Apple shelved the alleged AirPower a few years ago after the wireless charging mat was not able to efficiently distribute thermal and faced overheating issues, especially when charging an Apple Watch which consumes more power than iPhone and AirPods. However, recently, several sources have claimed that the company is still developing AirPower technology.
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reports that Applet is not only working on an improved AirPower wireless mat with multi-device charging support but also a new capability for Apple devices to charge each other.
To compete with third-party multi-device wireless chargers, Apple is working on AirPower and reverse charging technologies
While commending Belkin’s new multi-device wireless charger to power up an iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch, Gurman used the opportunity to criticize Apple for not developing a product that can “juice up its three main mobile devices simultaneously.” But Gurman believes that the company has not given up on the multi-device charging technologies and it intends to launch AirPower and new reverse charging technology which will allow users to charge other devices by placing them on the back of an iPhone.
I do think Apple is still working on some sort of multi-device charger that it intends to eventually release. There’s a reason why it planned to launch the device in the first place in 2017. I also believe Apple is working on short and long distance wireless charging devices and that it imagines a future where all of Apple’s major devices can charge each other. Imagine an iPad charging an iPhone and then that iPhone charging AirPods or an Apple Watch.
Starting with iPhone 12 series with MagSafe wireless charging reports on the launch of reverse charging tech which support Gurman’s prediction. An FCC filing found in October 2020, revealed that iPhone 12 models could support reverse charging in the future. In addition, it was also claimed that Apple’s MagSafe battery pack would offer reverse charging support. Later, iPhone 13 series was launched with larger charging coils which raised the assumption that the coils would support faster wireless charging and reverse charging.
via 9to5Mac
