Complete Guide: Magsafe 2 Vs Magsafe 3

MagSafe is a series of proprietary magnetic attached power connectors developed by Apple Inc. for Mac laptops. There are 3 versions of magsafe: Magsafe 1, Magsafe 2, Magsafe 3, the most common of which are Magsafe 2 and Magsafe 3. So what is the difference between Magsafe 2 and 3, we purchased the original Apple Magsfe 2 and 3 to review.

Magsafe 3 – Apple’s New MagSafe Charger for MacBook Pro

On October 18, 2021, Apple announced updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with MagSafe 3.

USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable (2 m) – Apple

MagSafe 3 charging cable adopts a separate design and is not integrated with the charger, so it is easy to use and maintain.

The output end is a MagSafe 3 connector, and the input end is a USB-C connector.

The connector does not have an extended protection design. There is a green LED charging indicator on the MagSafe 3 connector.

MagSafe 3 connector has five spring contacts.

The jacket of the cable is made of nylon woven.

The charger is either 67W, 96W, or 140W, depending on the model of Mac. You can use the USB-C power adapter (or one that’s more powerful) that Apple includes in the box.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro comes with either a 67-watt (for the M1 Pro with 8-core CPU model) or 96-watt power adapter (for the other M1 Pro or M1 Max models), while the 16-inch MacBook Pro requires you to use Apple’s brand new 140-watt USB-C power adapter, which happens to be the most powerful adapter that it has ever made.

Magsafe 2 Vs Magsafe 3

Here are complete guide comparing MagSafe 2 vs. MagSafe 3 charging connector for MacBook Pro.

Note: MagSafe 2 and MagSafe power adapters aren’t compatible with MagSafe 3.

In addition to the difference in cable jacket and connector, the plugs have also been improved. This LED indicator has been passed down, but the white lampshade does not look so obtrusive anymore.

Left: MagSafe 3, Right: MagSafe 2

MagSafe 3 was slimmer than MagSafe 2 connector, but a tiny bit wider. Because of these changes in size, the new MagSafe is not backward compatible with the previous generations.

MagSafe 3: Length-18.81mm, Thickness-13.18mm, High-4.48mm

MagSafe 2: Length-17.16mm, Thickness-5.36mm, High-13.01mm

MagSafe 3 charging cable can carry power more than 100w and supports PD 3.1. The charging power for MacBook Pro 16 M1 Max is about 136.68W.

These pictures are a comparison of the interfaces, the first is MagSafe 3 and MacBook Pro 16 M1 Max. The second is the MagSafe 2 and MacBook Pro 16 M1 Max.

Compared with Magsafe 2, MagSafe 3 has a longer connector and a more harmonious indicator design. Supporting PD3.1 is the biggest highlight. It can also be used with a third-party PD charger. Selling separately means that this cable may not only be designed for these two models. Will laptop of other MacBook product return to the magnetic interface and HDMI in the future? Let us wait and see.

Apple’s new line of Magsafe 3 can be ordered at ByteCable, we wholesale Magsafe 3 Charging cable at affordable price. Contact us for more information.