Differences Between Gen 1 & Gen 2 Apple MagSafe Chargers

Many of our designs at The Workspace Hero utilize Apple MagSafe mounts—whether for charging your iPhone, Apple Watch, or AirPods.

There are several types of MagSafe chargers, and this article provides a quick summary to help you differentiate between them. That way, you can purchase the right one and print the compatible Workspace Hero accessory.

Gen 1 vs. Gen 2 Apple iPhone MagSafe Charger

Apple recently released an updated version of its MagSafe Charger, which we’re calling Gen 2, as it is the second iteration of the charger.

The easiest way to tell them apart is by looking at the cable:

• The Gen 1 MagSafe Charger has a smooth, plastic-coated cable.
• The Gen 2 MagSafe Charger features a textured, braided cable.

Additionally, the Gen 2 MagSafe Charger supports faster 25W charging, compared to 15W on the Gen 1. See the difference for yourself:

Apple MagSafe Charger (Gen 1 - 15W)

Apple MagSafe Charger (Gen 2 - 25W)

Apple Watch and AirPods Charger

The smallest MagSafe charger of them all is this Apple Watch charger, which maintains the braided cable of the new Gen 2 MagSafe charger above.