Reviews for Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adaptor (for 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro)

Own Early 2008 MBP and Late 2009 MBP.
Works on the unibody, does not on my early 2008.
The port on the new MacBooks are smaller and more shallow, this charger reflects this change and will not make contact with older ports found on non-unibody.
Buyer beware, save yourself the hassle and find an 'I" MagSafe charger if you have a non-unibody.

Dear Apple - stop being stupid. For such a great engineering company, why can't you get the obvious things fixed. These cords fray at the connector. ALL of them do. Sometimes at the power brick, sometimes at the Mac end. Then I have to go spend 80 bucks for another adapter - when all I really need is the cord. So do the right thing, and put a MagSafe connector on BOTH ends of the cord, and a MagSafe jack on the side of the power brick just like the one on the side of the computer. Then, I could (1) disconnect the cord completely from the adapter when it's in my bag, and not have to worry about the cord getting bent and broken where it connects to the power brick, (2) could have my choice of cord lenghts - maybe a short one for my desk and a long one when I travel, and (3) I could replace JUST THE CORD if it got damaged or worn, for something like 5 or 6 bucks instead of 80. What do you think? Would it be so hard to do?

Well, the answer is clear. They are horribly overpriced at $80 and they break every 8 months or so. Clearly a goldmine for Apple.

In the past 3 years, I've had one break near the magnetic end and one near the wall plug end. A third just mysteriously quit working, though it looks brand new. I am very careful with these cords, but it makes no difference.

Also, they get dangerously hot.

I had just talked my mom into switching from PC to Mac, but honestly now I might talk her back into a PC.

I know these complaints are not new. Several reviews say the same thing. So when is Apple going to fix the problem? Or at least come up with a "Buy 3 Cords Get 1 Free" deal?

I've had my MacBook Pro for about a year and I've already had 2 power supplies fail on me. One failed in that it no longer charges and the other failed in that it's wire unraveled from the base of the power supply. What's more, even when new, the wire wrapping mechanism is woefully substandard compared to the power supply that came with my prior computer, a Dell laptop. I had the Dell for 2.5+ years and never had one problem with the power supply. Plus the Dell cord wrapping mechanism made my Dell power supply a joy to use whereas I hate, hate, hate having to pack and unpack the Mac's power supply, especially when I need to carry the longer cord which simply Apple doesn't provide a wire wrapping mechanism for.

Okay Apple, you can pour R&D into the iPad and iPhone 4.0 but you just pay no attention to the details like the power supply. Come on, pay a little attention so we can have a better day-to-day user experience with the thing. If it were a better product I wouldn't mind paying an extra $79 for a spare, especially if it didn't die after 6-9 months.

You make a superior computer by far - but why can't you seem to figure out the power cord situation? It doesn't fray at the computer end - it frays at the POWER END right where it comes out of the power box! And it does it within a year of use. I've NEVER had one fray at the other end. I KNOW you can get this right but until you do, you should provide FREE replacements for these substandard power cords. I wouldn't mind paying shipping cost but 79.99 plus tax for something that should last as long as the computer? Come on!

The adapter failed after one use. I purchased it after ignoring the plethora of bad reviews hoping it would solve the problem of the original power cord on my 2008 MacBook Pro falling apart in the first year of use. There are countless discussion threads on this problem on numerous websites. Apple needs to stand behind their entire product - you purchase the entire MacBook Pro with the expectation that the laptop and accessories (especially the power cord) will withstand normal wear and tear over at least a several year period.

Dear Apple, I've been a loyal customer for years and have had problems with the same thing over and over again... Your power cords. My iPhone cords have broken at the connecting point as well as my MacBook Pro 2010 power cord. At the connecting point at the power block where the plastic piece goes into the block, the cord has frayed and actually caused a fire. Now I'm being forced to buy another $80 replacement cord simply due to failure of the build? This is not the way to treat your customers. Change your cord design please! I never had an issue with my pc and trust me, I abused the thing. I've babied my cords and apple products due to the price that I paid for them, but being a college student, I have to pack up and carry it around quite often. Several times a day. We didn't pay a leg for the computer just to have our fingers chopped off for a cord. This is disgraceful. Please, please make these things more durable. I don't even have enough money to replace it so now I'm stuck using computers on campus (an hour away from home).

