Early Prototype Shows Why Apple Abandoned AirPower

[Chaos215bar2]

Apple's device was meant to be an all-in-one charger where the user could place any device on the pad with little to no positioning thought ... 'set it and forget it'. All the third party chargers are 1. Usually created with one two specific devices in mind, and 2. Demand precise positioning of the device on the pad in order to ensure proper charging.

There are several third-party charger that got this working using multiple sets of overlapping charging coils. Only the ones correctly positioned under the device — wherever it’s placed — are activated. They work fine.

Two major differences are lack of Apple Watch support, only because Apple Watch doesn’t support Qi charging, and somewhat larger overall size. You can’t place two devices right up against each other and expect them to both charge; they need at least a small gap.

 

[mannyvel]

Magnets are a far better and more elegant solution. Apparently the industry thought so as well, since it's been adopted as a standard.

Qi chargers for me really were hit or miss. I could never get some chargers to work, especially with a case. MagSafe = no issues at all. The positive feedback it gives is really great, and is really so Apple.

 

[swiftapplefan]

Apple should consider entering the heating business!

 

[CarAnalogy]

I am an electrical engineer. I had my doubts about the project for a long time, and I am glad to see my concerns weren't unfounded; the heat losses of the coils and them being so close together with little cooling proved to be the death sentence. Not to mention targetting charging at 15W, which seems ridiculous to run by with coils that close.

Interesting concept however, and I am sad it didn't come to fruition.

I find it funny the article says one of their solutions was to add more coils. Like the “add more balls” scene in the classic Simpsons episode. “The chargers seem unhappy.” “Add more coils.”

Also I like the animation idea. It should say on the screen: “Be sure to get the alignment correct. The penalties for deviance shall be severe.”

Add more balls.

 

[MichaelAdam]

I much prefer my MagSafe dual charger that works flawlessly and I can take with me on my trips … shame they for now discontinued it because it’s not usb c …

 

[SuperCachetes]

Apple overthink how to make a simple charger

Apple already sells "simple" chargers. This isn't that.

 

[Infodataset]

Its not airpower.... but heatpower😉

 

[vegetassj4]

The iPhone 15 melts by itself, no AirPower device required.

 

[now i see it]

So early prototypes were melting iPhones yet Marketing went on and on during a key note how great it was — ha!

 

[Rogifan]

I never understood why Phil Schiller announced this on stage when it clearly wasn’t ready for prime time.

 

[technole]

Different world now when it was all-in Qi and here we are today with MagSafe back in our lives which was always superior.

 

[jz0309]

and then there were the rumors that Apple was working on wireless charging ability across a room - keep dreaming

 

[jmgregory1]

The thing that always made me think the charging mat was a bad idea, beyond the heat it would generate, is that at least in the case of the iPhone, setting it on a flat desktop charger makes it difficult or impossible to see or use compared to a stand-style charger. And today we see the further benefit to the magnetic Qi charging on a stand with StandBy.

The thing that Apple really wants a workable solution for is over-the-air charging, so that you could charge your iPhone, AirPods or Apple Watch any time you are within sight of a charging unit, so that you don’t have to have any wires or pucks connected to your devices. But I don’t expect this will be reality for years, maybe decades.

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

 

[dannyyankou]

Magnets are a far better and more elegant solution. Apparently the industry thought so as well, since it's been adopted as a standard.

Qi chargers for me really were hit or miss. I could never get some chargers to work, especially with a case. MagSafe = no issues at all. The positive feedback it gives is really great, and is really so Apple.

MagSafe is one of Apple's best innovations. It's an idea that's so simple, but you wonder why it wasn't always this way.

 

[dannyyankou]

The iPhone 15 melts by itself, no AirPower device required.

View attachment 2326677

Oh burn. No pun intended lol. I'm still hanging on to my Intel MacBook, but it gets so hot sometimes.

 

[topmounter]

I'm surprised Apple doesn't throw these failed prototypes in the chipper rather than let them escape into the wild.

 

[seek3r]

How do third party ones work without this melting issue I wonder?

The few like this that have ever come out have lots of active cooling, and most third party chargers require alignment, mostly with magnets these days obvs

 

[seek3r]

So early prototypes were melting iPhones yet Marketing went on and on during a key note how great it was — ha!

Yeah, this seems like a huge screw up. I wonder if it was one of something like

1) the engineering team wasnt upfront with product about the problems, convinced they’d solve them

2) the product folks on the project werent upfront with those above them about the problems

or 3) high up product folks kept pushing even when engineers told them there were serious fatal flaws

(my bet is on one of the latter 2 options)

 

[wanha]

Apple overthink how to make a simple charger

They were trying to create something new that would be simpler and easier to use, not something merely simple to manufacture.

There are already countless basic wireless chargers out there, but Apple was attempting to create something better here, and good on them for trying.

 

[dannyyankou]

I'm surprised Apple doesn't throw these failed prototypes in the chipper rather than let them escape into the wild.

Employees are supposed to destroy most prototypes, but sometimes one makes its way out. It actually wouldn't surprise me if this prototype is in such rough shape because someone tried to destroy it.

 

[BornAgainMac]

I bet they got power from using the lighting cable.

 

[dampfnudel]

Apple's device was meant to be an all-in-one charger where the user could place any device on the pad with little to no positioning thought ... 'set it and forget it'. All the third party chargers are 1. Usually created with one two specific devices in mind, and 2. Demand precise positioning of the device on the pad in order to ensure proper charging.

So Apple was just too ambitious with their approach. Maybe someday?

 

[Elagabalus]

I wonder if iOS still have that animation they showed off for the AirPower thing.

 

[redheeler]

Safety is above anything else. I bet the last thing Apple want is a massive recall after some fire accident and even loss of life.

It’s hard to overcome the fundamental shortcomings of current wireless charging technology.

Wireless charging overall seems like an inefficient and flawed concept with today's technology. I always was and continue to be fine with plugging my devices in with a wire when they need to charge.