Apple's MagSafe charger is a wonderful charging technology that has saved my MacBook more times than I can count, but if the cord frays -- or if you lose or break it -- you're left with no choice but buying a new one from Apple.
I remember arriving in Las Vegas for CES in 2013 only to realize I forgot to pack my MacBook Air charger. Since MagSafe is patented and Apple doesn't license the tech to third parties, no cheaper alternatives exist for customers to buy. It sucked. I had to fork over $79 for a new charger at the Apple Store.
According to 9to5Mac, though, Apple is finally loosening its tight grip with the new MacBook, which charges through its USB-C port. That means cheaper chargers will soon flood the market.
It's a big win for customers and their wallets.
The new MacBook will also hook up with a battery pack, which Apple's other MacBooks can't do. Just like you can connect a smartphone to a battery pack when it's running low, you'll be able to do the same with the new MacBook.
Apple's new MacBook gets up to nine hours of battery life, which is a lot -- so long as you're only browsing the web. But when you have dozens of web browser tabs open, Spotify running in the background and a word processor and other apps open, it drains fast.
The removal of MagSafe on the new MacBook is a loss for klutzy Apple fans, but the new USB-C -- as much of a dongle hell as it is for the interim -- will have a pretty cool trick to make up for it.
As 9to5Mac points out, there are external battery packs for MagSafe-equipped MacBooks, but they require unfriendly modifications. With the new MacBook, recharging it on the go will be as simple as connecting a battery pack to it. This is huge for people who do work at Starbucks -- no more fighting for a power outlet!
Of course, you'll have to wait until a battery pack with a USB-C end exists or buy a USB-C adapter cable. As long as one end of the cable is USB-C and can fit into the new MacBook's single port, you're good to go.