Is Apple going to launch a wireless charger at some point in the future? It’s certainly possible! Apple might have cancelled AirPower, but that doesn’t mean the dream is quite dead just yet.
In a video initially shared with 9to5Mac, what appears to be a prototype for some kind of wireless charger is shown off. But while it appears to be an early-stages product, still well in development, there’s some question regarding what it’s actually meant for:
It’s unclear if the charging module pictured in the video is a prototype of an upcoming Apple product or an Apple development unit that the company will provide to third-party accessory makers similar to what it does with the Apple Watch charger and other parts through its MFi program.
Here’s the video:
Video claims to show Apple magnetic wireless charger prototype. More at @9to5mac pic.twitter.com/BDReuIIW4C
— Jordan Kahn (@JordanKahn) September 17, 2020
The rumor mill has not given up on an Apple-branded wireless charging mat, for what it’s worth. In June of this year, for instance, a leaked image reportedly showed off a new wireless charging option from Apple. Not quite the AirPower, but something that has been separately described as “less ambitious“. That could mean the new wireless charging mat doesn’t have the “place anywhere to charge” design as the original AirPower, along with a smaller size.
However, there has also been a rumor going around that the iPhone 12 may boast internal magnets that could relate to wireless charging or mounting accessories. Maybe this prototype of a magnetic wireless charger has something to do with those magnets in the iPhone 12.