MagSafe charging offers genuine conveniences on both MacBooks and iPhones, but each version comes with trade-offs worth weighing before relying on it exclusively. On MacBooks, MagSafe provides an easy magnetic connection and protects the laptop from being yanked off a desk if someone trips on the cable, but it is a proprietary cable that cannot be used to charge or connect any other device, unlike a versatile USB-C cable.

On the iPhone, MagSafe is a completely different, wireless implementation that charges more slowly than a wired connection and is not included in the box, requiring a separate purchase. Charging speeds top out at 15W on the iPhone 17e, iPhone 15 and older models, and 25W on newer ones, compared with up to 60W when charging an iPhone 18 Pro via USB-C. Despite the slower speeds, MagSafe remains useful for overnight charging and supports a range of magnetic accessories, such as wallets, stands and car mounts, and is also compatible with certain AirPods cases.