MagSafe 2 is weak

No problems on my Air 13 mid 2012. Perhaps someone with 11" will chime in. And it could very well be a figment of immagination. Worst senario you bring it in and see what they say. Don't lose any sleep over it. Your in good hands.

Hi Devin,

I completely agree with you. I recently bought the MacBook Air 13 inch 2012 model and in a matter of hours I realized how weak and uncomfortable magsafe 2 is compared to the previous models. Apple has definitely lost a point on this one and I hope they find a work around because it some times fraustrating to having to be extremely careful so that it doesn't detch. And the form factor is terrible, takes up more space on the left side of the laptop for no reason.

Fabio

I agree, I still have my wifes MacBook Air with MagSafe 1 and also my 2008 4,1 MBP with MagSafe 1.

Amount of times the MagSafe 1 falls out of either of the older computers by accident or movement of the laptop, about once a week or so.

Amount of time the current MagSafe 2 falls out of my brand new Retina MBP. About 15 times a day!

The magnet really stinks!

I also have both types of MagSafe 1 power bricks, the one with the straight plug and the one with the right angle plug. Neither one falls out. The new MagSafe 2, falls out constantly even just relocating the laptop from my lap to the my desk.

-4 to Apple for this blunder IMHO.

I have had the complete opposite experience. My MagSafe 2 on my MBPR has tiger grip. I can quite literally drag the laptop across any work surface by the power cord. It won't pull out unless I twist it up or down.

I've just had my laptop pulled off the table by the second generation system designed to prevent exactly that. Had an audio jack plugged in which it landed on. The audio jack on the laptop is now broken and won't play sound. I'm naturally very unimpressed by this whole scenario.

I've had a MacBook air with MagSafe 1 and that worked just fine. Disconnects properly with a sleeker design. Why would apple move away from this? Accidental release is far better than not releasing when it should by a long way

I don't suppose anyone knows what apples replacement or repair policy under an extended protection plan for this sort of thing is?

NicZa,

You are correct, I just tried it and the direct 'pull' force is very strong if you pull it straight parallel to the laptop body. I pulled and it almost pulled the laptop off my lap! I never noticed that!

But the shear force if a minuscule force is applied laterally (especially vertically e.g. pressing down on it) stinks. It will disconnect if the cord is just laying on the couch and the laptop rocks on your lap! Or if the cord is on the coming from ground level and you just pick up the laptop, the magsafe will drop out.

There simply isn't enough contact area on the rare earth magnet to prevent it falling out if there is any shear force. But it does seem that a direct pull on it takes quite a lot of pull to get it to come out. I guess most MagSafe 2 users are used to disconnecting by bending the plug vs. pulling it straight out!

I have the 11" macbook air (2012). It does take a good amount of force to disconnect the magsafe connector if you pull it straight out. However, it does not seem to dislodge too easily if the force is applied from other directions. It is easier than pulling it out directly, but not too easy.

I have never had a problem with the Magsafe 1 connectors ever. The Magsafe 2 constantly falls out with a slight downward force. Super annoying when I use the laptop while on the couch.

Yes, I too hate the Retina MBP MagSafe connector's constant disconnections. I pray that a new L-shaped power adapter will arrive someday.

I can't believe Apple would let this go into production. It appears that Apple's Hardware Quality Assurance is no better than for the Mac OS. OS updates in Snow Leopard, Lion, and Mountain Lion have caused kernel panics in my older Macs. Has Apple given up on Quality Control?

I have a MBA 13" (Late 2010) with MagSafe1. Solid connection and works perfectly. My fiance just bought a new MBA 13" with MagSafe2. It has good strength as to not disconnect inadvertently if pulled directly. However, it disconnects super easy with any lateral or vertical force applied to the connector. Gone is the sleek form factor. It's very similar to the iPhone and iPad, both of which I've solved with a dock.

To change this was a FAIL for Apple.

I have a new Macbook Air (1 month old) with the new MagSafe 2 and it seems perfectly OK - if anything, it seems tighter than the MagSafe on my 2008 Macbook.

I have a new MacBook Air and am shocked at how bad the new MagSafe adapter is. Apple took a huge step backward with this. It disconnects much more easily than the previous version and I have to be careful to seat it properly or the laptop doesn't charge. Why in the world Apple introduced this incompatibility with previous models is beyond me. I'm a huge Apple fan, but it's stuff like this (along with Maps, etc.) that is shaking my confidence.

The mag"safe" seems quite variable in its effectiveness. I have had several so far. The original straight ones in my Macbook Pros have always worked well. They connect firmly and if somebody trips over the cable it breaks free without damage.

My original Macbook Air with the right angle connector with tapered body worked similarly. My right angled connector of my current Air is no longer tapered and fits into a matching recess with such precision that tripping on the cable pulls directly on the body of the computer, not even attempting to dislodge the magnet. The Air ends up falling to the ground every time.

I have not had a Magsafe 2 yet but I would much rather the connection was actually safe, ie pulled out whichever direction one tugs on the lead rather than what I am putting up with now where a pull in the most likely direction is taken by shear between the connector and computer body. Poor design :-(

Is there an accessory or work around for this? Because its driving me nuts. I have 2 adapters and they both pull out with almost any pressure on the cable. Using it on the couch or in bed is incredibly annoying. Why did they move away from the L shaped adapter which had a lot less leverage for it to pull out for goodness sake??

I just bought my Macbook Air 13" and am extremely frustrated with how easy the MagSafe disconnects. My previous MacBook Pro's MagSafe worked just fine.

I wonder if there is even a fix for this.

MagSage 2 is INDEED a lot looser than its predecessor. For the time being I am afraid there is no workaround. So you have to be more careful about it if you don't want it to disconnect so easily.