5 Cool MagSafe Gadgets That Aren’t Stands, Wallets, or Power Banks

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Who knew a ring of magnets built into the chassis of a smartphone would be so useful? We’re of course referring to Apple’s MagSafe technology, which debuted on the iPhone 12. Funny enough, Apple’s first MagSafe foray was way back in 2006; the original MacBook Pro came with a magnetic charging cable designed to disconnect if someone tripped over the wire. These days, MagSafe is a universal term for magnets in MacBooks and iPhones, although a growing number of Android phones and cases are also adopting similar magnetic accessory designs.

Whether you’re using the latest generation of iPhone or you’re in the Android-only camp, there’s a huge market of MagSafe accessories to choose from. The lion’s share of these gadgets are stands, wallets, and portable power banks, but we wanted to draw attention to a few lesser-known MagSafe accessories. It took a little scouring on Amazon and some interesting keyword research, but the clicking and scrolling paid off.

We were able to track down five cool MagSafe gadgets that aren’t stands, wallets, or power banks. All five of our picks are sold on Amazon and each item has earned four stars or higher based on customer reviews. From lighting when you need it most to a magnetized gamepad, there’s a lot to unpack, so let’s get into it.

Apple introduced its ProRes 422 HQ codec to 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 downsides is the amount of storage consumed by a ProRes 422 HQ file. The $40 Hagibis MC100 Pro SSD enclosure aims to solve this problem. The device connects via MagSafe and connects via USB-C to a compatible iPhone for power and data.

The MC100 will interface with NVMe SSDs up to 2TB supporting the M-Key/M+B Key 2230 specification. The enclosure contains two 10Gbps USB-C ports, both capable of 1,000 to 1,200 Mbps read and write speeds. That’s 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 devices, like a microphone or LED light.

More than 260 Amazon buyers have written about the Hagibis MC100, earning it a 4.3 star rating out of 5. A few things to consider: The included USB-C cables aren’t fast enough to record 4K ProRes HQ, which can lead to dropped frames. And depending on the type of SSD you buy, you may need to use one of the enclosure’s USB-C ports to power the drive.

You never know when you’ll need a little extra lighting, so it might pay to keep the $16 ULANZI M10 Magnetic Selfie Light on standby. This MagSafe-enabled light has five brightness levels and lighting modes, including a reading mode with reduced blue light. Once attached, the light can also rotate up to 360 degrees, allowing it to be locked at the correct angle.

The ULANZI M10 contains a 400 milliamp rechargeable battery, which provides up to 50 minutes at maximum brightness and up to 4.5 hours when the M10 is set to playback mode. The built-in USB-C port lets you recharge, and it only takes about 70 minutes to restore a completely depleted battery. You can also use the M10’s playback mode while charging.

Amazon shoppers have given the ULANZI M10 4.2 out of 5 stars, based on over 100 reviews. Several users thought this was a great addition to a non-backlit e-reader. One person was happy that changes in brightness and color temperature are recorded when you turn off the light. There have been a few reports of the M10 breaking down after just a few uses, but given all the positive feedback, it’s possible these are outliers.

Taking the perfect photo with a smartphone can be a challenge, especially since the flat rectangular design isn’t very ergonomic. Instead of dealing with cramped touchscreen controls and occasional side buttons, you can invest in the $27 TELESIN Magnetic Phone Camera Grip. This MagSafe accessory makes portrait and landscape photography 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 handle is also threaded, so you’ll be able to mount it on a tripod for enhanced still photos or videos. It also has a few buttons that manage orientation change, zoom and shutter speed. The grip comes in white and matte black, and at the time of writing you can apply a coupon for an additional $4 off either model.

The Amazon audience has rated this TELESIN product 4.1 out of 5 stars, based on over 2,000 reviews. Many people have praised the ease of use and simple setup of the handle. One person had trouble with the zoom functionality on a Google Pixel 10 Pro XL. Another reviewer had similar issues with an iPhone 15 Pro Max, although he said the grip worked just fine with his Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Modern game consoles are more expensive than ever. To this end, many gamers are going the retro route instead. Whether you’re returning to a much-loved classic or emulating an older game you’ve never played before, the $50 abxylute M4 Snap-On mobile game controller offers a compelling alternative to touchscreen controls. It’s easy to use, too: all you have to do is connect via MagSafe, boot it up, pair it via Bluetooth, and start playing games.

If you don’t have MagSafe on your phone or case, the manufacturer includes a MagSafe sticker. The device is compatible between iOS and Android and you can choose from three control schemes: HID, PS and NS. On a full charge, you can expect up to 12 hours of battery life.

The abxylute M4 also works with a KeyLinker app to customize buttons and other device settings. Amazon shoppers have given the controller a 4 out of 5 star rating, based on over 360 reviews. The general consensus is that it is a great addition for casual mobile gaming. One user had issues with Android button mapping, so there may be some issues.

Wired headphones may not get the same kind of fanfare as their wireless counterparts, but you can’t take advantage of high-end audio codecs over Bluetooth; not without aptX Adaptive support, anyway. If you’re a fan of detail-rich formats like LDAC or Samsung Seamless Codec and listen to much of your music over the phone, the $150 Fosi Audio MD3 headphone amplifier may offer an interesting option.

In years past, external DACs like this required a clunky dongle that hung from your smartphone. Fortunately, Fosi Audio has made good use of MagSafe for its hardware. Equipped with an ESS ES9039Q2M DAC and four amp chips, the MD3 supports up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM, as well as DSD256 playback. The MD3 also works well with many wired headset options, although some reviews have mentioned that it’s not powerful enough to drive a set of ultra-high-end planar cans.

Another notable feature is the direct charging of the MD3 thanks to its two USB-C ports. Amazon user reviews were also very happy with the Fosi Audio M3, giving it an overall rating of 4.5 stars out of 5, based on over 70 reviews. One person praised the MD3’s ability to drive multiple pairs of IEMs. Another user said they liked the quality of the leather backing used, which also helps protect your phone case from scratches.

MagSafe technology may be Apple-branded, but many Android phone cases support it too. As the title of our article suggests, we didn’t want to talk about stands, wallets, or power banks. Instead, the purpose of this piece was to shine a light on what is “rare.” We also did not choose any product with less than four stars on Amazon and referenced user reviews wherever available and applicable.