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So does that mean current Apple Watch chargers will not work for Series 3 and vice versa?

I hope not as I've purchased a couple of additional chargers for my current watch (including one for the car) and would hope/expect to be able to use them to charge the new watch.
 
Well thats disappointing. Was really hoping to use it with my Series 2 and I don't see enough there currently to make upgrading to a 3 worthwhile given I don't need LTE nor want to add $10 a month to my plan for the privilege.

Leaves me in two minds as to whether I get the mat. Still seems neat but if it doesn't support my watch and I'm not sure I'll be getting AirPods, it might be overkill to only charge my phone for the time being.

I imagine for the rest of us someone will develop a mat anyway that does Qi for a phone and has a cutout to take an Apple Watch charging puck.
 
In all seriousness, $129 would be a purely insane price for a wireless charger. Samsung is selling these for $20.

Samsung's only charge one device at a time, require careful placement of that device, and can charge somewhat slowly. So that's not really a fair comparison.

I would have liked for the Series 3 Apple Watch to simply be Qi compatible as well, though. Just so that we could charge it with a cheaper charging solution than the Apple Watch charger, or the AirPower Mat, if we wanted to.
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I am guessing that the series 3 Apple Watch supports Qi wireless charging.

Folks have confirmed that it does not :(
 
Because all Apple Watch models already feature inductive charging, it's logical to guess that they might all work with the AirPower, but it seems special hardware will be required, and that hardware is only available in new models. Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 owners will need to continue using their existing chargers once the AirPower launches.

This statement seems backwards to me. AW3 (edit: seems the AW3 doesn't support regular Qi) and the new iPhones are using the standard Qi tech, which is why they will work with 3rd party mats. The 0, 1, and 2 were based on Qi but Apple made them proprietary and unable to be charged by 3rd party solutions. The 0, 1, and 2 had special hardware, not the new devices.

I personally think Apple changed their thinking because they didn't want the iPhone X and future phones to be handicapped by requiring a proprietary charging mat. The phone is where the real money is. The mat is just gravy.
 
I assume there is technical reason for the watch 1 lacking.

However it is just inductive charging.... so i guess u could add something via software update.?

Can any of them charge more than one device at a time? How precisely do you need to place that device on the mat to ensure it's actually charging?

That would kill me... Apple offer something but them limits where you can place stuff. Its a pad, so i would just try and see..

Even if it was limited, there would be no reason why a software update wouldn't solve this, unless its physical hardware by design, in in case, would be even more stupid when its "a entire surface"
 
I'm wondering if there's some true technological reason for the incompatibility, or merely Apple's engineering these charging pads to only work with the devices they specify. I see no reason why any inductive charging mat cannot supply power to any watch, or similar device that receives power in such a fashion. You can't simply suspend the laws of electromagnetic physics.
 
We knew that was going to happen. Apple doesn't go backwards, and lose revenue??? Moving forward to get your hard earned dollars is the Apple way.
Tim knows limitations on old hardware puts pressure on people to upgrade at their earliest convenience. Business 101.
 
I'm wondering if there's some true technological reason for the incompatibility, or merely Apple's engineering these charging pads to only work with the devices they specify. I see no reason why any inductive charging mat cannot supply power to any watch, or similar device that receives power in such a fashion. You can't simply suspend the laws of electromagnetic physics.

It's probably the device/pad communication going on before charging starts. If that were embedded and not updatable in the watch, then perhaps that might be the reason. Not entirely sure why they couldn't make the mat "talk" to older watches though perhaps there's a reason. I figure they'd sell more mats if they would allow the old watches to work with it, so it's puzzling that they don't.
 
It should cost $129 so it will sell for $229. I bet it will have some kind of rights management so it will only charge Apple products. You know, what wasn't built into the Apple Watch 1/2.
 
I just can't see the value of inductive charging. It's slow, it waste electricity and you can't really use the device while it charge.

Convenience. While at work, I typically set my phone on my desk. While at home there are a couple spots I set it down when not using it. I put a couple $12 Qi pads in those spots that I set my phone anyway and now it charges instead of having to fuss with a cable. I haven't plugged in a cable in months to my iphone7 with a QI charging case.

As for using the device; I pick it up, do what I need, put it back down.

Sure, for some users this won't work. If you're always playing games and watching movies, don't work in an office environment, infrequently sleeping at home, etc. then it may not be suitable for your situation. Doesn't mean it isn't really useful for others.
 
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What a joke and money grab by Apple - The Series 3 offers pretty much nothing new except a cell connection, so this should absolutely support the Series 2 at least -So glad I've learned to find other solutions and/or hold off on 'first gen' Apple releases. iPhone X, Series 3 and 'Magical Power Pad' being the most recent examples.
 
Please excuse this if it is a stupid question, but will AppleWatch chargers work on the iPhone 8 and X?

No, unfortunately. Apple watch charging and Qi (What iPhone 8/X) use are two different things. You can't charge your Apple Watch on an iPhone-compatible Qi charger or your iPhone with an Apple Watch charger. The idea of the AirPower Mat is to combine (or expand on) the two technologies is some way, I believe. So that you can charge them all with the one charger.

Edit: Apparently the same goes for the AirPods Wireless Charging Case. You can't charge that with Qi either.
 
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Can any of them charge more than one device at a time? How precisely do you need to place that device on the mat to ensure it's actually charging?

I suspect the airpower will just be a few mats to make it look like one. Smoke and mirrors
 
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