AirPower to Launch 'Later in 2019' According to DigiTimes

[MacRumors]

Apple's long-awaited wireless charging mat AirPower has entered production and will be released later this year, according to DigiTimes:

Glass passivated package (GPP) bridge rectifier orders for Apple's AirPower continue to pull in, according to sources at related suppliers, who expect shipments for the wireless charger to boost further when it becomes available later in 2019.

Apple's AirPower is finally in production, said the sources. The Apple-designed wireless charging device was unveiled in September 2017, with the company originally targeting 2018 for launch.

The supply chain-focused website published a similar article last year claiming the AirPower would be released by the end of March 2018, a release date echoed by at least two other sources at the time. That obviously did not happen, but perhaps the issues that led to the delay are now resolved.

This isn't the first report we've seen that suggests the AirPower is still coming after all.

Earlier this month, Hong Kong website ChargerLAB cited sources within Apple's supply chain who claimed that manufacturers Luxshare Precision and Pegatron have both started production of the AirPower by today.

Breaking: AirPower is finally coming. We just learned from credible source in supply chain that the manufacture Luxshare Precision has already started producing Apple AirPower wireless charging pad. Luxshare Precision is also the maker of Apple AirPods and USB-C cables. pic.twitter.com/UqgWIAh3sx - ChargerLAB (@chargerlab) January 12, 2019

A few weeks prior, developer Steve Troughton-Smith said he's heard Apple may have overcome technical challenges with the AirPower and could move forward with a release. Those technical challenges included overheating and interference issues, according to Sonny Dickson, an occasional source of Apple leaks.

Where is AirPower? 🤷‍♂️ All I've been hearing is 'they've finally fixed it', so, if true, it could ship as a product whenever Apple wants. Hopefully alongside the smart battery case for the XS? - Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) December 31, 2018

And back in October, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that Apple may launch the AirPower by early in the first quarter of 2019, according to a research note obtained by MacRumors. The first quarter spans January through March.

AirPower is an oval-shaped mat that would be able to wirelessly charge multiple Apple devices at once, including the iPhone 8 and newer, Apple Watch Series 3 and newer, and AirPods when they are placed in an optional wireless charging case that is expected to launch alongside the AirPower.

Apple first previewed the AirPower at Steve Jobs Theater in September 2017, shortly after introducing the iPhone X, and indicated that it would be released at some point in 2018 in a press release. Apple failed to deliver on that promise, however, and hasn't commented on the AirPower for many months.

Apple also removed all but a few mentions of the AirPower from its website in September 2018. The mat is, however, still referenced in the latest iPhone user guides and in some recent Apple job listings. We also spotted a since-removed AirPower reference on the iPhone XS Smart Battery Case page in Malaysia.

All in all, the chances of the AirPower launching soon are looking better and better.

Update: The seemingly-never-ending AirPower saga continues. DigiTimes has quietly revised its article, removing any mention that the AirPower has entered production, but the report still mentions availability later in 2019.

Article Link: AirPower to Launch 'Later in 2019' According to DigiTimes

 

[ryanwarsaw]

That's somewhat embarrassing.

 

[UltimateSyn]

Hate to be a Negative Nancy, but is anyone really going to buy it at that point?
I feel like everyone in the need has already saturated their wireless charger collection.

 

[DocMultimedia]

Yeah, whatever.

 

[macjonny1]

even the macrumors folks giving this a yawn...that tells you something

 

[Michael Scrip]

and AirPods when they are placed in an optional wireless charging case that is expected to launch alongside the AirPower.

Do we think there will be updated AirPods this year too? Or just the new wireless charging case?

 

[ThatTechGuy]

Heard that before...

 

[Mrjynx]

its interesting everyone (ie newsites) are so focused on this charging mat. why is this even relevant anymore? its a bloody wireless charging mat!

 

[InuNacho]

Much like the Mac Pro, I anticipate the "Magical Charging Mat of the Future" to take 6 years to develop.

 

[christarp]

Im guessing a march launch for this along with the airpods case finally.

 

[miflgr92]

Do we think there will be updated AirPods this year too? Or just the new wireless charging case?

I’d love to see space gray AirPods with wireless charging and maybe a redesign to improve how they fit in the ear to make them more comfortable.

 

[birdieman128]

They are really late to their own party.

 

[TonyC28]

Hold you breath until 11:59:59 PM on 12/31/19

 

[bmunge]

This product has been nothing but a dissapointment. It’s interesting they are encountering so many engineering issues with this design. Hopefully the experience they are going after is very compelling once it gets in the hands of users.

