In February, revered Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities predicted that all new iPhones released this year would let you charge other Qi devices wirelessly, like your new AirPods provided you have purchased the new wireless charging case.
Apple's next iPhone models to be released in 2019 are thought to pick up a convenient feature akin to Samsung's PowerShare found on the latest Galaxy S10 phones.
After Apple first teased AirPower all the way back in 2017, many companies came forward with their own version of the now stillborn product.
We’ve all seen our fair share of AirPower-like devices that may or may not launch on Kickstarter, or those already available at a suspiciously low price, but there is no real product out there that can claim to be the “AirPower Apple won’t release”.
Apple has finally managed to secure the rights to the all-important AirPower trademark ahead of its supposed arrival later this month, but it wasn't an easy task at all.
An eagle-eyed Twitter user has managed to uncover a never-before-seen image on Apple's website depicting the company's elusive multi-device AirPower Qi wireless charger in action.
Apple today opened pre-orders for the new AirPods with Hey Siri and other perks ahead of in-store availability next week. The new earbuds can be purchased with Apple's standard charging case or with its Qi-enabled wireless charging variant. According to the Cupertino company, the Qi wireless charging case is also available to owners of the first-generation AirPods.
Apple on Wednesday announced a successor to the AirPods earphones, available to order starting today ahead of in-store availability next week.
Apple's release schedule for the first half of 2019 allegedly includes the AirPower wireless charging mat plus upgraded AirPods with Qi charging support and extended Bluetooth range.
Second-generation AirPods wireless earphones along with AirPower, Apple's long-expected multi-device Qi wireless charging mat, a fifth-generation iPad mini and an inexpensive 9.7-inch iPad are all thought to be announced in March ahead of launch on Friday, March 29, 2019.
Apple could announce second-generation AirPods at a special media event which should take place in March, but the new earbuds may not go on sale until later in the year or the fall.
Apple is expected to announce and release quite a few new or updated products in the spring, including the $150 AirPower wireless charging mat and second-generation AirPods along with a version of the charging case for the current earbuds that can be charged wirelessly.
From today's report by MySmartPrice:
Our source has claimed that the AirPower wireless charging pad will finally be released in Spring this year alongside the wireless charging case for the first-generation AirPods. The battery inside the wireless charging case will be slightly smaller in capacity compared to the current AirPods charging case.
While MySmartPrice lacks an established track record for corroborated Apple rumors, it did spot the upcoming AirPods in the Bluetooth SIG's regulatory database back in November.
There has been some confusion as to whether this forthcoming case will only work with AirPower, Apple's multi-device Qi charger, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
Like all gadgets compliant with the Qi protocol, this case will certainly work with any third-party Qi charger. I must admit, I'm way more interested in the next AirPods than this case but who knows—I could easily change my mind once I start using the AirPower charging mat.
What do you think?
A source claiming knowledge of AirPower development says Apple's elusive multi-device charging accessory is at long last ready for an official release some time in the spring.