Please read your reviews. I've not had another problem but this $80 monster (FOR A CORD?!) is hurting you. Your replacement cords have 1-2 stars out of 5. Does this make you happy?

I have a 2007/2008 15 inch mac book pro which uses a slightly different looking power adapter. After it frayed like everyone's seems to in a few years, i ordered this replacement. The older reviews warned that this new design may not work well with older laptops but the sales department assured me that it would and that actually no design changes had been made.

It worked for about a week then stopped charging and the little lite doesn't come on any more. Frustrated that apple didn't know their own product I called support and spent almost an hour on the phone by the time they transferred me to sales. They still dont believe that the slight design change stops them from working and to top it off dont supply the older charger anymore. Ahhh....

There are going to be 10's of thousands of people with this very same problem so you better buy one on the black market before they're all gone. The ended the phone call saying they of course wouldn't support the warranty of the charger if I go buy a used one.

Really wish apple would get a grip on this issue and stop wasting everyones time.

My 17" MacBook Pro, purchased 1-15-2007, is a wonderful machine. The original 85W power cord finally failed. A new cord, purchased 7-16-10 which came in the "L" design, never worked well. The new battery hung up at different points, taking two days to hit 100%. Finally the light on the MagSafe would not light, and the computer would not recharge except if I hard restarted it or took the battery out and pushed the restart button for. It worked, then it didn’t. Much web reading, much problem solving with an Apple repair store who returned it to me working "perfectly". (Hint, they used a T adapter for bench work). I got it home and plugged in my still new MagSafe L. Same problem. Took it back. Plugged in my L cord, plugged in their L. No light, no charge. Hmm. The tech brought out a T adapter. Fired right up: lit up, started charging the computer. Next, several hours of talk with MY APPLE folks and a new adapter arrives today. Horror, it's another L! Again much time on the phone. Finally, an APPLE confession: TRY THE NEW L, the off line engineers say that this L is actually not the old L, it is REDESIGNED to be deeper and to actually fit my early MacBook Pro. We will see...It does not have the same part number as the other Ls. When questioned about why this is not known on the internet and Apple’s site, I was told that this info is for "internal" use. The computer, the cords, all ok! What a waste of every ones’ time and resources. Maybe this L will work...maybe not. Keep your fingers crossed. The part number seems to be 661-5788, not standard Apple parts speak. Hope this helps someone else out there.

I seem to recall a magical time when Apple power cords could survive being run over by a truck, set on fire, and then thrown into a river. I had a clamshell Macbook, circa 2000, that I never once replaced the cord on after years of service. Yet somehow, in the three short years that I have since upgraded to Macbook Pros, I have gone through more power cords than I count. The plug in style found on the 2007-2008 models frayed at every possible point and the insulation was extremely vulnerable to cracks. The square magnetic ones were terribly weak and fell out at the slightest breath of wind, and were not terribly stable power-wise. The newest ones offer few improvements. It looks cooler anyway. I have had a one of these futuristic sleek cords for ten months now, and have replaced my power cord three times because it simply stopped functioning. No fraying, it just plain gave up the ghost. It's not some kind of power surge in my house, because my husband's HP power cords could last through the apocalypse. I get that making a cheap power cord means you make more money because we're hardcore apple freaks who will keep buying new ones anyway, but that's a pretty lousy way to treat your loyal customers who are responsible for your world-wide success. Send out the standard ones with computers and then sell a $100 un-killable version. Trust me, we'd be happy to buy it. Or more happy than having spend $80 every six months.