 

[calstanford]

Like it launched 'later in 2018' (as announced in MID 2017).

Vapourware if I ever seen one

 

[jecowa]

AirPower is Apple's 10nm. Every year it's coming out next year.

 

[Icaras]

Hate to be a Negative Nancy, but is anyone really going to buy it at that point?
I feel like everyone in the need has already saturated their wireless charger collection.

Yup, I still want it.

 

[Wags]

Probably not a priority right now but who knows what is right now.

 

[applefan69]

Imagine if Samsung got this much attention every time they thought about maybe making a product. lol what a joke.

Thought lets admit we are interested because we are all ambitiously optimistic Apple will wow us with their old fashioned ways. That or we are all going to cussing this product 3 times what we are already when we realize it was a giant flop to begin with. Poor Apple, there is no way out other than this thing better be damned perfect.

 

[Pattaya]

I bought an Anker 7.5 Wireless charging stand, I certainly wont be buying this Apple charging mat at any price.

Anker phone charging cables are far superior to Apples at a cheaper price, I don't see what Apple can offer especially at a likely 3x price point.

 

[Internet Enzyme]

Apple's long-awaited wireless charging mat AirPower has entered production and will be released later this year, according to DigiTimes:The supply chain-focused website published a similar article last year claiming the AirPower would be released by the end of March 2018, a release date echoed by at least two other sources at the time. That obviously did not happen, but perhaps the issues that led to the delay are now resolved.

This isn't the first report we've seen that suggests the AirPower is still coming after all.

Earlier this month, Hong Kong website ChargerLAB cited sources within Apple's supply chain who claimed that manufacturers Luxshare Precision and Pegatron have both started production of the AirPower by today.

​

A few weeks prior, developer Steve Troughton-Smith said he's heard Apple may have overcome technical challenges with the AirPower and could move forward with a release. Those technical challenges included overheating and interference issues, according to Sonny Dickson, an occasional source of Apple leaks.

​

And back in October, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that Apple may launch the AirPower by early in the first quarter of 2019, according to a research note obtained by MacRumors. The first quarter spans January through March.

AirPower is an oval-shaped mat that would be able to wirelessly charge multiple Apple devices at once, including the iPhone 8 and newer, Apple Watch Series 3 and newer, and AirPods when they are placed in an optional wireless charging case that is expected to launch alongside the AirPower.

Apple first previewed the AirPower at Steve Jobs Theater in September 2017, shortly after introducing the iPhone X, and indicated that it would be released at some point in 2018 in a press release. Apple failed to deliver on that promise, however, and hasn't commented on the AirPower for many months.

Apple also removed all but a few mentions of the AirPower from its website in September 2018. The mat is, however, still referenced in the latest iPhone user guides and in some recent Apple job listings. We also spotted a since-removed AirPower reference on the iPhone XS Smart Battery Case page in Malaysia.

All in all, the chances of the AirPower launching soon are looking better and better.

Article Link: AirPower to Launch 'Later in 2019' According to DigiTimes

They said March of 2018 and now theyre saying late 2019!? Why would anyone listen to these people who so habitually **** on themselves in public and still have the gall to “predict” anything

 

[goobot]

its interesting everyone (ie newsites) are so focused on this charging mat. why is this even relevant anymore? its a bloody wireless charging mat!

It’s capable of charging multiple devices at once and where you place it on the pad is irrelevant. I don’t think any wireless charging pad is capable of one of these things let alone both. Also it’s the only way to wireless charge Apple Watch and I suspect the same will go for AirPods.

 

[jpn]

this news is interesting.
so, in production, but maybe not enough units per day can be made right now.
constrained for some reason.

hmm...either a
1 a supply chain issue: some kind of component supply for a critical, single-sourced component (?)
2 a quality issue: not enough of quality parts for some component that is integral to safety. (?)

if the reason for this long delay turns out to be a quality restrained component, given apple's past 2 to 3 year record for erring on the side of going ahead and quality passing components that are near the lower allowed end of tolerance, this product is likely to have end-user consumer level defects.

no matter how long apple is taking to get this product right, whatever it is will be causing problems for a long time.

 

[341328]

Wonder if it will beat the mac pro.
[doublepost=1548136021][/doublepost]There's a chance aliens will discover us first.

 

[PickUrPoison]

AirPower is Apple's 10nm. Every year it's coming out next year.

I think your memory might be somewhat faulty. Apple announced only once the expected release timeframe and never changed it. They’ve now missed it by three weeks (and counting).