How many times a day do you have to do the same annoying ritual - insert the power cord into your smartphone to charge the device battery? A charger with magnets is designed to solve this problem: now it is enough just to bring the cord to the gadget, and the charging process will start automatically.
What is magnetic charging
Magnetic charger - a special cable, which consists of two elements, interconnected by means of magnets. This accessory greatly simplifies the life of its owner, and is also becoming more popular these days.
History of
Magnetic cable for charging a mobile device is not a new thing. For the first time such technology was applied in 2006 by Apple for MacBook Pro and was named MagSafe. The essence of MagSafe is that the plug of the charger is held in the connector by magnets, which ensures the safety and security of the laptop in case someone suddenly accidentally touches the wire.
In 2015, the first universal magnetic cables for charging mobile gadgets began to appear on the market, operating on the same principle as MagSafe: new wires are also connected to the device and transmit electricity using magnets. But the main difference between such charges from its progenitor is that they can be used with absolutely any device, no matter what port the manufacturer provides.
Compatible with any device
The ability to use such magnetic charging with any gadget is ensured by the fact that the cable consists of two parts: a cord and a plug connected to the device. The plug is not soldered to the wire, as is done in ordinary accessories, but will be connected to it with powerful magnets. According to manufacturers, the plug should be plugged into the device's power port all the time, the user can only connect the tip to the cable with a single hand movement when the smartphone or tablet needs to be recharged.
In the modern world, all mobile gadgets have one of three types of connectors:
- Lightning (Apple devices);
- micro USB (most Android devices):
- USB Type-C, which is equipped with new flagship devices from manufacturers such as Samsung, LG, HTC.
For the magnetic cable to work, you just need to choose the right plug, which is fixed in the smartphone. The mobile device does not need to have any special characteristics to support charging from these accessories, all technologies are hidden in the cable itself.
Principle of operation
As mentioned above, the plug is inserted into the power port of the smartphone and is there constantly, without interfering with the user to hold the gadget in his hand - the plug will bulge no more than 5-7 millimeters.
The cable through which the current flows is also not much different from the cord we are used to - the whole trick is in the magnetic connection of the two components together. When you bring the end of the wire to the plug, the pole plus is attracted to the pole minus (school physics course), and the charger is put together.
When both parts are in contact, the contacts are closed, which allows the electric current to flow freely into the smartphone's battery and perform charging. Everything is really very simple!
Pros and cons of the charger
Over time, the smartphone may start charging poorly or stop charging altogether. The cause of this problem may lie in a failed power port, the replacement of which will take time and money.
To save yourself in the future from unpleasant surprises, you should take care of your device in advance. And the main purpose of the magnetic charger is precisely this: since its plug is always connected to the gadget, the risk of damage or loosening of the power port is reduced to zero.
Another advantage of this device is to protect the smartphone from accidental fall from a height during charging. You no longer need to be afraid of accidentally hitting the cable with your foot and breaking the phone - despite the strength of the magnetic mounts, which, if necessary, keep the device in a suspended state, they will instantly disengage with a strong jerk. A happy medium that even MagSafe cannot achieve.
It is worth noting the ease of use of magnetic charging. The user will no longer have to look for the power connector in the dark; the magnets will do the job for you.
Another advantage of this plug is to protect the Lightning / USB connector from dust and sand, which will also help extend the life of the smartphone and protect its owner from unplanned expenses.
So, the magnetic charger:
- saves the power port from mechanical damage and exposure to the external environment;
- protects your smartphone from accidental drops during the charging process;
- saves time and saves the owner’s nerves.
Of course, every thing has its drawbacks. The disadvantages of a magnetic charger include the following:
- the wire may accidentally shift, causing the charge to stop;
- Since the plug is made of metal, which oxidizes under the influence of the environment, it can get stuck in the connector of the smartphone.
It is worth noting that the first flaw is easily corrected with the help of a luminous indicator, which notifies the user of what happened when the contacts are opened.
Rules and tips for choosing a device
So, you decided to purchase a magnetic charger, and now you probably have a question about what kind of charging to choose. When selecting this accessory, you should pay attention to such characteristics as compatibility with a smartphone, price, authority of the manufacturer.
Compatibility
As mentioned above, the power connectors in modern smartphones are divided into three types. And each type of port has its own plug, otherwise you just can’t insert a plug into your gadget.
It is also worth considering the fact that the standards of the same connector (for example, micro-USB) may not coincide with different manufacturers.
So, the micro-USB plug in Samsung phones is slightly shorter than in other devices; or in some models of Xiaomi, the charging port seems to be "turned upside down" by 180 degrees. Therefore, when buying a magnetic charge, you should definitely find an indication or manufacturer's marking of the compatibility of this device with your smartphone.
Price
Of course, the cost of the charger must be adequate to the quality. Today, the average cost of magnetic charge is about 1000-1500 rubles in retail stores.
Price when ordering in online stores, as a rule, is always lower, but there is one “but”. If the retailer’s shop window has a price tag, for example, one and a half thousand rubles for a device, and you see the price for an identical product three times lower on the Internet seller’s website, be careful: it’s likely that they sell a fake or an unworkable device online.
Manufacturer credibility
You need to pay attention not only to the reliability of the seller, but also to the credibility of the manufacturer of the charger itself: the more famous the manufacturer, the less chance you have to buy low-quality goods.
A well-known company will never risk its reputation by offering services of dubious quality. Be sure to look for a mark on cable certification by the manufacturer of the smartphone to which the accessory is selected. By the way, this mark from Apple is the abbreviation MFi, which means "Made For iPhone / iPad / iPod".
Conclusion
Magnetic charger is a very convenient and useful accessory that can make the life of the smartphone owner a little more comfortable.
The positive aspects of this charge can be considered:
- Additional protection of the power connector of the phone and the extension of its operation.
- Saving time and effort of the owner of the gadget.
The main disadvantage of the accessory is the oxidation of the metal of the tip and the risk of a plug getting stuck inside the port.
You can buy magnetic charging almost anywhere: a wide range of these devices is presented both in the windows of official retailers and retail chains, and in the catalogs of online stores.
