Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- Macworld reveals a viral TikTok video with over 17 million views falsely claims that the iPhone 18 will have a MacBook-style MagSafe charging port instead of USB-C.
- The rumor seems to confuse the iPhone’s existing MagSafe wireless technology with the MacBook’s magnetic power connector, creating an impractical charging concept.
- Apple is expected to keep USB-C on future iPhones due to EU regulations mandating the standard for smartphones and practical connectivity needs.
Most iPhone fans are currently focused on the upcoming launch of the iPhone 17e, which could be here in a few days. But one dubious rumor currently doing the rounds on social media is about the next-gen flagship. It’s just a shame that it’s almost certainly wrong.
This TikTok video, which has been viewed more than 17 million times at the time of writing, purports to show the charging port of the iPhone 18. (Or “iPhone18,” as the maker clearly has it in the know.) But rather than the USB-C port used on all Apple smartphones starting with the iPhone 15 in 2023, the animation shows what appears to be something new on Magkin. MacBooks.
This video might look great, but it won’t.
TikTok
The charging cable, which has a rather nice black braided cord, attaches using a magnetic connection. When it’s in place, a green LED lights up on the charger head and a small green flash appears at the bottom of the phone’s previously blank screen. (Never mind that iPhones don’t behave this way; it’s the least of our worries.) It looks very similar to the MagSafe cable on my MacBook Pro 2021, except for three pins instead of five and a sturdier body.
The video now does not list its sources; we don’t get the usual “supply chain resources” or “people with knowledge”. It’s just an animation. So in some ways it’s quite hard to disprove: where did this information come from? Who said it was likely? Is it simply a concept made up by an illustrator, like this animation from the same channel showing possible iPhone 18 Pro colors?
Whatever the intent of the video, it’s getting a lot of attention from viewers who think it’s real. A quick scroll through a handful of the 9,700-odd comments reveals viewer after viewer complaining about Apple’s stupidity in doing this, or the impracticality of the design. Some Android fans seem to be mocking iPhone users for their misfortune. I haven’t found any comments that indicate that this is extremely unlikely to happen.
Because, as several debaters claim, it would not be a practical solution. It would disconnect very easily, and unlike the MacBook, an easy disconnect isn’t necessary to protect against a specific type of accident. It would inconvenience customers and accessory manufacturers. And it could cause problems with the EU, which has mandated USB-C connectors on all smartphones sold in its territory.
Maybe someone confused MagSafe on iPhone with MagSafe on Mac. Both are charging standards that use a magnetic connection to hold the charging points in place, but in most other ways they are completely different. (For example, a phone’s magnetic connection is stronger so it stays attached even if you poke the device, while a laptop is designed to disconnect if you trip over a wire.) The iPhone 17 already has a phone version of MagSafe, and so does the iPhone 18, but that doesn’t mean it will have a Mac version. If nothing else, it would be extremely confusing.
While the iPhone 17e is expected to be here in time for Apple’s March 4th “experience,” the first iPhone 18 series won’t arrive until September. And the real iPhone 18, the cheaper entry-level model, may not appear until next spring. So bookmark our iPhone 18 super guide to keep up with all the latest news and rumours.