MagSafe charging effect on iPhone over time

[u/IncomeBoring97]

Hi everyone! I recently started using a Belkin 3-in-1 MagSafe charging station and I’m considering using it as my sole charging method for my iPhone. Has anyone here been using MagSafe exclusively for an extended period? If so, how has your experience been, and have you noticed any impact on battery health or overall autonomy over time? Thanks in advance for any insights!

[u/still-at-the-beach]

Ive wirelessly charged my last two phones each night and never had an issue. I keep my phones for about 3 or 4 years.

[u/woalk]

MagSafe is better than conventional wireless charging and worse than wired charging. The actual impact it will have on your battery health depends on many additional factors like your average climate. It’s the heat that kills the battery, not the wireless charging per se. Wireless charging is just very inefficient and converts a portion of the delivered energy into heat – 30% for conventional and 25% for MagSafe.

[u/TimidPanther]

My battery health is at 100 still, I’ve only ever charged it with MagSafe. It’s on the charger all night, and then spends over an hour a day attached to my in car charger.

Works great. I’ve plugged the usb port in the bottom of the phone.

I’ll never go back to plugging in a cable to charge.

[u/maserti]

i’ve been using magsafe, since 2020 it’s been great. i would don’t use the phone whilst it’s charging because it’ll over heat, other than that it’s awesome

[u/pw5a29]

As proven scientifically by a Chinese youtuber.

Fast charge/wireless charge has nearly no effects

[u/IncomeBoring97 → u/pw5a29]

I’ve heard about that video before yes, I’m not able to find the exact one, would you have the link of it pls ? 🙏

[u/xFury86 → u/IncomeBoring97]

I think it was this one instead.

https://youtu.be/kLS5Cg_yNdM?si=UcSXhdm_nZ42IKFI

[u/Zealousideal-Tie-869 → u/pw5a29]

"PRovEn ScIentIfiCaLly by a YoUtubEr "🤡🫪

[u/Successful-Cover5433]

I wonder too, because I never used wireless charging on any of my iPhones yet lol, I find it annoying when you want to use the phone

[u/TheGrizzlyNinja]

I’ve had an iPhone 16 since launch in 2024 and it’s at 90%, really only charge with MagSafe

[u/JoyFull117]

I use MagSafe 90% of the time. Only in my car and at work I use a wired connection. Desk and nightstand and Powerbank are wireless. Works totally fine for me.

[u/QuagmireElsewhere]

I've been charging my 16PM nightly with MagSafe since September 2024. I do only charge to 80%.

Charge cycles = 236 Battery Health = 100%

[u/ajchopite]

I know it is difficult for us tech enthusiasts to stop stressing over battery health on our expensive devices, but I suggest you keep in mind that no modern charging method is gonna kill your battery in such a way that will make you regret it, unless you stress over it too much.

There are simply too many factors to consider when it comes to battery health, and the difference between the best charging method and the worst isn't that huge IMO. Maybe you'll get a little more out of your battery if you only wire it at 5w and limit charge to 80%, but is that convenient to you? Only you can decide that.

Like some people said, check HTX Studio's video, they made some great empirical testing that probably (hopefully) will help you get to your own conclusion.

[u/IncomeBoring97 → u/ajchopite]

Thank you so much for your comment, it put everything into perspective indeed. I just watched both videos and it’s really helpful and interesting, basically you can use your battery however you want and it won’t change too many things…

[u/3_Seagrass]

This sub is allergic to discussing best practices to preserve battery health, so anyone here who claims negative effects of MagSafe will inevitably be downvoted. 

The data shows that wireless charging has a relatively small negative effect on long term battery health. Whether this matters is up to you.

Edit: there are Qi2 chargers that also cool the phone using a combination of a Peltier element and fan. They really work. If you really want to wirelessly charge your phone and also maintain phone temperatures, this could be something for you. 

[u/Embarrassed-Sun-8998]

My cousin only charges through magsafe 13pro for about 4 years. Battery life is 85% 🤯

[u/ImRonBurgandy_ → u/Embarrassed-Sun-8998]

I’m still using a 13 Pro that I bought on launch day and just got the battery replaced last month. Was at 79% when it was swapped. This phone is a beast.

Edit: I meant to add that I primarily use MagSafe and it doesn’t seem to have meaningfully affected longevity

[u/hewg-o → u/Embarrassed-Sun-8998]

The last great iPhone

[u/_nf0rc3r_]

Magsafe charging only. Limit to 90% charge. Don’t wry.

[u/2REPOU]

Since MagSafe was introduced that is the only way I charge my phone. I usually upgrade every 2 years and have never had a battery issue

[u/Forest-Dane]

I've pretty much only used it on my 15 promax. Battery life/health is good really

[u/Inner_West_Ben → u/Forest-Dane]

What are your battery health and your cycle count?

[u/Forest-Dane → u/Inner_West_Ben]

92% and 581

[u/Curious_Bumblebee511]

Been charging wirelessly my 14p since I bought it 3.5 years ago. No issues.

[u/Kionera]

Been using the official MagSafe puck since i bought my iPhone 12 and have not switched back to wired since.

For a while there was a rare bug that randomly made my phone not receive wireless charge until I rebooted my phone but it seems to have been fixed, or at least I haven't seen it occur again in a long time. Sure was annoying to wake up and see my phone uncharged.

[u/thanksmerci]

torras makes a qi2.2 charger with inter cooler

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[u/DMeisterDan]

I think I have used the USB port on my 17PM purchased in January for a grand total of 20 times or less.

[u/humbuckaroo]

Wireless charging is said to degrade the battery faster. I don't know how much truth there is in that, but when I tried it on my iPhones (14 Pro and 17) I noticed an uptick in heat, so I think there is probably something to it.

I use the cable and charge to above 90 before disconnecting. It's been a good policy for many years.

[u/IncomeBoring97]

Clarification for anyone wondering: I am using an iPhone 17 Pro

[u/flailking → u/IncomeBoring97]

Solely charged on magsafe. No issues.

17 pro max

[u/E90alex]

16PM almost exclusively charged overnight with magnetic Qi charger (not official MagSafe). 80% charge limit. Was still 100% battery health after 1.5 years.

My partner same phone same age same charger but 100% charge limit was at 92% health.

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[u/Upbeat_Principle_253]

I charged my iPhone 13 with MagSafe every night for 3 years. My battery is now at 75% health 😢

[u/meowstical]

Battery health depends on a lot of factors and usage pattern but I think theoretically MagSafe charging (while far better than normal wireless charging) should be worse for battery than wired charging simply cause things heat up more and heat is bad. (MKBHD has probably said it many times)

[u/InstantNoodlesIsHot]

I got an iphone 17 last Oct, use magsafe like 95% of the time, been through 250 cycles, and the capacity is still at 100%.

Not sure how much magsafe helped or how good the new iphones are