The iPhone 16e boasts several impressive features, yet one notable downside is its omission of MagSafe support. Speculations have arisen suggesting that Apple’s new C1 modem might be the cause, but the company has outright denied this notion.
Apple: C1 modem “is not responsible” for decision to remove MagSafe
Today, Macworld published an article discussing Apple’s new C1 modem, which included commentary on the absence of MagSafe in the iPhone 16e:
Industry sources have informed Macworld that the built-in magnets of the MagSafe system may hinder the performance of Apple’s new C1 5G modem. Therefore, it’s conceivable that to guarantee optimal connectivity for its first-gen 5G modem, Apple had to forego MagSafe.
This theory isn’t new to me, and it seemed quite reasonable at first glance. It might also clarify why Apple isn’t implementing the C1 in the entire iPhone 17 series, instead reserving it for the 17 Air, which is expected to include certain compromises.
I must admit, I felt a bit concerned, as losing MagSafe on the otherwise exciting iPhone 17 Air would be disappointing.
Fortunately, Apple has formally refuted the rumor. The article has since been updated with:
Update 11:18am ET: Apple has confirmed to Macworld that the decision to exclude MagSafe charging from the iPhone 16e is unrelated to the C1 modem.
This is certainly reassuring. However, it still leaves the reasons for MagSafe’s absence open to speculation.
It’s possible that Apple was facing challenges in reducing the iPhone 16e’s cost, and removing MagSafe aided in that effort. Priced at $599, it’s already higher than many anticipated.
Additionally, there were expectations for a new iPhone SE, but that line has been officially discontinued.
DMN’s Take
I’m uncertain how much cost savings could be linked to the MagSafe components, making this a bit of an enigma for me.
Furthermore, Apple’s denial leaves the door open for the possibility that the C1 chip may still play a role in this scenario.
Perhaps the internal layout of the iPhone 16e, largely derived from the existing design of the iPhone 14, resulted in some compatibility issues between the C1 and MagSafe. While this is likely to be resolved before the C1 is included in the iPhone 17 Air, it may have influenced Apple’s decision for this particular model.
What are your thoughts on Apple’s statement regarding the C1 and MagSafe? Share your opinions in the comments.
