Mikey Campbell
Apple is predicted to release its own branded wireless charging mat in the first half of 2020, according to noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, though the product may not be the AirPower stand-in users are hoping for.
Hedged in a note detailing potential negative effects from the new coronavirus is mention of Apple's major product initiatives for the first six months of 2020.
Specifically, Ming-Chi Kuo anticipates the company to release an affordable 4.7-inch iPhone with LCD screen, iPad Pro refresh and new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models. Along with the usual hardware revamps, the company will supposedly introduce three new products in a previously rumored ultra wideband (UWB) location-tracking tag, high-end Apple brand over-ear Bluetooth headphone and "smaller wireless charging mat."
The charging mat is of particular interest, as Apple attempted — and failed — to bring a similar device to market in AirPower.
Teased as a rare public "sneak peek" in 2017, AirPower was an ambitious project that promised free-placement wireless charging of Qi-compatible hardware like iPhone and AirPods, as well as support for proprietary inductive charging tech deployed in Apple Watch.
Initially slated to launch in 2018, the charging mat was hit with multiple delays before Apple ultimately cancelled AirPower in March 2019 citing insurmountable quality issues.
"After much effort, we've concluded AirPower will not achieve our high standards and we have cancelled the project," Apple SVP of Hardware Engineering Dan Riccio said at the time. "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."
Kuo fails to detail the upcoming "small wireless charing mat," but considering the relatively recent and high-profile nature of Apple's failure to see AirPower through to fruition, it can be assumed that the upcoming device will not be a resurrection of the recently deceased product. While mere speculation, the device could be a high-quality inductive charger that does for iPhone what the Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock did for Apple Watch.
While Kuo has provided highly accurate Apple launch estimates in the past, the analyst's track record on contemporary accessory introductions has been less than perfect. A month before Apple killed AirPower last year, Kuo issued a note claiming the charger would debut within four months. More recently, he predicted Apple's Tile-like tracker would be unveiled alongside iPhone 11 in September.
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12 Comments
On one hand it's clear that Apple haven't given up on wireless/induction charging, on the other hand I don't see Apple producing a stand-alone device after exciting the market with AirPower.
Sure, there aren't any induction chargers that can charge the Apple Watch, but I don't see this as a compelling point of difference to go up against cheap brands, especially as the watch does last all day.
The only scenario I could imagine is that Apple take away the charging port on one of their iPhone models and thus need to provide the charging mat with the device (like the Apple Watch), it might be a good idea to test the market by doing this with the rumoured March phone launch.
I can't imagine any other reason behind this than they plan on removing the charging port on either accessories or iPhones. It still seems odd because they were one of the last major phone manufacturers to add wireless charging, and they responded with the promise of air power being the delay, and yet they don't even sell one compatible with iPhones.
I guess it could be hopeful that they switch from selling Usb A chargers on the basic iPhones and usb C chargers on the Pro models to USB C and wireless chargers respectively without removing the port, but that seems too ambitious.
Keeping up appearances has always been one of Apples best qualities. Oh. I did not particularly enjoy reading another rumormonger call out Cuo. however that being said I’ve always found Cuo to be a relatively accurate appraiser of apples future intentions . I happen to be one of those people who was anxiously awaiting an air power charging mat and yes I got a little bit disappointed but that’s one of those delayed gratification scenarios. So I realized that what Keeps me coming back to Apple are insanely great products. And if this charging mat does come to fruition this time around, I’ll probably get one but if it doesn’t I certainly can’t see myself calling out Apple engineers. Instead I think I’ll cook dinner with my wife and keep my intrigue dry.
Apple just falls into its own traps.
watch charging being a proprietary standard was an intrinsically bad idea where they shot themselves in the foot with AirPower, side charging and their future chargers (as long as they don’t admit and change it)
Wireless charging is convenient, and I'll even admit the possibility of "essential" for some few applications, but gods please do not eliminate the more (by a bit) environment friendly wired charging capability.