It was at the end of 2017 that the company announced, alongside the availability of the iPhone X, the development of a new device that would act as a wireless charging base for its iPhone and AirPods headphones, those that this that year were presented as the latest novelty.
It was on this date that Apple mentioned that the project would see the light of day throughout the following year. But after the year, all hope awaited what the company might announce in early 2019. Two years later, we still have no record of the new product.
In fact, already in 2020, we heard from many media that Apple had canceled the AirPower project (at least its first edition) despite the fact that spokesmen for the same company denied believing that the future is without. wire to the point of committing to promoting wireless. live “.
Through a statement, Vice President of Hardware Engineering Dan Riccio said that “after much effort, we have come to the conclusion that AirPower will not meet the high standards required by the brand, it is is why we decided to cancel the project “.
If you are looking for a wireless charger for your iPhone, regardless of model and generation, here we offer you a whole series of alternatives to the AirPower with best wireless chargers for iPhone that you can find in the market.
AirPower: cancellation of the first generation
A year and a half after Phil Schiller’s announcement of product development, Apple called off the project we had all known as AirPower by its reference name. Throughout these years there have been many indications and rumors which we will detail.
When Apple announced the iPhone 8 and iPhone X in September 2017, the Cupertino-based company also revealed that it was developing its own AirPower wireless charger on which it would be possible to charge all three Apple devices: the iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods.
But where have Apple’s plans for its AirPower gone?
In this article, we collect all the information that emerged before its cancellation, on its release date, its price and the specs that Apple came to handle. Additionally, the company could consider a new solution like this now that the device ecosystem is larger and more nurtured.
AirPower: Why was AirPower canceled?
When Apple announced its AirPower wireless charging station on September 12, 2017, the company said the AirPower would not go on sale until 2018. “You can get the AirPower charger next year,” Phil Schiller said. . Something that hasn’t been done.
AirPowers have been mentioned in passing along with the materials of the new iPhone XR and iPhone XS models, which might suggest their early availability. However, the newer generations of AirPods were presented with their own wireless charging case, without any option of using a common charging base for various Apple devices.
The fact that Apple included Qi charging support seems to have played a role, but changes to the design of the Apple Watch Series 3 have made it incompatible with most non-Apple chargers, and it has also been extended to AirPowers.
One of the hallmarks of AirPower was that it was the first wireless charger to charge up to three devices at the same time. It was thought to be because Apple wanted users to be able to place iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods anywhere on the dock to charge them.
However, as it has become evident, each device requires a different type of battery charging, which requires the use of multiple charge sensors that would be arranged in certain specific areas of the AirPower base.
Some might think Apple was wrong to disclose AirPower’s plans so soon, but in those areas, where FCC ratification is required, the company is often forced to disclose its plans in advance, without it pleases him.
MagSafe as an alternative
Subsequently, we saw how with the arrival of the iPhone 12 in the market, the MagSafe charger has become popular, which currently has an economy price of 45 $. It incorporates perfectly aligned magnets so that they can be attached to the back of the iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro and charge it wirelessly with a speed of 15 W.
In fact, the magnetic fit is only available for iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro models, but with the ability to use it for compatibility with iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, albeit with a worse user experience than previously mentioned.
Indeed, we find for sale on the Apple site the dual MagSafe charger, a kind of portable base that allows it to be transported comfortably from one place to another and which has two different wireless charging zones to be able to charge both iPhone 12 and Apple Watch.
AirPower: the price it could have
The official price of the AirPower has never been transcended by Apple, which is not to say that we can make a well-founded guess based on other cases and similar products marketed by other brands, on the price that ‘he could have had.
Everyone knows that Apple does not generally sell cheap products. Behind it is an argument associated with the costs involved in researching and developing new products, ensuring Apple’s high standards. This makes us think that we can only expect an unusual price on chargers.
There are currently basic wireless charging solutions available on the market that are compatible with Apple products. This is the case of product marketed by Polish company X-Kom priced at $ 294.
From November 2017, the ThinkApple blog He hinted that this type of wireless charging base compatible with Apple products would place its average price at $ 199.
Without a doubt, these are steep prices for what we are used to paying for a wireless charger from smartphone from the Android range. Last August, the Chinese company Chongdiantou said that according to its sources, the AirPower would cost around 1,000 Chinese yuan, which equates to a price of around $ 129.
Finally is the Apple ToolBox report in which it is mentioned that the AirPower could not cost much more than 99 $.
Why has AirPower suffered so many delays?
Apparently, Apple planned its launch years ago, but some technical hurdles and supply chain challenges have emerged, according to outlets such as Bloomberg. AppleToolBox sources also reported in 2018 that the delay was due to difficulties in producing the product compatible for AirPods and Apple Watch.
Apple has always talked about the Qi-type charging mode, but changes in the design of the Apple Watch Series 3 have made it incompatible with most non-company chargers.
There were also rumors that the very wireless earbuds with their charging base would require additional coverage to be able to charge the AirPods in a charger like the AirPower, which would incur an additional cost on top of the inconvenience of having to plug in. get rid of the current. based.
In short, if we mix the conclusions of all these reports, we see how the AirPowers suffered time delays which were finally played against them, with delays linked to technical standardization problems.
Another problem described in these reports relates to the placement of the sensors on the pad. The AirPowers would have been the first wireless charger on the market ready to charge three devices of different types at the same time. Apple had to make sure that each generation was charged and running.
As we expected, the random placement of each of the devices on the load base caused the motherboard to require multiple load cells with strategic distribution. Each type of device required charging components of different sizes and wattages.
The AirPower case is not unique. Apple had also already delayed other products like the HomePod or AirPods 2. Check out our test here New Apple HomePod review: price, availability and features.
AirPower: compatibility issues
From the start, we knew that unless you had a next-gen iPhone, you wouldn’t be able to charge your iPhone with AirPower due to compatibility issues. This is a bit like what has happened now with the arrival of the iPhone 12 and MagSafe technology.
The MagSafe charger is designed to charge the iPhone 12 wirelessly. The system intelligently adapts to conditions to optimize charging with a maximum power of 15W for faster wireless charging.
Actual power supplied to iPhone will vary depending on AC adapter voltage and system conditions. In the case of the iPhone 12 mini, the MagSafe charger provides a maximum of 12 W. But if you don’t have an iPhone 12, it is not highly recommended to use it with other models like the ‘iPhone 11.
Only the iPhone 12 has the magnets that ensure the correct pairing for a 15W charge. In this way, other models charge at half speed, especially at 7.5W as with the rest of the Qi compatible chargers. .
Something similar happens with AirPods, despite Apple showing wireless charging on the original AirPods. Current cases seem to be incompatible with Qi. In this way, the acquisition of a new compatible box is necessary. This could also have been the reason why Apple did not submit the new AirPods Pro before.
One of the reports we’ve referred to in the past revealed that the Apple Watch Series 3 was detected by AirPower using special radio frequency waves. Only then would it have been possible to charge the battery of the smartwatch.
Older watches use wireless charging based on the Qi standard, but require MFi-based authentication. As many of you know, there are other ways to charge older generation iPhones without this built-in feature. To do this, simply apply third-party accessories to allow it to be charged with wireless charging bases.
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