When MagSafe was introduced with the iPhone 12, Apple provided customers with the opportunity to do something new--switch between convenient, practical magnetic accessories. Since then, the MagSafe wallet has become a beloved accessory of some, and a source of anxiety for others. The practicality of being able to carry your essential cards attached to your iPhone sounds good, but do MagSafe wallet slide around and fall off? In this post, we’ll dive into these common concerns and how folks have addressed it.
Full disclosure, I'm writing this post for the blog for our tiny phone case start-up, OpenCase. We do address these issues head-on with our flagship product, the OpenCase MagSafe Case. Nevertheless, if you're new to MagSafe or anxious about using it, I think it's worth the time to unpack this issue, so you can make up your mind about what works best for you.
What Are MagSafe Wallets?
MagSafe (also called Qi2 these days) is Apple's magnetic technology to ensure perfect charging alignment for iPhone. Launched with iPhone 12, the magnets built-into the back of the iPhone allows users to attach interchangeable magnetic accessories to the back their phones. By far, one of the most popular MagSafe accessories, is the MagSafe Wallet, a slim, cardholder that usually holds a few essential cards, like your ID and credit card.
MagSafe wallets often use strong magnets to help them stay in place, but the real question remains: can the the MagSafe wallet withstand daily use without sliding around or shearing off?
Do MagSafe Wallets Slide Around?
MagSafe wallets are designed to be attached to the back of your iPhone. In your hand or when placed on most surfaces the wallet stays securely in place and does not slide around. Whether you’re holding your phone or simply walking around, the wallet remains firmly attached.
However, many users have reported (see endless discussion about this on Reddit) slipping and sliding of their MagSafe wallets on their phones on a regular basis, particularly when placed in something. Situations like putting your phone in your pocket, purse, jacket, a bag, in a travel satchel, in a fanny pack....
The main reason for this is a magnet fundamental. That fundamental is that the easiest way to separate magnets, especially very strong ones, is to slide them apart versus trying to pull them apart. The "slide past" is something I learned early on playing with magnets as a kid.
Do MagSafe Wallets Fall Off?
The answer is very similar to the above answer to the sliding around issue, although, thankfully, with much less frequency. Although it's pretty easy for a MagSafe wallet to slide around, it takes a bit more force, and just the right circumstance for it to fully shear off. These situations usually happen when the wallet catches on the edge of a pocket of a pair of pants, just as you are sliding your phone in into your pocket, which creates that shearing action of sliding the magnets past each other. And boom, your MagSafe wallet has hit the ground and you may not have even noticed.
So What Are People Doing to Address the Issue?
MagSafe Systems
Bellroy ModWallet + Case
Some companies have created alternative MagSafe systems that address MagSafe accessories slipping and sliding around head on. Bellroy's ModWallet + Case comes to mind immediately. The wallet is removable from the back of the phone, but it only can be used with Bellroy's case. It will not work with a case from a different manufacturer due to its proprietary design. For some folks, it's enough that it stops the slip and slide, but for others, they prefer more choice or flexibility in which accessories or cases they can use now or in the future.
OpenCase MagSafe Case
The OpenCase MagSafe Case is designed with accessories in mind. Instead of the accessory sitting on top of a bare iPhone or traditional case, they are cradled inside the "open" space in the case. This simple solution creates a border on all four sides of the accessory. So, when you're shoving that accessory into your pocket, it jams into the border and that stops it from sliding or shearing off. And as an added bonus, you can use almost any MagSafe wallet that fits into the "open" space, so you don't necessarily have to use our MagWallet.
Conclusion
There are a good number of folks that have experienced the pain of a MagSafe wallet sliding around or falling off. Some people accept this as a pain-point for the convenience, because they don't think there's an alternative solution. They decide they'll just have to deal with it. Other people feel the MagXiety and don't feel comfortable with it to start. A MagSafe system tailored to their needs and tastes can be a good solution for addressing the issue head on.