OnePlus phones could soon support MagSafe accessories without paying Apple a cent
Key findings
- Despite Apple’s MagSafe patents, magnetic accessories may soon be available for popular Android flagships like OnePlus phones.
- Magnetic cases and accessories with wireless charging support, developed independently by OnePlus’ parent company, could entice iPhone users to switch to Android.
- The Ouga Group, which includes OnePlus and sister companies, is developing its own MagSafe-like system for upcoming phones.
Apple’s iPhone popularized MagSafe accessories, which combine the benefits of wireless charging with a secure magnetic attachment. These versatile little magnets prevent the charging coil from becoming misaligned and also help secure smaller, non-charging accessories like clip-on wallets and car mounts. This has spawned a number of aftermarket MagSafe accessories for popular Android flagships, but seems to have inspired OnePlus enough to develop its own system, which we should see soon.
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You don’t need an iPhone to use MagSafe
Most flagship Android phones support wireless charging, and with a simple magnetic case or cover, you can use MagSafe car chargers and phone mounts originally developed for the iPhone. But it’s no surprise that Apple’s design isn’t an open standard that anyone could use. It’s a patented system that the Ouga group is now bypassing to create its own implementation, leaker Digital Chat Station said on Chinese social media platform Weibo (via Android Authority).
In case you don’t know, the publicly available smartphone brands under the Ouga group include well-known names from China – OnePlus, Oppo and Realme. The leaker says that the company is going the same route as most accessory brands and developing magnetic cases with wireless charging support for smartphones, “magnetic heat dissipation back clips” (machine translated) and other accessories. We suspect that the heat dissipation back clips refer to clip-on coolers for gaming phones that tend to get hot, albeit with magnetic attachment technology instead of the usual clips.
Using Android to attract Apple users
Source: Digital Chat Station/Weibo
Although Apple’s MagSafe patents place “limitations” on the development of such systems, OnePlus and its sister companies are likely hoping to attract iPhone users who fear missing the convenience of MagSafe on Android, according to the leaker. This seems to be the Ouga group’s main goal, but it’s worth noting that Apple co-developed the Qi2 wireless charging standard and it closely resembles Apple MagSafe magnetically, so there’s a chance the leaker is referring to Qi2-compatible phones and matching magnetic accessories here.
However, the development of magnetic phones and accessories is still going on behind closed doors. The leaker doesn’t give any hints about timelines as to when we might see these new magnetic cases and accessories, so we’ll just have to wait and watch for the upcoming OnePlus and Realme phones to provide clarity.
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