Apple recently unveiled the iPhone 16e, but unlike other models, it doesn’t feature MagSafe. Apple has already addressed this decision, clarifying that it’s unrelated to the use of its first in-house developed modem. According to the company, the decision was based on the observation that “most people in the 16e’s target audience exclusively charge their phones with a charging cable.” This explanation came from unnamed “Apple representatives” in an interview with John Gruber of Daring Fireball.
These representatives elaborated by stating that users likely to purchase the iPhone 16e “tend not to use inductive charging at all.” However, how Apple arrived at this conclusion is unclear, as is the specific profile of the target audience they are referencing. The decision to forgo MagSafe seems to have been based on assumptions about user behavior, but there’s little evidence provided to substantiate these claims.
It’s also apparent that this move could be viewed as a cost-cutting measure. The iPhone 16e is not exactly a budget device, so the decision to exclude MagSafe appears to have been made with the intention of increasing profit margins. While Apple’s representatives are framing this as a benefit, claiming users wouldn’t need the feature anyway, it could come across as presumptuous. The company’s approach feels a bit “Big Brother”-like, as if Apple is telling consumers what they do and don’t need, based on its own assumptions about their usage habits.
In essence, Apple seems to be trying to justify the lack of MagSafe by suggesting it’s unnecessary for the target demographic, but it still raises questions about how user needs were determined and whether this decision was truly in the best interest of consumers.
