Apple’s Abandoned AirPower Project: Prototype Reveals Overheating Challenges. Apple’s ambitious AirPower project, aimed at revolutionizing wireless charging for its devices, was ultimately abandoned due to a series of technical challenges. A recent examination of an AirPower prototype has shed light on the reasons behind Apple’s decision to cancel the project, highlighting significant thermal issues.
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Initially announced in September 2017, AirPower was designed to simultaneously charge iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods. The concept promised a level of convenience and integration not seen in wireless charging pads at the time. However, despite its promising start, the project encountered hurdles that proved insurmountable.
The first major issue was evident from the beginning of AirPower’s development: serious thermal problems. Devices placed on the charging pad for any length of time risked overheating, with reports of gadgets burning out or even melting. This posed a significant risk to user safety and device integrity.
An early prototype of AirPower, obtained by leaker and collector “Kosutami,” provided a closer look at these challenges. Featuring 15 charging coils, as opposed to later versions with up to 22, this prototype revealed the complexity of its design. The dense arrangement of coils aimed to offer flexible device placement but inadvertently contributed to the overheating problem.
Kosutami’s tests with this operational prototype revealed a critical flaw in the AirPower design. While devices aligned precisely with the charging coils experienced consistent low-voltage charging without noticeable heat, incorrect placement led to extreme overheating. This was demonstrated when an AirPods Pro charging case began to melt on the pad.
This flaw was a significant departure from Apple’s vision for AirPower, which was marketed as a more convenient alternative to traditional Qi wireless chargers. Apple’s design intended to eliminate the need for precise device positioning, but the prototype’s sensitivity to placement contradicted this goal.
In an attempt to address the heating issue, Apple experimented with increasing the number of coils within the AirPower pad. However, this approach only exacerbated the overheating problem, indicating that a fundamental redesign was necessary.
Despite these challenges, Apple continued to develop the AirPower project. The company explored various software iterations in hopes of overcoming the hardware limitations. Nonetheless, the persistent overheating issues ultimately led to the project’s cancellation in March 2019.
The AirPower prototype’s findings suggest that while Apple’s hardware for the device was largely developed by 2017 or earlier, the software underwent significant changes. However, these efforts were insufficient to resolve the critical thermal problems.
In retrospect, Apple’s decision to shelve the AirPower project reflects the company’s commitment to product safety and quality. The project’s cancellation, while disappointing to many, underscores the complexities and challenges inherent in wireless charging technology innovation. The AirPower story is a reminder of the high standards to which Apple holds its products and its willingness to step back from a project if it cannot meet these criteria.
