Wireless charging tech has improved a lot in recent months, with adapters capable of charging up to 40W like OPPO's new AirVOOC. Of course, fast-charging isn't the only area companies are exploring. Rumours of the AirPower charging mat are back, with Apple now allegedly able to ensure that it won't have overheating issues anymore.
For your information, the AirPower is a wireless charging mat that comes with multiple Qi-wireless coils. The idea Apple had in mind for this was to allow users to be able to place devices anywhere on top of the mat without worrying about whether it's aligned properly. Previously, this wasn't doable as it reportedly caused overheating.
But according to Notebookcheck (via Jon Prosser), Apple has resolved this issue with the help of the A11 Bionic chipset. With the chipset and a new system in place, the AirPower prototype was supposedly able to dynamically route power to specific coil regions where devices are placed on. It will also be designed to wait for temperatures to drop before adding more power, thus preventing overheating.
Here’s my concept of “C68”
— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) April 13, 2020
Apple’s most current internal prototype.
- Fewer coils, with less overlap
- A11 chip inside to manage heat
- Lightning cable on right side
(Though I’d expect that to change on the retail models)
If they pull it off — expected Q4 2020 / Q1 2021
~ $250 pic.twitter.com/sjViqjn0As
Being able to charge multiple devices would mean that charging speeds won't be fast, but that could be a trade-off that many people wouldn't mind. Jon Prosser has estimated that it could launch later this year if the product is real and that it could cost about USD 250 (~RM1081), but that's just speculation for now. Like any rumour of this sort, it's best to take it a grain of salt.
Having said that, is this something you would be keen on buying? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates on this.
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