HyperMac to Halt Sales of MagSafe Charging Cables

110410 hypermac cables 500

Engadget notes that Sanho, maker of the popular HyperMac line of external batteries for Apple notebooks, will halt sales of the MagSafe charging cables required for connecting its batteries to Apple's machines as of November 2nd. The move comes as the company attempts to work out a licensing agreement with Apple to offer the MagSafe interface.

As part of our ongoing comprehensive licensing negotiations with Apple regarding a wide array of technologies and issues, we have decided to cease the sale of the MacBook charging cables and car charger on November 2, 2010.

While we will continue to sell the same batteries together with the rest of our product line after November 2nd, they will not be able to charge MacBooks without the cables.

Apple filed suit against Sanho early last month over the accessory company's use of the MagSafe interface, alleging patent infringement. Sanho had hoped to escape the eye of Apple by utilizing official MagSafe connectors recycled from Apple adapters, but their incorporation into new products was deemed by Apple to be an inappropriate usage.

It is unclear if Apple and Sanho will be able to work out an agreement to allow the MagSafe-compatible HyperMac charging cables to return in the future, but negotiations are clearly underway to at least settle the lawsuit brought by Apple.

Apple's suit had also targeted Sanho for including Apple's USB-to-Dock cable with its external battery battery products for mobile iOS devices, but Sanho has apparently already discontinued that practice, with customers having to rely on their current cables or acquiring new ones from elsewhere.

Popular Stories

apple store down feature

Here's Why the Apple Store is Going Down

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:01 pm PST by
Apple's online store is going down for a few hours on a rolling country-by-country basis right now, but do not get your hopes up for new products. Apple takes its online store down for a few hours ahead of Black Friday every year to tease/prepare for its annual gift card offer with the purchase of select products. The store already went down and came back online in Australia and New Zealand, ...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Three Breakthrough Features

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include three standout features that could set it apart from the competition. The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...
streaming black friday 2025

Black Friday Streaming Deals Include Big Savings on Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV, and More

Monday November 24, 2025 8:03 am PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released. iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
streaming black friday 2025

Best Black Friday Streaming Deals - Save Big on Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:14 pm PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
General Apps Messages Redux

Singapore Orders Changes to iMessage by December

Tuesday November 25, 2025 6:39 am PST by
Singapore has ordered Apple to block or filter messages on iMessage that impersonate government agencies, requiring the company to implement new anti-spoofing protections by December as part of efforts to curb rising online scams, the Straits Times reports. Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that it had issued an Implementation Directive to Apple under the Online Criminal Harms...
General Black Friday Deals 25 Red Green

The 30+ Best Black Friday Apple Deals on AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 6:46 am PST by
Black Friday is finally here, and as always this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small...
General Black Friday Deals 25 Red

Apple Black Friday Deals Available Now on AirPods, iPads, Accessories, and More

Friday November 21, 2025 8:48 am PST by
We're only a few days away from Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...

Top Rated Comments

ShiftyPig Avatar
197 months ago
The most ridiculous aspect of this is that Apple doesn't even have a case - exhaustion doctrine says that the patent holder loses any claim to infringement at the first sale of a patented item. If Sanho is buying these things from Apple, there's no infringement.

This may be one of the most embarrassingly arrogant things I've seen Apple do. People can have whatever opinion of products, Apple tax, etc., but using financial might to launch a frivoulous lawsuit against a company who is providing a legitimate product is reprehensible. Good thing we all have removable batteries.... oh :(
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thejadedmonkey Avatar
197 months ago
If Apple allowed HyperMac to use the power cords it could open the door for Dell / HP to use them as well.
Never in a million years would that happen. The chargers cost $80 from Apple apiece, Dell's profit margins are ~15% on a $500 computer, or $75. Dell would have to take a $5 loss on each computer sold, just to offer the magsafe adapter, nevermind any R&D costs.

Hypermac sells their batteries for between $200-$500, $80 of which ends up going to Apple.


Bum move? Whose device is being sold as though it's their own?
But the first sale doctrine prevents any companies from controlling how their physical product is used, after it is purchased. This is why used bookstores exist, and it is why HyperMac should be allowed to keep doing what they're doing.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Amuraivel Avatar
197 months ago
If they are using 2nd hand connectors, I don't see how Apple can control the technology because Sanho is not manufacturing the product-- just like an author can't control who you sell your copy of their book too.

Just because a product is patented doesn't mean a company has the right to control all downstream uses of that technology when it's not being manufactured.

Moreover, Sanho isn't creating a product Apple makes.

If this legal doctrine Apple is asserting is allowed to persist IP holders will have a choke hold over the economy.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Full of Win Avatar
197 months ago
What a powerhungy move by Apple CONsumer Electronics. I would understand if they were making the connectors themselves, but they are buying APPLE MADE power AD/DC converters and using these connectors. I'm sure the Kool-aid crowd will overlook this and say how great this is of Apple to keep counterfeits off the market, not even releasing that they were just using Apple made products.

Or they could just pay Apple for a license to use the MagSafe connector. That would be the simplest solution. I'd guess they'll end up doing this after they get their publicity.
They are using original apple MagSafe connectors from power adapters made by Apple. Its not as if they are making a cheap knock-off, and somehow need to license the connector. This is just another example of Apple flexing its massive amount of power and pushing around "the little guy"
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)