A new magnetic wireless power bank from Xiaomi is gaining attention – not because it’s an Android accessory, but because it feels like something Apple should have made. Its compact design, strong magnetic grip, and clean aesthetic make it look and behave like a premium iPhone-compatible accessory, offering a sleeker, more polished experience than many MagSafe alternatives.

And yes – it works flawlessly with the Apple iPhone, despite not being an Apple product.

A premium magnetic power bank that feels like it belongs to Apple’s ecosystem

Xiaomi’s new magnetic wireless power bank instantly stands out because of its ultra-thin profile, polished finish, and minimalist design. It clips onto the back of an iPhone with a firm, MagSafe-compatible lock, delivering wireless charging without wobbling or shifting in your hand.

While Apple’s official MagSafe Battery Pack was discontinued and third-party options vary in quality, Xiaomi’s take feels refined – almost intentional – with edges and materials that mimic Apple’s industrial design language more than typical Android-centric accessories.

Users who prefer pocketable designs will appreciate how easily it slips into a bag or pocket without adding bulk. The lightweight build makes it ideal for travel, commuting, or extended outdoor use, especially for iPhone models with aging batteries.

Beyond looks, the power bank is surprisingly capable

Xiaomi equips the unit with a 5000mAh battery, offering enough power to recharge most iPhones. The wireless charging surface delivers stable output, and the magnets ensure the phone stays aligned during use – a key issue for many cheaper MagSafe clones.

There’s also a wired output option for faster, cable-based charging when needed, giving it versatility for users who switch between devices. Xiaomi also includes safety layers for temperature control, foreign object detection, and overvoltage protection, making it feel dependable for all-day use.

What sets it apart is the attention to ergonomic usability. You can comfortably hold the phone while it charges, use it while gaming or streaming, or leave it in a pocket – and it still stays aligned.

Why this accessory matters in the broader market

With the iPhone’s shift to USB-C and the growing popularity of magnetic charging accessories, users are now looking for power banks that are not just functional but designed to blend seamlessly with their device. Apple’s exit from the MagSafe battery category left a gap that accessory makers are trying to fill. Xiaomi’s new wireless power bank stands out by offering a level of design polish and efficiency rare in the Android-first accessory landscape.

This also reflects a wider industry trend: top OEMs are expanding beyond traditional ecosystems. Accessories once thought to be Android-exclusive or Apple-exclusive are now intentionally designed with cross-device compatibility in mind.

For consumers, it means more options and better value without sacrificing design or performance.

Why you may care, even if you’re deep in Apple’s ecosystem

If you own an iPhone and need a reliable wireless power bank that looks premium, charges consistently, and doesn’t cost a fortune, this accessory is one of the best new options available globally. It’s especially appealing for users of the iPhone 13, 14, and 15 series, where battery life naturally declines over time.

It also appeals to travelers, students, creators, or anyone who needs clean, cable-free charging on the move. Given its slim profile, it could fit seamlessly into an existing Apple setup without feeling out of place.

Should you buy it?

Xiaomi’s new wireless power bank is already rolling out globally through its online store and regional partners. As the magnetic charging category continues to grow – especially with Apple expected to expand Qi2 support across future devices – more brands will likely release premium, iPhone-friendly accessories with similar design polish.

For now, this sleek wireless power bank stands as one of the nicest options you can buy for your iPhone, even if it didn’t come from Cupertino.

There was a time before portable TVs and personal media players when the idea of putting coin-operated TVs everywhere, from restaurants to airports and laundromats, would have seemed like a solid business model. Thus was born the Vend-o-Vision by Mini-TV USA, which presented itself as a cash earner for businesses and a way to make their customers even happier. One of these new-in-box units recently made its way over to [Mark] of the SpaceTime Junction YouTube channel.

This unit is very simple, with what appears to be an off-the-shelf Panasonic black-and-white TV with UHF and VHF reception capability, inside a metal box that contains the timer mechanism, which is linked to the coin mechanism. Depending on a physical slider with three positions, you get anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes per quarter, with the customer having to tune into the station themselves using the TV’s controls. A counter mechanism is provided as an option.

