Report: AirPower Has Entered Production and Coming Soon

[Neodym]

I've never once thought about where I place my iPhone XS Max or my Google Pixel 3XL on the Google Pixel stand. It just works.

It is a dedicated Google Pixel stand. The XS Max probably works more out of coincidence, as it is similar in size with the Pixel and is having the coils placed similarly (however, I'm not sure it charges with optimum efficiency).

The Airpower mat otoh is intended to charge a multitude of different devices with differently placed wireless charging coils, such as e.g. Watch, iPhone 8, 8+, X(s), XR, XS max, AirPod case, future devices ... at any given position on the mat (and it has to be a mat as there's probably no sane way to provide a stand functionality for all of the mentioned devices).

When you just charge one or two similar devices, a dedicated stand is fine. When the charger has to be agnostic of the form factor of the device to be charged, it's a different engineering challenge altogether.

 

[I7guy]

I've been using the ChoeTech wireless charging pad, which has 5 coils. I've been able to place my phone pretty much anywhere on the pad and it charges perfectly fine. It also charges 2 devices simultaneously.
How will the AirPower (other then colour) be any different? The ChoeTech is probably a fraction of the cost, does the same job, and is in black, rather then a 'stand out too much' white.

Either way, the delay with the Airpower will hit its sales. Many have moved on and have settled with their wireless solutions. The rest should be contemplating the cost of something that is now new and not revolutionary......

I wouldn’t say many have moved on. The air power is targeted toward customers with multiple wireless devices and an AW. I’m not that demographic. There is one wireless device in the house so I bought a “cheap” Qi charger to see what the hoopla of wireless is all about.

 

[Steve121178]

Not interested. I've bought a few premium RAVPower fast wireless chargers & don't need to pay Apple upwards of £150 for the same functionality. And yes, I know AirPower lets you charge more than just your phone but who cares? It's an ugly monstrosity.

 

[knassar]

I just snooped the manufacturer's website for a couple of seconds, and guess what I saw on their products page:

USB-C iPhone XI with jack dongle confirmed?

 

[Abazigal]

This is only true for charging mats, not stands.

I've never once thought about where I place my iPhone XS Max or my Google Pixel 3XL on the Google Pixel stand. It just works.
[doublepost=1547458105][/doublepost]
Please can you say what you think those disadvantages are? Just curious.

I love have my phone on a vertical stand next the bed. Using Google smarts it automatically sets itself to do not disturb during my sleep cycle and also blacks out the screen. I can use the morning light feature where the screen slowly lights up with a yellow light before the alarm goes off to wake you up more gradually. Having a flat charging mat doesn't really make sense for modern smart phones where we need to access to view the screen on a regular basis. And not at all on iPhone X as face ID won't work...

For me, the biggest limitation is that my table is higher than my bed. So when I am lying down in bed, I am not in any position to be looking at my iphone or Apple Watch anyways, regardless of what angle it is raised at. As such, it doesn’t matter to me whether my phone is lying flat down or standing up.

And I would personally find it easier to place my phone back on a flat charging surface compared to a raised stand.

 

[doctor-don]

Apple's long-awaited wireless charging mat AirPower might finally be on the horizon if the latest rumor is to be believed.

Apple's silence regarding AirPower has led some to believe the product has been canceled, but today's report offers renewed hope.

Last month, based on documentation obtained from Made for iPhone program members, ChargerLAB accurately reported that third-party Apple-certified Lightning to USB-C cables would be available in early 2019. Right on cue, Belkin and Griffin among others introduced Lightning to USB-C cables at CES 2019 this week.

ChargerLAB did, however, inaccurately report that the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR would be bundled with a faster 18W USB-C power adapter from Apple. The website did show an accurate render of the charger, but it ended up being for the 2018 iPad Pro, so the rumor wasn't entirely off base.

Update: In a follow-up tweet, ChargerLAB cites another source who claims a second Apple supplier Pegatron is set to begin mass production of the AirPower on January 21. The alleged Pegatron employee claims the AirPower has three layers of coils in an 8-7-7 configuration from bottom to top.

​

Article Link: Report: AirPower Has Entered Production and Coming Soon

Re-titled from
Report: AirPower Has Entered Production and Coming Soon [Updated]
Saturday January 12, 2019 7:40 am PST by Joe Rossignol

 

[dilbert99]

Please can you say what you think those disadvantages are? Just curious.

I love have my phone on a vertical stand next the bed.

