Apple invented a magnetic phone charger and I want it to be real
Apple's never made a magnetic iPhone connector, but according to a patent published on Tuesday, it has clearly considered the idea.
The new invention, "stackable magnetically-retained connector interface," appears to describe an expansion to the new "Smart Connector" used on iPad Pros to connect a keyboard, as 9to5Mac points out. The patent describes a system in which several different plugs could be stacked on one smart connector, held together by magnets.
Images in the patent depict connectors that look like a MagSafe laptop charger, a Lightning cable, and an Apple Watch charger.
The system looks like this:
The patent abstract describes the system as:
A stackable connector interface with magnetic retention for electronic devices and accessories can allow power and data to be transferred between one or more stacked connectors.
Existing MagSafe connectors cannot transfer data. But the patent for this Smart Connector Magsafe says that it will be able to transfer both data and power.
Apple originally filed for the patent in September, 2014.
It's interesting to note that Apple's most recent MacBook redesign, the MacBook released in early 2015, ditched the Magsafe connector for a universal USB-C charging cord. But this most recent patent suggests that Apple's beloved Magsafe technology might make a return on the iPad.
Of course, Apple patents stuff all the time - 53 new Apple patents were published today alone - and there's no guarantee that patents will ever become real features or products.
But if you like the idea of a MagSafe phone charger, you can take a look at how Apple imagines that could work in the patent images below.