Apple has decided to cancel the AirPower wireless charging mat due to quality reasons. The AirPower wireless charging mat was originally presented on stage at the September 2017 iPhone event.
“After much effort, we’ve concluded AirPower will not achieve our high standards and we have canceled 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 Apple Senior Vice President Dan Riccio in a statement via AppleInsider.
Mentions of the AirPower have been wiped from Apple’s website and it will likely be removed from other marketing materials soon. However, a photo of the AirPower wireless charging mat was printed on the Wireless Charging Case for AirPods — which cannot be undone. But those images were only printed on the boxes of AirPods picked up by early buyers.
Originally, Apple was likely hoping to have the AirPower wireless charging mat when the wireless charging case for the AirPods became available at the same time as the second-generation AirPods earlier this month.
Fortunately, newer iPhones and the AirPods wireless charging case is compatible with other Qi wireless chargers available on the market. But the Apple Watch has to use Apple’s proprietary charging puck plug. It is not entirely known what aspect of the AirPower was causing problems, but rumor has it that Apple’s suppliers were having overheating issues. Luxshare Precision is the supplier that was reportedly tasked with building the AirPower wireless charger mat.
