A hands-on video gives us a new look at what AirPower might have looked like. That was the name of Apple’s long-awaited and unfortunately nipped in the bud wireless charger for multiple devices.
The channels Youtube 91Tech and Apple Demo got their hands on a 2017 AirPower prototype. It’s not the first prototype to appear. But the hands-on the media pulled out of it is the most detailed review of the product yet that many Apple fans have been waiting for.
AirPower, which as “One More Thing” following the keynote to present the iPhone 8 and iPhone X teased in September 2017 should be a wireless charger be designed to allow users to iPhoneAirPods and one Apple Watch placed on any part of the surface to charge the device. Because the project was too complex, it was shelved. And that’s despite the fact that Apple’s diehard fans — and even Apple itself — still have hope.
Like other AirPower prototypes that have popped up in the past, the device doesn’t have a finished design with a white outer shell. It looks like you might see it in Apple’s marketing material at the time. Here you can clearly see the internal circuitry.
Although the prototype in the video above is not fully functional, it was possible to connect via Terminal on a Mac using some Apple development tools. Errors when starting the AirPower unit for the first time indicate that it was never calibrated and therefore probably never used.
By tinkering with the device, 91Tech was able to glean a lot of information regarding the prototype. For example, the firmware installation date, which is June 7, 2017. You might also see commands to select specific coils and more. The AirPower prototype has 22 coils and is similar to others that have been leaked in the past.
Multiple patent filings related to AirPower indicate that Apple had envisioned 16 or 22 coil versions, and the 22 coil design appears to be the one Cupertino went for.
The AirPower charger missed its originally scheduled launch in 2018, and following a flurry of confusion during development, Apple shelved the project in March 2019. In any case, this relic remains an extremely rare collector’s item and, more importantly, witness to a series that has rocked the tech market.
What do you think of the AirPower charger shown in the hands-on? Do you mourn the product or have you found another wireless charger that works?
