Why I even added Magsafe to my Android

Lorenz Keller

25/6/2024

Translation: Patrik Stainbrook

Sadly, wireless charging with a magnetic holder isn’t available for Android – or not yet. Nevertheless, it’s still worth upgrading a Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy to Apple’s MagSafe.

I love gadgets with magnets. Take my Nothing Ear (a) headphones, for example. They automatically snap into the correct position in their charging case. Or my Oral-B toothbrush, which I place on its dock after brushing my teeth. It stands proudly, almost as if by magic.

When Apple also installed Magsafe in iPhones four years ago, I was thrilled. These are magnets built directly into the device combined with wireless charging, which open the door for many new possibilities around accessories and extensions. In 2023, the US manufacturer took another major step forward. Thanks to standby mode, the iPhone no longer just lies around while charging, but can be put to good use. For example, it displays the time, date, calendar or weather data.

But alas, my joy was premature. To date, no Android manufacturer has integrated the novel charging standard into new smartphones – with or without magnets. Rumour has it that this could be the case with the Google Pixel 9. But it won’t be on the market until the fall.

I’ve had enough.

So, I decided to retrofit my Pixel 8 with magnets myself – it’s easy with the right case. You can quickly find them for your Android phone too: simply select MagSafe in the smartphone case category on our website under Range of features.

You can then search for your phone under Compatible model. Of course, you’ll primarily find cases for the iPhone, but there are plenty other smartphones too. Sometimes the selection will be small, but with popular Android models there are sometimes 20 or 30 different options available.

I found this case from Dux Ducis for my phone. It’s pretty massive, but also protects the phone well. Thanks to its transparent back, the actual colour of the phone, which is otherwise often covered by a case, is also shown. Neat!

But why all the effort? Because MagSafe makes my life much easier across various situations.

My phone becomes a sat nav

With MagSafe, all you need is a compact button-shaped holder that holds your phone in place magnetically and can charge it wirelessly. I can even use it upright or horizontally. I used the Aukey Maglink Phone Dash Mount, which supports Qi2, for this test. It has long gripper arms and can be attached to most air vents on the dashboard as a result.

Guaranteed charging at night

I’d struggle to count all those times I placed my smartphone on a wireless charging station in the dark – only to discover in the morning that the device hadn’t charged up a bit. That no longer happens to me thanks to the magnets.

Charger for every situation

Do you already use MagSafe? Where do you see the most sensible use for the magnets? Let me know in the comments.

Lorenz Keller

Senior Editor

Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.ch

Gadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.

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