So it looks like MagSafe is rumored to be returning to MacBook Pros this year. While the rumor mill does say that this grand return is going to be in the form of the classic power connector, I’m really hoping for something different.
While I don’t inherently think that there’s anything wrong with choice — if Apple wants to give us the option of MagSafe charging or USB C, who am I to complain? I do think that there’s a better option for brining MagSafe to the Mac (and I know a lot of you are going to disagree with me in the comments).
Put it in the palm rest!
Here me out on this — there’s rumors of an iPhone without any ports potentially being in the works. Traditionally, you’ve been able to plug your iPhone directly into your MacBook if you need a quick top up. Without a lighting port, however, that option goes away. What if Apple’s solution to that is to integrate a 15w MagSafe wireless charger directly into the MacBook Pro palm rest.
I do realize there a a few issues with this, however. The first is that you can’t wirelessly charge through metal — so perhaps this means that future MacBooks could have a glass section in the body to work around that. Another possibility would be to put the charger into the trackpad itself — I know Apple’s used glass for these in the past, though I’m not sure if that’s still the case if I’m being completely honest.
The last drawback to this is that there’s not really anywhere on the MacBook that you could back in a wireless charger that wouldn’t interfere with general usage of the computer. Still, it’s very possible that this is just a solution for emergency situations (or to provide a power boost for wirelessly transferring files).
Some of my concerns may also be complete non-issues in the eyes of Apple engineers. They’ve actually been granted a few patents that line up with what I’m hoping. So maybe it’s possible Apple could go either way — or even both ways.
Only time is going to tell.
What implementation of MagSafe would you like to see come to MacBooks in the future, though. Would you prefer the return of the magnetic charging connector or are you ready for your MacBook to become a wireless charging pad? Let’s discuss down in the comments below!
Dan Stransky 