12 series and introduced a new feature for the first time - MagSafe.

Rather than being a feature, MagSafe is more of a new lever for Apple's accessory ecosystem, with a circle of ultra-thin magnet arrays hidden inside the back of the iPhone body to provide magnetic force, making it easier for wireless chargers to accurately attach. The most successful is undoubtedly Apple's promotion of third-party magnetic charging accessories, phone cases, car chargers and other accessories through MFI authorization, which has boosted the surrounding ecosystem.

As a loyal user of Android phones, Xiaolei has always yearned for Apple's MagSafe magnetic ecosystem. However, the magnetic attraction ecosystem of the Android camp has not yet gained momentum. The magnetic attraction design patent is firmly held by Apple, lacking a unified standardized solution, and the matching of experience and third-party accessories is not perfect. Its appeal is far less than Apple's. To create an ecosystem, it requires the full cooperation of mobile phone manufacturers. Not long ago, @ Pan Asia Electronics brought some good news, claiming that a mobile phone manufacturer has successfully bypassed Apple's patent and created a set of magnetic wireless charging solutions that can be installed inside the phone.

Although it is not explicitly stated which manufacturer's solution it is, this means that Android manufacturers have not given up on exploring the possibility of magnetic wireless charging.

The search for magnetic wireless charging in the Android camp began after Apple released MagSafe. In February 2022, Nubia released the Z40 Pro, which not only removed various parameters, but also introduced a set of magnetic charging technology in the body, supporting 15W power, making it the industry's first mass-produced model with integrated magnetic wireless charging.

Earlier, in August 2021, realme officially announced the world's first Android magnetic wireless charging technology MagDart, bringing a series of magnetic kits and launching the concept model realme Flash that supports this technology. The charging power can reach over 50W, but this technology is still in concept and has not been mass-produced.

At that time, the Android camp was generally more interested in wired charging power of 100W or even higher. Magnetic wireless charging did not cause any ripples, and even wireless charging was not popularized. On the other hand, high-energy density silicon negative electrode batteries had not yet appeared, and magnetic wireless charging modules would compress the "living space" of the battery, which was not conducive to the overall battery life.

It's not because magnetic wireless charging is not good. In Xiao Lei's opinion, the Android camp has put aside the development of magnetic ecology mainly due to the "untimely" technology. At a time when the mobile phone experience was generally not as good as it is now, forcibly promoting magnetic technology would not be worth the loss.

Wireless charging is essentially the process of the transmitting coil generating an alternating magnetic field and the receiving coil sensing the magnetic field to generate current. This means that the phone and wireless charging board need to be aligned in order to achieve the highest efficiency of charging, otherwise it will result in energy loss.

The most common complaint about wireless charging is the problem of alignment. With magnetic wireless charging, alignment of coils becomes automatic.

Nowadays, the magnetic attraction function of Android phones is mainly achieved through third-party phone cases, and some phone brands are also promoting the development of magnetic accessories. When OPPO released the Find X8 series last year, they introduced the OPPO Mag magnetic ecosystem and launched accessories such as magnetic turbo and card magnetic power bank. In addition, Li Jie, the President of OnePlus China, announced that the specifications and parameters of the magnetic protective cases for OPPO and OnePlus phones have been made public.

The benefit of manufacturers publicly disclosing the parameters of protective cases is straightforward, which is to save the cost of measuring and mold making for mobile phone case manufacturers and attract more third-party accessories. If you search on major mainstream e-commerce platforms, you can find that the Find X8 series and OnePlus 13 phone cases have more options than their predecessors.

This can only be said to have solved the urgent problem of Android phones not having magnetic attraction function, and the magnetic attraction function relies entirely on the phone case, which can be removed and 'returned to pre liberation overnight'. Ultimately, in order for Android phones to truly create a magnetic ecosystem, the first step is to enable the phone itself to have magnetic capabilities.

@Pan Asia Electronics only released general information without mentioning specific technical details, only stating that the cost will be higher than conventional wireless charging. However, this also indicates that after bypassing Apple's MagSafe patent, the magnetic ecosystem of the Android camp will no longer be a "magic modification" and "reference" to MagSafe. Only when a unified standard is implemented can the "MagSafe" belonging to Android have the possibility of gaining popularity.

That is to say, the Android camp still needs to come up with a magnetic attraction solution that better meets their needs. From the perspective of adaptation and standardization, it may be another "start from scratch".

Online users have a relatively positive attitude towards the built-in magnetic wireless charging function on the phone, believing that since it is a feature that manufacturers can provide, "more is better", and high-end flagship phones need these unique selling points to support them, provided that the "price" is reasonable and does not sacrifice other experiences. In this debate of 'should or not', the former dominates.

The opposing netizens have given a reasonable response, stating that the magnetic wireless charging module will inevitably occupy internal space and affect battery capacity. Compared to convenient expansion designs, they tend to prefer larger batteries and better heat dissipation performance.

Some netizens also expressed that wireless charging is a low-frequency function, which is slow to charge and prone to overheating. It is better to convert it into a larger battery capacity to improve the overall battery life. He also acknowledged the convenience of magnetic attraction, believing that the power bank and phone can be held together conveniently, and if needed, a magnetic phone case can be purchased. In addition, some netizens have expressed concerns about the "Android version of MagSafe", fearing that the new solution is not compatible with the previous magnetic accessories and they will have to purchase new accessories.

Some 'radicals' directly say: if you want the MagSafe experience, it's better to buy an iPhone directly.

Wireless charging and magnetic wireless charging still depend on individual charging habits and usage scenarios. Xiao Lei has several friends who are fond of wireless charging. In their opinion, charging power is not important. What they need is the ability to charge anytime and anywhere, rather than spending time on "precise docking" of charging interfaces.

If possible, Xiaolei naturally wants to accept full photos of the "Android version MagSafe", and even bought magnetic phone cases, power banks, car phone holders, etc. He has become accustomed to the magnetic experience. However, MagSafe's experience is based on a standardized and regulated design system, and the Android camp is divided. It remains to be seen when a consensus can be reached on the magnetic attraction solution.

Of course, in Xiao Lei's view, magnetic wireless charging may just be a step towards making smartphones pore free. From Meizu Zero to Apple MagSafe, phone manufacturers are exploring the possibility of pore free phones. In 2024, Apple disclosed a patent application called "Accessory Devices for Communication with Electronic Devices", which mainly explores the potential application of MagSafe technology in data. MagSafe can not only charge, but also achieve data interaction between devices.

Of course, in Xiao Lei's view, magnetic wireless charging may just be a step towards making smartphones pore free. From Meizu Zero to Apple MagSafe, phone manufacturers are exploring the possibility of pore free phones. In 2024, Apple disclosed a patent application called "Accessory Devices for Communication with Electronic Devices", which mainly explores the potential application of MagSafe technology in data. MagSafe can not only charge, but also achieve data interaction between devices.

Some netizens also expressed that wireless charging is a low-frequency function, which is slow to charge and prone to overheating. It is better to convert it into a larger battery capacity to improve the overall battery life. He also acknowledged the convenience of magnetic attraction, believing that the power bank and phone can be held together conveniently, and if needed, a magnetic phone case can be purchased. In addition, some netizens have expressed concerns about the "Android version of MagSafe", fearing that the new solution is not compatible with the previous magnetic accessories and they will have to purchase new accessories.