I have my phone on a vertical stand next to the bed but never use it because it is impossible for me to use it at that distance and angle. If I want to use it, I use my iPad instead, which is sitting flat charging via cable. That would be easier for me to pick up if it were a wireless charger. (Albeit I might not choose wireless charging overnight because of battery life concerns)

My phone sits on a lightning port on a clock radio and it is a pain to insert and remove. Granted if it were wireless it wouldn't be such a pain.

Using Google smarts it automatically sets itself to do not disturb during my sleep cycle and also blacks out the screen. I can use the morning light feature where the screen slowly lights up with a yellow light before the alarm goes off to wake you up more gradually. Having a flat charging mat doesn't really make sense for modern smart phones where we need to access to view the screen on a regular basis. And not at all on iPhone X as face ID won't work...

Having a flat charging mat for me is fine, because I wouldn't be charging and using it at the same time.
Face id one a vertical stand for me next to the bed currently doesn't work, I have to do some serious gymnastics to get my face in to the right orientation where it sits on the bedside drawers. YMMV.
[doublepost=1547473671][/doublepost]

It’s too early to determine the ‘utility’ of a product that you haven’t even used at all. By the way, that’s exacly what people said when Apple announced AirPods. It’s only when AirPods have already become the most popular wireless earphones of all time and a lot of people have praised how good they are that you call them ‘useful’.

I disagree, one charges a device.
The other you listen to music, take phone calls.
I don't see how you can seriously state that a charger has more utility than headphones.
[doublepost=1547473838][/doublepost]

Since AirPods fall out of my ears if I so much as chew or turn my head, I assume you mean AirPower has more utility?

Regardless of the fact that airpods don't fit your ears it is obvious that headphones have more utility than a charger, to suggest otherwise is simply ridiculous.

For the record, I don't own apple airpods because I don't think they would fit my ears either and I think they don't look nice. I'd prefer ones that were just round blobs. But I guess that would make them less useful for making calls.
I currently have a set of over ear noise cancelling head phones.

 

[benshive]

To take full advantage of this charger I would also have to buy the wireless charging case for my AirPods when it's available. That will probably be like $60 and this thing will probably be around $160. Cool tech but not worth it IMO.

 

[NT1440]

Well, it does not have that many coils. I am not very familiar with this tech but as I understand the optimal location for charging is the one that is perfectly centered (on a coil). Having multiple coils provides multiple optimal locations but that's not the same as placing the device anywhere on the pad. Information about AirPower overheating may indicate that Apple was trying to compensate for lousy power transfer (in sub-optimal locations) by pumping more power. That's just a speculation on my part, of course but I will remain skeptical until we'll see the result. I remember huge excitement on this site about the rumors that Apple would use the chargers that "beam" the power anywhere in the room. How did that pan out?

Look at the patent applications, Apple is using many coils several layers deep. You’re describing the product incorrectly, using that array of numerous coils is exactly the “beaming” you’re describing.

[

 

[alexandr]

i hope that given all the great examples out there, what apple will come out with will differ from this all-too-familiar airpower. perhaps it will have vertical charging somehow implemented...

 

[Nautilus007]

Let's see what magical features make Airpower different than the other solutions available today.

 

[tooloud10]

Why do so many people seem so annoyed while shrugging off the AirPower as an expensive device that offers nothing new? If it's nothing special, just keep using your current devices.

Also, just a heads up but anyone waiting for the AirPods wireless charging case can just buy the i10 TWS headphones for $40 if you're tired of waiting. The i10 buds are virtually indistinguishable (if not identical) from AirPods and charge just fine in its charging case. Also, the battery inside has 25% more capacity than the regular AirPods case.

 

[zantafio]

I can't see not even one compelling reason to buy an AirPower when you have this:

- only one cable? Check!
- charges watch, AirPods and iPhone at the same time? Check!
- has not one but TWO 2.4A USB ports in the back to charge my iPad and something else? Check!
- costs less than $80? Check!

ok that won't charge the wireless version of the AirPods, but is it really necessary?

 

[tooloud10]

I can't see not even one compelling reason to buy an AirPower when you have this:

Honestly, the way that thing looks is the best argument in favor of paying for an actual AirPower device.

 

[Mr Staunton]

Moved on, got a third party charger, hardly use it as I can't see the phone on my bedside table.

 

[_Refurbished_]

What you have and it fitting your needs is the definition of anecdotal. Of course you’ll justify your decision because you made it.

Anecdotal implies that research wasn’t done on my part, which isn’t true. I’m aware of AirPower’s capabilities and formed an opinion based on the Apple’s presentation of AirPower.

