The Ouga Group, the parent company behind OnePlus, Oppo and Realme, is reportedly developing a magnetic accessory ecosystem for its future smartphones, according to a leak from Digital Chat Station. While the phones themselves won't have built-in magnetic wireless charging due to patent restrictions, they will likely offer cases that enable this functionality, along with support for other magnetic accessories.
Image credit — Digital Chat Station (Weibo)
It seems like the company's goal is to entice iPhone owners to upgrade their devices by offering similar features and functionality. This could mean that we will see MagSafe-like features on the upcoming OnePlus 13 and Oppo Find X8 series. This news comes after it was revealed that the Qi 2 wireless charging standard doesn't actually require magnets in a smartphone. Consequently, this means that a device can get Qi 2 certification even without magnets.
While Android users use MagSafe adapters to attach various accessories to their phones, integrating magnets directly into the phones would make for a more seamless experience.
The use of magnets in smartphones has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially with Apple's MagSafe technology. This technology allows for easy attachment and removal of accessories such as wallets, chargers, and car mounts. It also enables faster wireless charging speeds.
It's not yet clear what specific accessories the Ouga Group is working on, but they have mentioned cooling clips as one possibility. Other possible accessories could include battery packs, stands, and even camera lenses.
The move to develop a magnetic accessories ecosystem is a smart move for the Ouga Group. Not only does it provide users with a convenient way to enhance their smartphone experience, but it also gives the company a chance to differentiate itself from its competitors. It will be interesting to see how the Ouga Group's magnetic accessories fare compared to Apple's MagSafe offerings. If they can offer similar features at a lower price, they could garner a lot of interest from Android users.