Rumor Claims 'AirPower Isn't Dead' After Ming-Chi Kuo Says Apple Working on 'Smaller Wireless Charging Mat'

[MacRumors]

Nearly a year after canceling its AirPower wireless charging mat, Apple has resumed development of the project, according to YouTuber and leaker Jon Prosser. However, there is no guarantee that the accessory will ever be released.

Prosser claims that Apple engineers are attempting to redesign the mat's charging coils to displace heat more effectively, adding that prototyping is underway. Apple only said that the AirPower failed to achieve its high standards, but rumors suggested that the mat experienced issues with heat management and interference.

AirPower would have been able to charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods case simultaneously, regardless of each device's position on the mat. The battery percentage of each device would have shown up on the iPhone's lock screen while charging.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1241840738712895494

Apple first previewed the ?AirPower? in September 2017 at Steve Jobs Theater, shortly after introducing the iPhone X, and said that it would be released by the end of 2018. Apple failed to deliver on that promise and ultimately canceled the mat in March 2019. At the time, Apple said it remained "committed to push the wireless experience forward."

Prosser has shared accurate Google leaks in the past, but he has only recently pushed more into Apple rumors, so his track record is limited on that front.

A few months ago, well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo forecasted that one of Apple's major new hardware products in the first half of 2020 would include a "smaller wireless charging mat," but he did not provide any further details and that timeframe may have changed due to the ongoing pandemic. It is unclear if the mat would have AirPower branding.

Article Link: Rumor Claims 'AirPower Isn't Dead' After Ming-Chi Kuo Says Apple Working on 'Smaller Wireless Charging Mat'

 

[Icaras]

I've never given up believing in AirPower! Even if Apple releases it as just a single device charging mat, I know Apple will release this one day!

 

[Justin Cymbal]

I would definitely like to see Apple come out with an AirPower charging mat that works better than the 3rd party ones

I know so many other Apple users that have AirPods, Watch & iPhone that would buy this...

 

[JosephAW]

I'm using a Qi charger I bought at five below for $5. Meh.

 

[kerplunknet]

‎

 

[Oldfash33]

Oh snap!

 

[PickUrPoison]

It’s not that the project is back on; it was never off. Still, it may or may not ever be released.

 

[Eli_m]

my God, enough with this already.

 

[PickUrPoison]

my God, enough with this already.

If you’re not into rumors, you’re at the wrong place...

 

[I7guy]

Qi charging sucks. It's slow, wasteful, makes your phone burning hot, bad for your battery, and potentially dangerous.

And astoundingly convenient.

 

[Eli_m]

If you’re not into rumors, you’re at the wrong place...

I am, but I meant enough with this AirPower thing. I bought a $30 wireless charger from Amazon that charges my watch, AirPods and iPhone. Why is everyone still waiting on Apple!

 

[JCoe13]

Music to my ears

 

[aawil]

I'm pretty happy with the Satechi one. I also have the ikea one that mounts in the desk. At this point they should just move on.

 

[5105973]

Well with plague of locusts already going strong in Pakistan, “earthquakes in diverse places”, a global pandemic, an economic apocalypse, and Sarah Palin rapping in a bear suit, I’d say signs are more favorable for the fulfillment of the end times prophecies of several different belief systems than they have been for the fruition of this particular project.

 

[kerplunknet]

‎

 

[cmaier]

Not really. Kind of the opposite, actually.

If you can plug in a Qi charger, you can plug in a lightning cable.

How is it more convenient?

Just put the phone down and it charges. Pick it up and go. Versus plugging it in and unplugging it (and potentially chasing the wire around when it falls off your nightstand, etc.)

 

[I7guy]

Not really. Kind of the opposite, actually.

If you can plug in a Qi charger, you can plug in a lightning cable.

How is it more convenient?

That’s the point, one doesn’t have to plug a cable into the phone to charge it. I find that convenient. Ymmv.

 

[Tech198]

The brakes are being applied.

Just put the phone down and it charges. Pick it up and go. Versus plugging it in and unplugging it (and potentially chasing the wire around when it falls off your nightstand, etc.)

I would of thought 'The Chase' would be the key.

I only have 1m cord, so mine can't go far

 

[gsmornot]

I have been using Apple CablePower. Charging has been pretty quick.

 

[44267547]

I've never given up believing in AirPower! Even if Apple releases it as just a single device charging mat, I know Apple will release this one day!

Yeah, with the Airpower not being released and Apple ultimately admitting that if wouldn’t come to fruition, doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t try to create a ‘workaround’ to find another version of the Airpower, because there definitely is a market segment for those who want the convenience of a wireless charger. If that means it takes Apple longer to bring something to the market, better late than never.

 

[Iconoclysm]

I am, but I meant enough with this AirPower thing. I bought a $30 wireless charger from Amazon that charges my watch, AirPods and iPhone. Why is everyone still waiting on Apple!

Because there is still that one problem to solve - and that's the one Apple is working on. Not having to find the sweet spot.

 

[driver111]

I bet 5c that the charging mat will be for the new tag tracking devices

 

[easy4lif]

Here’s a theory I’ve had in my head since the cancellation occurred...

Apple did in fact figure out all the design issues and had a working prototype. However, when it came to mass produce it, manufacturing cost would have made either AirPower too expensive ($299+) or too many were failing quality control. So apple just “canceled” the project. Which by the way they’ve never done publicly I think.

I figured apple decided to just place AirPower on the back burner till it became economically viable.
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Because there is still that one problem to solve - and that's the one Apple is working on. Not having to find the sweet spot.

I think they did solve all the issues, but it became a ridiculous expensive device. I’m guessing it prob cost 299 just to mass produce it. No ones gonna pay $399 + just to charge via apple.

before I get ripped a new one. There were rumors that it had entered mass production a month before cancelation

 

[Analog Kid]

my God, enough with this already.

I was so happy when Apple announced this project was canceled. I was excited to learn more about the technology, and I thought it was a cool and useful product idea, but the incremental value of AirPower didn't compensate for the sheer level of hyperbole in the forums. It's a charging mat. A particularly nice one, but still. The endless arguments about it being the end of the world or teh second coming of Jobs was out of proportion with the rumor, in my mind.

FWIW, I'm pretty sure if Apple said the project is dead, it's dead. This may be another charging mat, but I doubt it will be called AirPower, and I'd be surprised if it's based on the same technology that AirPower was meant to be.

 

[Baymowe335]

It’s not that the project is back on; it was never off. Still, it may or may not ever be released.

Yes, other than the head of hardware calling it dead.

“After much effort, we’ve concluded AirPower will not achieve our high standards and we have cancelled the project. We apologize to those customers who were looking forward to this launch. We continue to believe that the future is wireless and are committed to push the wireless experience forward,” said Dan Riccio, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering in an emailed statement today.

Of course you can throw out some opinion, but the dude in charge literally said they cancelled the project.