Is the Lightning iPhone 5 dock connector MagSafe?

No. Reports on the new Lightning dock connector initially suspected the 8-pin plug would utilize Apple's proprietary MagSafe technology. MagSafe connectors were introduced on MacBook Pro computers in 2006 and detach without harming the plug or cable when the wire is suddenly pulled.

This prevents damage if someone steps on the power cable, for example. As it turns out, Apple's official iPhone 5 specifications and those of the Lightning to 30-pin adapters have no mention of MagSafe functionality.

The 8-pin Lightning dock connector is reversible and 80 percent smaller than the 30-pin dock connector introduced in 2003.