Announced in 2017 (at the same time as the iPhone X) and officially canceled in 2019, the AirPower is a truly unique product in Apple’s history. Several videos have recently been released discussing (different) prototypes of this product.
What is AirPower? It’s an Apple charging mat using the Qi standard (but not only that, as it also charges Apple Watches) with an interesting concept (which I personally find unnecessary, but oh well). The idea was that you could place multiple devices on it without worrying about precise positioning, unlike most charging pads. Apple engineers attempted to integrate multiple charging coils (over twenty in one prototype) to achieve this. The MagSafe for iPhone, released later, took a completely different approach: Apple uses magnets to ensure correct device placement…
Let’s start with Luke Miani’s video. I’m not embedding the video since embedded videos often get deleted, but I encourage you to check it out. The first prototype was loaned by DongleBookPro, who frequently showcases prototypes, and it features 16 charging coils. It uses a standard Apple charging chip and was built about a year before the announcement. The metal structure, previously seen, provides rigidity but also aids in cooling.
The first one
The back is black
The Apple chip
The second prototype contains 22 coils and is powered by an Altera FPGA, a rather expensive chip. On this model, charging works… almost. Not all coils function properly, and even when it does work, it only lasts for a second or two, with an AirPods case and an iPhone.
Both of them
The FPGA
It charges
The last prototype is a unique AirPower: significantly larger, square-shaped, covered with Apple’s usual materials, and it does not work (at least, they do not show it functioning).
It is square
And larger
The second video is from 91Tech, featuring an AirPower prototype lent by AppleDemo (a regular when it comes to prototypes). This one is a bit more technical, with explanations about the 22 coils (again), a connection to the serial bus, etc. It also shows that the originally planned animation on iPhones does not work and that the AirPower firmware dates back to June 2017 (well before its official announcement). There are also some interesting details, such as the fact that the iPhone X manual mentioned AirPower, as did the box of the optional AirPods charging case.
AirPower without its white covering
The same structure
The FPGA
An artistic view of the coils
The coils are slightly visible
The coils in another dismantled prototype
The serial adapter
The result
An Apple image from the presentation
In the iPhone X manual
The box of the charging case
There is a third video that will likely be released on Computer Clan, with two teased images. Yes, they are the same.
A « classic » format model
The square version
