I added MagSafe to this old tablet to create the ultimate car smart screen

Summary

After not making much use of my iPad mini, and upon stumbling across a spare MagSafe ring adapter, I had a novel idea.
I combined the forces of iPad and MagSafe to create a surprisingly effective Apple CarPlay alternative.
Even when off the road, my iPad mini’s ring of magnets are useful for mounting to various stands.

On paper, I absolutely love my iPad mini. From its industrial design, to its compact form factor, to its gesture-based tablet UI, it’s a near-perfect slab that excels at all things content consumption. With such merits in tow, I thought I’d reach for the tablet on a daily basis after purchasing it back in 2021. Instead, I continue to find myself leaving it stowed away in my drawer or on my couch, retreating to the convenience of my large-screen smartphone while lounging around. And whenever I do pick up the mini, it’s frustratingly out of battery life.

Then something dawned on me: I’ve been in the market for an external Apple CarPlay screen for some time now, with the intent of propelling my decade-old vehicle into the modern digital age. Rather than spending money on a dedicated, small screen with limited utility, why not give my existing iPad mini a second lease on life?

Luckily, I had a spare magnetic MagSafe ring adapter lying around from when I purchased a PopSocket PopGrip, and my car is already outfitted with a Moment Adjustable Car Vent in its dashboard A/C slot. Naturally, then, I took a step into the unknown by slapping the MagSafe adapter ring right onto the back of my iPad mini.

Apple CarPlay begone

The iPad mini is a surprisingly excellent in-car dashboard solution

To my surprise, my improvised in-car dashboard setup works like a charm. The combination of the iPad mini, the adhered MagSafe ring adapter, and the MagSafe car vent all come together in an elegant way that doesn’t feel like a hack. The mini is small and lightweight enough to remain propped-up smartphone style, and Moment’s custom (M) Force magnet array keeps everything secure and in place. When I (unfortunately) hit a particularly large pothole the other day, the mounted tablet didn’t budge.

The iPad mini’s 7.9-inch display is roughly in line with many external and internal CarPlay panels, but I have the added benefit of full-fledged iPadOS. For navigation, music track selection, and other basic tasks, the system works like a charm when paired to my car’s Bluetooth connection. Of course, the iPad mini doesn’t support inductive wireless charging, and so I eventually plugged it into power via a USB-C to USB-C cable and a cigarette Lighter Socket charging adapter.

Having access to iPadOS means that when I’m parked and stationary, I can use video streaming apps and other multimedia apps. This is something Apple has resisted implementing into CarPlay for some time now, despite rival infotainment systems offering the capability. I even connected a Bluetooth wireless controller to the iPad, and booted up retro video games in the Delta emulator app — as long as I’m not driving, then why not?

…it’s worth mentioning that mileage will vary based on which accessories and devices are incorporated into the mix.

After experimenting with my novel iPad mini and MagSafe crossover setup, Apple offering a native ‘CarPlay Mode’ for the mini to tap into is officially on my wishlist. This would optimize icon and text sizes for use within automotive contexts, but without the option available, I’ve been relying on iPadOS accessibility settings to get the job done. I’ve increased the text size by navigating to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Test Size, and I’ve adjusted system scaling by going to Settings > Display & Brightness > Display Zoom and selecting Standard as opposed to More Space.

While my particular setup has proven viable, it’s worth mentioning that mileage will vary based on what accessories and devices are incorporated into the mix. I haven’t tested it, but a larger 11-inch iPad would likely be too heavy for the MagSafe system to physically support. Not all MagSafe ring adapters and magnetic car vent mounts are created equal, either — I’d suggest opting for products with powerful magnets, just in case you’re like me and live in a pothole-ridden city.

I added MagSafe to my Pixel, and now I’m never going back

I decided to adhere a third-party MagSafe ring to my Google Pixel 9 Pro, and I never want to revert back to a pre-magnetic phone lifestyle ever again.

It’s a magnetic world, I’m just living in it

I don’t regret slapping a MagSafe ring adapter onto my iPad mini

As silly as it sounds on the surface, it turns out that iPhone-style MagSafe is a great fit for the iPad mini. Even without support for any wireless Qi or Qi2 charging, there’s utility to be had in adhering a ring of magnets onto the rear casing of the tablet. In particular, I’ve been enjoying pairing my iPad with my Satechi wireless charging stand, effectively turning the tablet into a miniature desktop PC. Dedicated tablet stands certainly exist, but they’re generally on the bulkier side, and there’s something fun about relying on the existing MagSafe phone ecosystem.

For a few years now, we’ve been hearing rumors of an official MagSafe-clad iPad from Apple. Nothing has materialized yet, but I’m a lot less skeptical of the idea today than I was prior to adding magnets to my own iPad. Larger-sized iPad models utilize a separate array of magnets for alignment with official Apple accessories, but I think a MagSafe-style implementation would be a perfect fit for the next mini-sized iPad. A first-party iMac-style charging stand for the iPad mini is the sort of accessory I’d personally throw money at on day one (particularly if it’s shaped like the iconic lamp shade-esque iMac G4).