Niks Evalds/Getty Images We may receive a commission for purchases made through links. Who would have thought that a ring of magnets built into the chassis of a smartphone would be so useful? We are referring, of course, to Apple’s MagSafe technology, which made its debut in the iPhone 12. Interestingly, Apple’s first MagSafe foray dates back to 2006; The original MacBook Pro came with a magnetic charging cable designed to disconnect if someone tripped over the cable. Today, MagSafe is a universal term for the magnets on MacBooks and iPhones, although an increasing number of Android phones and cases are also adopting similar magnetic accessory designs. Whether you’re using the latest generation of iPhone or are in the Android-only camp, there’s a huge market for MagSafe accessories to choose from. Most of these devices are stands, wallets, and portable power banks, but we wanted to draw attention to some lesser-known MagSafe accessories. It took a bit of searching on Amazon and researching interesting keywords, but the clicks and scrolling paid off. We were able to locate five cool MagSafe devices that aren’t stands, wallets, or power banks. Our five picks are sold on Amazon, and each item earned four stars or more based on customer reviews. From lighting when you need it most to a magnetized game controller, there’s a lot to unpack, so let’s dive in. Hagibis MC100 Pro SSD Enclosure Apple introduced its ProRes 422 HQ codec in the iPhone 13 Pro, and it’s a great way to preserve as much image detail as possible when recording video. This bodes well for videographers and other workflows where you want minimal compression. One of the only drawbacks is the amount of storage a ProRes 422 HQ file consumes. The $40 Hagibis MC100 Pro SSD enclosure aims to solve that problem. The device connects via MagSafe and connects via USB-C to a compatible iPhone for power and data. The MC100 will interface with up to 2TB NVMe SSDs that support the M-Key/M+B Key 2230 specification. The enclosure contains two 10Gbps USB-C ports, both capable of 1000-1200Mbps for read and write speeds. This is fast enough to transfer an HD movie in just two seconds, according to the manufacturer. You can also use the USB-C ports to power other peripherals, such as a microphone or LED light. More than 260 Amazon shoppers wrote about the Hagibis MC100, resulting in a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars. A couple of things to note: The included USB-C cables are not fast enough for recording in 4K ProRes HQ, which can cause dropped frames. And depending on the type of SSD you buy, you may need to use one of the USB-C ports on the enclosure to power the drive. ULANZI M10 Magnetic Selfie Light You never know when you’ll need a little more lighting, so it might be worth keeping the $16 ULANZI M10 Magnetic Selfie Light on standby. This MagSafe-ready light has five brightness levels and lighting modes, including a reduced blue light reading mode. Once positioned, the light can also be rotated up to 360 degrees, allowing flexibility to lock it at the correct angle. The ULANZI M10 contains a 400 milliamp rechargeable battery, offering up to 50 minutes at maximum brightness and up to 4.5 hours when the M10 is set to reading mode. The built-in USB-C port is the way to recharge, and it only takes about 70 minutes to restore a completely depleted battery. You can also use the M10’s reading mode while it charges. Amazon shoppers gave the ULANZI M10 4.2 out of 5 stars, based on more than 100 reviews. Several users thought it was a great addition to a non-backlit e-reader. One person was pleased that brightness and color temperature changes are saved when the light is turned off. There were a couple of reports of the M10 failing after just a few uses, but considering all the positive comments, these may be outliers. TELESIN Magnetic Phone Camera Grip Taking the perfect photo with a smartphone can be a challenge, especially since the flat rectangle design is not very ergonomic. Instead of dealing with cramped touchscreen controls and the occasional side button, you can invest in the $27 TELESIN Magnetic Phone Camera Grip. This MagSafe accessory makes portrait and landscape photography feel more natural, thanks in part to its camera-inspired finger hook design that provides comfort and stability. Conveniently, the TELESIN grip comes with a Bluetooth camera remote that maintains a connection with your phone up to 32 feet away. The grip is also threaded, so you can mount it on a tripod for better stationary photos or videos. It also has some buttons that handle changing orientation, zoom and shutter speed. The grip comes in matte white and black, and as of this writing, you can apply a coupon for an additional $4 off any of the designs. Amazon audiences gave this TELESIN product 4.1 out of 5 stars, based on over 2,000 reviews. Many people praised the ease of use and the simple configuration of the grip. One person had issues with the zoom feature on a Google Pixel 10 Pro XL. Another reviewer had similar issues with an iPhone 15 Pro Max, although he said the grip worked well with his Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. abxylute M4 Snap-On Mobile Game Controller Modern game consoles are more expensive than ever. To that end, many gamers are taking the retro route. Whether you’re returning to a beloved classic or emulating an old game you’ve never played before, the $50 abxylute M4 Snap-On Mobile Gaming Controller offers a compelling alternative to touchscreen controls. It’s easy to use, too: all you have to do is connect it via MagSafe, turn it on, pair it via Bluetooth, and start playing. If you don’t have MagSafe on your phone or case, the manufacturer includes a MagSafe label. The device is compatible between iOS and Android and you can choose between three control schemes: HID, PS and NS. On a full charge, you can expect up to 12 hours of playback. The abxylute M4 also works with a KeyLinker app to customize buttons and other device settings. Amazon shoppers gave the controller a 4 out of 5 stars rating, based on more than 360 reviews. The general consensus is that this is a great add-on for casual mobile gaming. One user had issues with Android button mapping, so you may have some hiccups. Fosi Audio MD3 Headphone Amplifier Wired headphones may not get the same kind of fanfare as their wireless counterparts, but you won’t be able to experience high-end audio codecs over Bluetooth; Not without aptX Adaptive support, in any case. If you’re a fan of detail-rich formats like LDAC or Samsung Seamless Codec, and you listen to much of your music over the phone, the $150 Fosi Audio MD3 headphone amplifier may offer an attractive option. In the past, external DACs like this required an awkward dongle dangling from your smartphone. Fortunately, Fosi Audio has put MagSafe to good use for its hardware. Equipped with an ESS ES9039Q2M DAC and quad-amp chips, the MD3 supports up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM as well as DSD256 playback. The MD3 also works well with many wired headphone options, although some reviews have mentioned that it’s not powerful enough to drive a set of ultra-high-end flat cans. Another feature worth mentioning is the MD3’s pass-through charging thanks to its two USB-C ports. Amazon user reviews were also very happy with the Fosi Audio M3, giving it an overall score of 4.5 out of 5 stars, based on over 70 reviews. One person praised the MD3’s ability to control multiple pairs of IEMs. Another user said they liked the quality of the leather backing used, which also helps protect their phone case from scratches. How We Chose These MagSafe Devices Niks Evalds/Shutterstock MagSafe technology may be Apple-branded, but many Android phone cases support it, too. As the headline of our article indicates, we didn’t want to write about frames, wallets or powerbanks. Instead, the point of this article was to highlight the “uncommon.” We also did not choose any product that scored less than four stars on Amazon and consulted user reviews whenever available and applicable.
