Apple's own magnetic battery pack
Apple's MagSafe Battery Pack simply attaches magnetically to the back of your iPhone 12 series phone for easy charging. It can also be used as a desktop MagSafe charger, and you can even charge the battery pack with your iPhone using reverse pass-through charging.
For
- Supports pass-through charging
- Simple streamlined Apple look
- No power button; snap it on and it charges
- iOS integration
Against
- High price
- White is the only color
- Lightning cable not included
- Only 1,460mAh capacity
Mophie's Magnetic battery
The mophie snap+ juice pack mini is a thin, yet longer magnetic battery pack. It has a fabric finish, so it shouldn't slip out of your hands. It features 5,000mAh of power and charges via USB-C, which is important if you want to charge non-MagSafe devices.
For
- Less than half the price of Apple's MagSafe battery
- 5,000mAh of power
- Fabric finish
- Thin profile
Against
- Longer than other magnetic batteries
- Doesn't support Lightning
- Black is the only color
- Not a good fit on iPhone 12 mini
When MagSafe was introduced with the release of the iPhone 12 series of phones, one of the most anticipated accessories was a magnetic snap-on battery. However, mophie beat Apple to the market with its snap+ juice pack mini, which is not an official MagSafe accessory, meaning it will not charge at the maximum 15W. Finally, Apple has released its MagSafe battery pack, which is integrated with iOS and features no power button or LED lights. Let's check out what's the same and what's different so you can buy the right battery for you.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack vs. mophie snap plus juice pack mini: Let's compare
Though both battery packs attach magnetically to the back of an iPhone, they are different in many ways.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Apple MagSafe Battery Pack | mophie snap+ juice pack mini |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 | $43 |
| Color | White | Black |
| Finish | Plastic | Fabric |
| USB-C | No | Yes |
| Lightning | Yes | No |
| Watts when used wirelessly | 5 | 7.5 |
| Watts when used plugged in | 15 | 12 |
| mAh | 1,460 | 5,000 |
Here is the conundrum for iPhone 12 series owners. Do you want a battery pack that is integrated into iOS and made by Apple, with typical Apple simplicity? Or do you want to save some money, have more flexibility, faster wireless charging, but have a battery pack that may not fit your phone perfectly, especially if you have an iPhone 12 mini? Let's take a look at the similarities and differences of both battery packs.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack vs. mophie snap plus juice pack mini: Color and finish
If you like white, then you will be happy with the color choice for the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack since that is your ownly choice. Of course, with the mophie battery, your only choice is black. If you are choosing what to buy only based on color, then its an easy choice — just pick your favorite.
The Apple battery pack has a matte plastic finish, while the mophie has a fabric finish, which adds some grip. Both should prevent accidental slips as a result.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack vs. mophie snap plus juice pack mini: Features and functionality
Apple's MagSafe Battery Pack features typical Apple minimalism. Simply attach the battery pack magnetically and it begins to charge your iPhone 12 series phone. There's no power button to remember to press, and the amount of battery life is displayed on the iOS battery widget. The MagSafe Battery Pack can also be used as a desktop charger by plugging it in and placing the iPhone on top. In addition, you can use reverse pass-through charging to charge both the iPhone and battery pack at the same time by attaching the battery pack and plugging in the Lightning cable to the iPhone.
The mophie battery pack has a power button that must be pressed before charging can start. It features USB-C charging so it can be used with non-Apple devices. The snap+ juice pack mini also comes with a magnetic ring that you can attach to any Qi-compatible device so the battery pack can attach magnetically, even if it's not MagSafe compatible. However, if you own an iPhone 12 mini, according to mophie, you "will experience a 4.8mm/0.19in overhang from the bottom of their device and will need to remove the juice pack for camera use." iPhone 12 mini users may want to think twice before purchasing the mophie.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack vs. mophie snap plus juice pack mini: Charging speed
Apple users who waited for the MagSafe Battery Pack may be disappointed to find out that you will not receive 15W of charging power when the battery is magnetically attached. Unfortunately, it will only charge using 5W of power. Still, if you plug in the battery pack you will see the 15W of MagSafe charging speed.
The mophie, on the other hand, will charge your iPhone with 7.5W of power when it's attached magnetically or 12W if it's plugged in. That means it's faster than the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack when attached magnetically, but not quite as fast when charging while plugged in.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack vs. mophie snap plus juice pack mini: Which should you buy?
The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack may be worth spending $99 if you are already deep into the Apple ecosystem, if you want a battery pack integrated with iOS, and if you want built-in Apple simplicity, with no power button or LED lights to deal with.
If you don't care about reverse pass-through charging, if you want to save some money, and if you don't mind having to turn on the battery pack to use it, then the mophie snap+ juice pack mini may be for you. However, if you have an iPhone 12 mini, think twice because when it's attached, it will overhang at the bottom and you won't be able to use the camera since it blocks it.
Either way, you will be buying a battery pack that will give you power when you need it, wirelessly and magnetically.
Apple-branded battery for iPhone 12 series
Apple's MagSafe Battery Pack is Apple's own version of a magnetic battery pack. It has seamless integration with iOS and a simple refined look, so if you are entrenched in the Apple ecosystem, this may be the battery pack for you.
mophie's magnetic battery
Mophie's magnetic battery pack is loaded with features and even comes with a magnetic ring that you can attach to any Qi-enabled device. That way the battery pack can attach magnetically even without MagSafe.