I am the tech guru in my family and own an iMac, but I don’t emphatically recommend them to family / friends due to their terrible fixibility. I acknowledge this is a shortcoming when owning an iMac and accept it for what it is. My opinions on products are never biased. I like to take things at face value

There is nothing special about Apple’s charger that would make people pay extra money to get one, except for the fact that it’s Apple. If AirPower was designed by Aukey, no one would blink an eye.

 

[Juan007]

“Fallen for it”? Fallen for what? The fact that my friend literally got an iPad that was bent out of the box with ripples in the metal? Stop trying to sound “woke” just because being a fanboy is more fun for you. You’re not anymore enlightened than anyone else because you wanna call “fake news” on some stuff apple nor any other company shouldn’t be getting away with

So you have a microscope that can see 400 microns, and you looked at your iPad, and you saw a bend?

 

[AgentAnonymous]

AirPods were released only three months after they were announced, and were priced competitively.

lmao, AirPods are one of the most grossly overpriced products in history.

 

[PLondon]

For me, the biggest limitation is that my table is higher than my bed. So when I am lying down in bed, I am not in any position to be looking at my iphone or Apple Watch anyways, regardless of what angle it is raised at. As such, it doesn’t matter to me whether my phone is lying flat down or standing up.

And I would personally find it easier to place my phone back on a flat charging surface compared to a raised stand.

Each person's case is different of course, but I would suggest most people's bedside tables are the appropriate height for their bed...

 

[Abazigal]

Each person's case is different of course, but I would suggest most people's bedside tables are the appropriate height for their bed...

My bedside table is my work table. I can post a photo when I get home, but I think you get the idea.

 

[PLondon]

I have my phone on a vertical stand next to the bed but never use it because it is impossible for me to use it at that distance and angle. If I want to use it, I use my iPad instead, which is sitting flat charging via cable. That would be easier for me to pick up if it were a wireless charger. (Albeit I might not choose wireless charging overnight because of battery life concerns)

My phone sits on a lightning port on a clock radio and it is a pain to insert and remove. Granted if it were wireless it wouldn't be such a pain.


Having a flat charging mat for me is fine, because I wouldn't be charging and using it at the same time.
Face id one a vertical stand for me next to the bed currently doesn't work, I have to do some serious gymnastics to get my face in to the right orientation where it sits on the bedside drawers. YMMV.
[doublepost=1547473671][/doublepost]
I disagree, one charges a device.
The other you listen to music, take phone calls.
I don't see how you can seriously state that a charger has more utility than headphones.
[doublepost=1547473838][/doublepost]
Regardless of the fact that airpods don't fit your ears it is obvious that headphones have more utility than a charger, to suggest otherwise is simply ridiculous.

For the record, I don't own apple airpods because I don't think they would fit my ears either and I think they don't look nice. I'd prefer ones that were just round blobs. But I guess that would make them less useful for making calls.
I currently have a set of over ear noise cancelling head phones.

Just to say, of course you'd pick the phone up before using it. I wasn't suggesting anyone use a phone while it's on the stand...

 

[The Game 161]

Just how the watch would charge if you are using a loop or Milanese loop for example. Could be rather awkward surely.

 

[OllyW]

Just how the watch would charge if you are using a loop or Milanese loop for example. Could be rather awkward surely.

I would imagine you will need to detach one end of the band from the watch before charging. Seems like a very un-Apple like way of doing things.

 

[afir93]

I can't see not even one compelling reason to buy an AirPower when you have this:

- only one cable? Check!
- charges watch, AirPods and iPhone at the same time? Check!
- has not one but TWO 2.4A USB ports in the back to charge my iPad and something else? Check!
- costs less than $80? Check!

ok that won't charge the wireless version of the AirPods, but is it really necessary?

Personally, from a visual and aesthetic point of view I'd take having AirPower on my nightstand over that unsightly thing any day. Different tastes, I suppose. If you like the way it looks and functions, then yeah, there isn't a good reason for you to consider buying AirPower when you already spent $80 or less on this charging stand.

Also, from what it looks like, isn't it really inconvenient to have the Apple Watch band hang down over the iPhone like that? If you want to for example check for notifications while it's charging, then your view is pretty much obstructed, and while this may not be an issue with the sports band, for the stainless steel bands I'd be a little worried that the bands might scratch the screen of the iPhone, especially if you hastily pull the iPhone out or so.

 

[Don1985]

I was tempted by this when it was first announced, but not anymore. Different reason to most, as I am happy with flat charging.

What I've opted for is to drill the IKEA chargers into my bedside tables (very slow charging but done overnight each day) and I have a USB-C 18w charger in a drawer for the rare case I need a quick charge during the day.

It's a really good setup for me, very very content.