As would be expected from a new-in-box unit, after chiseling off the 30-odd-year-old Styrofoam packaging, it fires right up and works fine. Of course, it’s a small black-and-white TV, so it’s not incredibly useful, and clearly wasn’t even back in 1989 when the Vend-o-Vision first appeared.

After some finagling with adapters, [Mark] gets everyone’s favorite movie playing on the tiny screen, giving us the first glimpse of what it would have been like to gaze at this miracle of technology back around the early 1990s in a noisy laundromat or restaurant. One can hardly imagine why it didn’t catch on.

We can see a patent for this appear in a 1990 scan of the USPTO’s gazette, where it’s listed as being first in commercial operation on the 29th of November 1989. The system was short-lived, however, with in 1995 the FTC settling with the company for deceptive practices, as the company had overinflated the projected earnings per TV when it started flaunting it at tradeshows in 1990. A few years prior, Mini TV USA appears to have already ceased operations, making these remaining Vend-o-Vision quite rare indeed. These types of coin-operated TVs were usually in public places or hotels. But we’ve seen coin-operated TVs that briefly appeared in homes, too.

Alaska’s House of Representatives unanimously passed HB47, a bill that imposes sweeping limits on when and how minors use social media apps, along with bans on generating or distributing harmful deepfakes of children.

The bill’s original form was focused on prohibiting the possession and distribution of sexually explicit images of children using AI, but Alaska lawmakers decided to add amendments that would impose social media restrictions. The proposed limitations include a statewide curfew on using social media between 10:30 PM and 6:30 AM, banning “addictive design features” and requiring social media platforms to verify user ages and get parental consent if they are minors.

While the House bill saw 39 votes in favor and zero against, the amendments offered some hints at potential upcoming revisions. Before the bill went to a vote, some of the House representatives expressed concern about adding such broad rules on social media without consulting the companies behind them first.

The bill still has to make its way through the Alaska State Senate, which already has presented a companion bill, and the governor. Alaska is following the footsteps of many other states, and the House even modeled its social media amendments in the HB47 bill after Utah. While Utah was the first to propose social media restrictions for kids, it was later met with a preliminary injunction.

The move comes amid Google’s strategy to move further into the physical AI space.

Intrinsic, an Alphabet-owned software and AI company, is joining Google. The platform, which was established in 2021 as one of Alphabet’s ‘other bets’ under the ‘moonshots’ research and development segment X Development, builds AI models and software designed to make industrial robots more accessible. 

In joining Google, Intrinsic will continue to operate as a distinct entity, however, it will work closely with Google DeepMind and will tap into Google’s Gemini AI models and cloud services. Thus far, Alphabet has declined to share information regarding funding or the purchase price.

Commenting on the news, Wendy Tan White, the CEO of Intrinsic said: “The Intrinsic team has been working for years to enable access to intelligent robotics through a democratised platform, so more people can build and benefit from robotics applications. 

“Combined with Google’s incredible AI and infrastructure, we’re going to unlock the promise of physical AI for a much broader set of manufacturing businesses and developers. This will fundamentally shift production, from its economics to operations and enable truly advanced manufacturing.”

‍Hiroshi Lockheimer, the chief product officer of Other Bets, added: “At Google, we see the immense opportunity in bridging the gap between the digital and physical world, that is also true for intelligent robotics in industries like manufacturing and logistics. We’re excited to welcome the Intrinsic team to Google, so we can bring breakthrough AI to more businesses and industries, at scale.”

In other Alphabet news, Alphabet and Google were in hot water earlier this month as both were at the centre of a new antitrust complaint filed by the European Publishers Council with the European Commission on 10 February. 

The complaint alleged that Google and Alphabet are abusing their dominant position in general search services via the use of AI overviews and AI mode embedded within Google Search.

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