No MagSafe? iPhone 16e Skips Apple’s Popular Charging Feature

Apple’s new iPhone 16e brings plenty of high-end features at an affordable starting price of $599, making it a solid option for those looking for a powerful smartphone without breaking the bank. With the advanced A18 chip and Apple Intelligence, it delivers strong performance and smart features. However, one surprising omission from this model is MagSafe, the magnetic charging and accessory system that has been a standard feature on iPhones since 2020.

MagSafe was first introduced with the iPhone 12 lineup, allowing users to easily attach chargers, battery packs, and other accessories using built-in magnets on the back of the phone. This system provided a secure connection, making wireless charging more efficient and enabling the use of various MagSafe-compatible accessories. Despite its popularity, the iPhone 16e does not include MagSafe, and Apple hasn’t given a clear reason for leaving it out. The company did confirm, however, that the omission isn’t related to the phone’s newly designed C1 cellular modem.

Since MagSafe’s introduction, the only other iPhone without it has been the third-generation iPhone SE, which featured an older design based on the iPhone 8. In Apple’s official announcement video for the iPhone 16e, the company emphasized that the device features a redesigned internal layout, making room for a larger battery. While some speculate that these changes might have resulted in the removal of MagSafe, there’s no official confirmation to support this theory.

For those who still want to use MagSafe accessories with the iPhone 16e, there is a potential workaround. While Apple hasn’t released its own MagSafe-compatible cases for this model, third-party brands are already launching cases that add MagSafe functionality. These cases allow the iPhone 16e to connect to MagSafe accessories, but with a limitation—wireless charging speeds remain capped at 7.5W. In comparison, other iPhone 16 models can wirelessly charge at up to 25W when using Apple’s latest MagSafe Charger.

For some buyers, the lack of MagSafe on the iPhone 16e might not be a dealbreaker, especially considering the phone’s lower price point and impressive performance. However, for those who rely on MagSafe for wireless charging or accessories, its absence is a notable downside. As more hands-on reviews and teardowns of the iPhone 16e emerge, we may get a clearer picture of why Apple decided to leave this feature out.