So unless you have been living under a rock it’s September that means one thing: The Apple Launch and with the range of Apple iPhone 13 devices and the push towards Magsafe charging instead of the trusty lightning cables. You may be thinking it’s time you went over to MagSafe.
An Apple Magsafe charger can cost you £39 However there are some excellent alternative brands on the Market from TwelveSouth to Mophie. In this review, we are looking at Mophie Magsafe compatible Snap+ wireless vent mount which costs £49.95 From Zagg.com
Now on the first inspection, the Snap+ mimics Apple’s Magsafe charger but you only get half the charging speed. Why would I buy this ? Well, the Snap+ is unique as it comes with its own removable magnetic charging puck that works just like an Apple Magsafe but not to the same speed.
The Mophie Snap+ also comes with an adapter for any Android device offering up to 15W of charge. However, where this device falls down bizarrely is for Apple users who are capped with 7.5W of charge.
The reason behind this when I tested it on my iPhone 12 is Mophie has just used a number of magnets to match what you expect from a standard Magsafe plus the Qi charging but they do this without having to pay Apple for licencing fees.
Design
The puck that comes with Mophie’s car mount looks identical to an Apple Magsafe from the size and shape down to the USB-C connection. So how they avoided Apple fees is questionable.
The Mophie Snap+ wireless vent mount comes with the following:
- Magnetic Puck
- Ball & Socket joint that connects to your air conditioner vent
- USB-C power adapter for the cigarette adapter
Mophie has made some improvements to what you might get with the Apple version. For example, they provide a fixed cable that must be completely replaced if it frays and becomes damaged. They provide a puck with a female USB-C port which can be replaced but this does affect the overall charge speed.
The only other real difference is the cable and puck are black and look better in my car.
Performance
I live out in rural Essex so some roads are not what you might expect so the magnets are really tested. The Snap+ with my iPhone 12 did not fall off once nor did the ball & socket mount stay in position. However, some car owners might be disappointed due to the lack of any lower stems to help with positioning.
The magnetic puck can be removed for freedom of use within the car. I found this useful for when my sons wanted to charge their devices. The Snap+ adapter that gets shipped with the vent mount allows you to use any compatible android device.
In terms of charging speed, the Snap+ is considerably slower compared to the Apple offering but if you’re not in a rush for example you’re on a long road trip the Snap+ will keep your phone battery topped up. You will get a steady charge however if you’re looking for a quick charge you need to look elsewhere as Apple users only get a 7.5-watt output but android users get that 10W output which will charge devices like that faster.
Verdict
The Mophie Snap+ wireless vent mount is slightly more expensive than the Apple MagSafe and the Snap+ does charge your device slower but the fact you can replace the cable and the magnets on the Snap+ will keep that phone charging even on the roughest of roads.
If you are looking for a simple and affordable way to charge your iPhone in the car. Mophie has produced a decent option; they provide you with everything you need. The only negative is that 7.5W output for Apple users compared to the 10W output for android users. Apple MagSafe offers 15W charging so this is a drop that might put some users off but if you are doing a long drive you will enjoy the device and it will keep your phone charged and topped up.
Product Rating:
- Design: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
- Performance: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
- Value for Money : 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Overall Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Mophie Snap + Wireless Vent Mount Available £49.95
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