Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
The problem with using MagSafe accessories on Android phones is that in order for them to stick to your phone, you need said phone to have the proprietary magnet array in some form or another. MagSafe adapter rings have been a good solution for a while, but they’re a bit unsightly and can snag on fabric when we slip the phone into our pockets. Cases are more transparent; they hide the magnets inside them. Until now, however, MagSafe cases for Android have been either too expensive (Moment, Mous, Pitaka) or too cheap and unbranded.
Take a look at Amazon’s list of MagSafe-compatible cases for the year-old Samsung Galaxy S22, for example, and you’ll see a list of “brands” with names that sound like someone just pressed random letters on a keyboard and called a day. No big hitters like Spigen, Otterbox, Speck or others.
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
But things are changing, and the new Samsung Galaxy S23 series is the most obvious first example. Spigen, Ringke, Nillkin and UAG have created MagSafe compatible cases for the Galaxy S23 series. None of these brands had this for the S22 series. I cannot stress how important this is. This is an apt admission of the growing universal nature of MagSafe. (Don’t come for me – even the Wireless Consortium has jumped on the bandwagon with Qi2.) And the fact that well-known but still affordable brands are joining the fray means it’s reaching a level of commoditization too.
MagSafe cases for Android phones don’t cost a fortune anymore now that Spigen, Ringke and Nillkin are jumping on board.
As you might guess, I’m a shameless MagSafe fan. While I don’t care much about the silly wireless charging limitations behind it, I like the magnet system and how it’s standardized phone accessory attachments. With this, we went from a landscape of accessories where every brand used a different clip, grip, sticky pad, suction cup, or magnet size and shape, to a landscape where most brands follow the easy common denominator: MagSafe. Also, the magnets are so cool (please refer to the first episode of Breaking Bad) and they don’t tell the difference between iPhones and Android phones.
These MagSafe boxes are both a temporary solution until the release of Qi2 and a gateway to it.
While I expect these MagSafe cases to be a stopgap solution until Qi2 lands by the end of the year (supposedly), they’re still a step in the right direction for any hobbyist. of smartphone accessories. Being able to buy a decent, affordable case that opens up a world of possibilities is a good thing. And while well-known case makers still limit their MagSafe experience to high-end phones like the Galaxy S23, it’s a sign of things to come. Mid-range phones will likely follow soon.
If you’re buying a Galaxy S23, check out the cases below and pick up a MagSafe accessory or two. I recommend the Moment Tripod Mount ($49.99) to anyone who loves photography — it’s so much easier to attach a phone to a magnet than to repeatedly tighten and loosen it. The Anker 633 Magnetic Power Bank ($79.99) is also a great portable wireless power bank – I have its less powerful predecessor, the Anker 622, and use it a lot on the go. There are plenty more chargers, stands, wallets, speakers, grips, and other quirky accessories to check out.
- Spigen Ultra Hybrid One Tap Ring for Galaxy S23 Ultra – $22.99
- Ringke Magnetic Fusion for Galaxy S23 Ultra – $24.99
- Nillkin Frosted Shield MagSafe Case for Galaxy S23 Ultra – $23.99
- Recessed magnetic case for Galaxy S23 Ultra – $15.99
