The Apple AirPower wireless charger was originally announced back in September of 2017. Since then, anticipation for the device has been high, with many eagerly awaiting its release. However, after a prolonged period of development and speculation, Apple has officially cancelled the project.
We were expecting the AirPower to launch within the next few months, especially following the release of the new AirPods 2, which feature wireless charging capabilities. Unfortunately, Apple has now confirmed that they will not be releasing their AirPower wireless charger.
Apple gave an official statement to TechCrunch, which you can see below:
“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.
Challenges Faced by AirPower
The cancellation of AirPower comes after nearly two years of development challenges. The device was designed to charge multiple Apple products simultaneously, including the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. This ambitious goal required a complex design that could handle different power requirements and charging protocols for each device.
One of the primary issues was reportedly related to overheating. The overlapping coils necessary to charge multiple devices at once generated excessive heat, which could potentially damage the devices or pose a safety risk. Despite extensive efforts, Apple was unable to resolve these technical challenges to meet their high standards for product quality and safety.
Impact on Apple’s Wireless Strategy
The cancellation of AirPower is a significant setback for Apple’s wireless charging strategy. The company has been a strong advocate for wireless technology, as evidenced by their recent product releases. The new AirPods 2, for instance, come with a wireless charging case, and the latest iPhones support Qi wireless charging.
Despite this setback, Apple remains committed to advancing wireless technology. Dan Riccio’s statement emphasizes that the company still believes in a wireless future and will continue to explore new ways to enhance the wireless experience for their customers. This could mean that Apple is already working on alternative solutions or improvements to existing wireless charging technologies.
The cancellation also highlights the challenges and complexities involved in developing cutting-edge technology. Even a company with Apple’s resources and expertise can face significant hurdles. It serves as a reminder that innovation often involves trial and error, and not every project will come to fruition.
The company recently released their AirPods 2, which feature wireless charging. We were expecting the AirPower to launch shortly after these. Apple has obviously had problems with their Apple AirPower wireless charger, and after almost two years of trying to sort them out, they have decided to cancel the device.
While the news is disappointing for those who were looking forward to AirPower, it’s important to note that the wireless charging market continues to grow. There are numerous third-party wireless chargers available that are compatible with Apple devices. Companies like Belkin and Anker offer reliable alternatives that can charge multiple devices, albeit not with the same seamless integration that AirPower promised.
Source TechCrunch
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