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MagSafe launched last fall as the latest and greatest way for Apple to refuel your iPhone. Since then, we’ve seen a collection of third-party accessories flood the market, featuring similar magnetic charging features in your kit. Today we are going to take a look at one of the latest offerings in the MagSafe compatible sphere, featuring Aukey’s new 15W magnetic wireless charger. Our latest Tested with 9to5Toys find out if you should add this more affordable alternative to your everyday wear, or if you’re just better off going with the official Apple offering.
Practical with Aukey’s MagSafe charger
After the first launch in late February, Aukey joined many other third-party brands with the debut of its own MagSafe compatible charger. The brand’s new offering has much the same design as you’d expect from the form factor, delivering a compact pack with built-in magnets on the back of your iPhone 12 series.
Enter by a $ 19 price point, the entire building on Aukey’s MagSafe compatible charger is made of plastic. However, it by no means feels cheap and still has a good leverage to the building that comes with an integrated 1.2-meter USB-C cable. In terms of actual charging speed, iPhones can charge 7.5 W, and the charger can also double as a standard Qi pad to distribute the speeds up to 15 W.
Here’s a look at the specification sheet:
- Snap On, Power Up: Certified Qi Wireless Fast Charger up to 15W. One magnetic magnet to charge your iPhone 8 or later wirelessly, as well as AirPods models with a wireless charging bay, as you would with any Qi-certified charger
- Turn on, play on: Keep your calls and games online at all times while your phone is in your hands. The 3.93ft / 1.2m USB-C integrated cable is long enough for a useful range and you never have to look for an extra cable
- Safe, in every way: Simply place your device on the charging area to start charging safely. It contains a comprehensive range of protections that ensure things never get too hot. Strong magnetic connection ensures that your device can not accidentally drag or drop
- Fast charging via USB-C: to reach the charging speed of 15 W, you need 18 W / 20 W or higher power adapters.
Tested with 9to5Toys
All of these specifications raise the question of whether Aukey’s third-party MagSafe charger is worth your money. Not to get ahead of myself, but the answer is yes in the end – with only a few caveats. If only one thing were to be kept in mind, some of the official MagSafe specifications would be missing. While you may benefit from similar magnetic charging, some of the more premium first-party features are missing. But does it seem to be a deal at the end of the day? We put it to the test.
In a similar vein there, Aukey’s MagSafe compatible charger is not as premium as the official Apple model. But this is virtually a given when we talk about third-party accessories versus the actual deal, especially in the budget-friendly category, such as its specific charger. However, it is completely offset by the fact that it fits in with a price point of less than $ 20.
Apart from the full 15W charging speed on the iPhone, the biggest drawback is that the magnetic is not as strong as the official model. It’s still able to stay locked in the back of your hand, but it’s a little more than you’ll find with Apple’s own offering.
At the end of the day, it’s all there is to say that the value is definitely there. The Aukey MagSafe compatible charger may not have 15W charging speeds for iPhone 12 devices, but it is an excellent alternative to consider for any number of use cases. Whether you’re hoping to get a secondary charger to enjoy MagSafe in another room or just do not want to pay Apple’s taxes, this is a compelling option.
Best of all, you’ll get a steady discount at Amazon uploading the Aukey MagSafe compatible charger $ 16.14 when you cut the coupon on the page.
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