Despite previously cancelling its multi-device wireless charging mat, Apple is now allegedly prototyping a revised AirPower accessory, but will it ever see the light of day?
That’s according to an unsubstantiated rumor by self-proclaimed technology analyst John Prosser, who tweeted yesterday that the project has resumed.
Apparently, a revised AirPower has even reached a prototyping stage:
The project is back on, internally. No guarantee that they’ll finalize and release it, but they haven’t given up yet and they’re trying to re-engineer the coils to displace heat more effectively. Prototyping is underway.
He added in a follow-up tweet that Apple is rebuilding the accessory but said none of the prototypes support wireless inductive charging for Apple Watch.
None of the current prototypes support Apple Watch — that’s their biggest hurdle right now. They refuse to release a version that doesn’t work with Apple Watch. They’re re-engineering from scratch.
Prosser has a very limited track record in Apple rumors so take his claims with a healthy dose of salt. For reference, Prosser din in fact correctly predict when Apple was showing the AirPods Pro to media ahead of their official launch, as noted by AppleInsider.
On the other hand, reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted in January that Apple would be releasing a “smaller wireless charging mat” some time in the first six months of 2020.
The AirPower was supposed to let you simultaneously charge devices like your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods charge case without worrying about precise placement of each device. However, reports soon began cropping up that the project had hit significant roadblocks with the Qi mat overheating and experiencing coil interference problems.
With a tentative early 2018 release date, the AirPower hit multiple delays over those engineering challenges, prompting Apple to discontinue the ill-fated product on March 29.
Apple said it couldn’t meet its high standards with the AirPower, but other companies have seized the opportunity and made their own AirPower-like Qi chargers, including Zagg, Zens, Nomad and others. Apple also secured worldwide rights to the AirPower trademark.
Would you still like an AirPower charger from Apple?
If so, let us know in the comments down below.