MagSafe Duo Charger limited to 11W with 20W adapter

Although the single MagSafe Charger can provide wireless charging up to 15 watts, Apple now says that the MagSafe Duo cannot reach that rate, and is instead limited to either 11W or at most 14W, depending on the power adapter used.

Although the previously-announced MagSafe Duo Charger is listed on the Apple Store site, it remains shown only as coming soon. However, Apple has now updated the product information on the store's listing, and revealed that the device will charge at less than the regular MagSafe Charger.

Specifically, if users have or separately buy a 20W USB-C power adapter, they will only get up to 11W of charging on compatible devices. The iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max can in theory be wirelessly charged up to 15W. The iPhone 12 mini is limited to a maximum of 12W.

If a user instead buys a 27W USB-C power adapter, they still won't get the full 15W. Instead, the charger will provide a maximum of 14W.

The MagSafe Duo Charger is to retail for $129, and in comparison the regular MagSafe Charger is $39. Apple says that this single MagSafe Charger can provide up to 15W.

Apple recommends a 20W power adapter — with good reason — and does sell one separately for $19. It does not sell a 27W adapter, but it has a 30W USB-C one for $49. Apple says that can be used with "select iPhone and iPad models to take advantage of the fast-charging feature."

18 Comments

Japhey 6 Years · 1772 comments

About 4 years ago

As predicted last week.

So, let’s see... that’s a total of $148 for a compromised charging speed OR $178 for a slightly better, yet still compromised, charging speed? Lol, I can’t wait to hear how it gets defended now.

CloudTalkin 5 Years · 916 comments

The value proposition for this device keeps getting lower. You gotta really really want this to drop coin. This is for the fan's fan.

svanstrom 7 Years · 685 comments

I’m not one to often invoke the holiness Steve Jobs himself, but… He absolutely would have blown a fuse if he’d seen this confusing mess Apple has created, in about a month, with different chargers and standards (all of it invisible to the average user).

mike1 10 Years · 3437 comments

Japhey said:

As predicted last week.
So, let’s see... that’s a total of $148 for a compromised charging speed OR $178 for a slightly better, yet still compromised, charging speed? Lol, I can’t wait to hear how it gets defended now.

Charging speed isn't everything to everyone. Overnight is still overnight and I don't care whether my watch and phone are done charging at 3:00am or 3:30am.
Still going to make a nice travel charger. I would probably start using it with one of the multitude of iPad (12W, I believe) chargers I have kicking around and see how that goes.

mtashiro 4 Years · 1 comment

I take a different view on this... I see this products use case as something you use on travel. 11W charging is plenty when all you would do is put it on the charger at night and it would be charged in the morning. And if yo want the higher rate buy a 3rd party power adapter like the 60W Anker power port atom III for $30/list. It a convenience product. If you don't like the price or the charring power get the regular MagSafe charger.