Apple's Beats brand in April unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, a redesigned wire-free version of its popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds.
Nikkei Dubiously Says AirPods Charging Case 'Will Soon Be Able' to Wirelessly Charge an iPhone
An upcoming version of the AirPods charging case will be able to wirelessly charge a compatible iPhone, according to Nikkei Asian Review, although proceed with skepticism, as there's a good chance the report is off the mark.
The first paragraph from Cheng Ting-Fang and Lauly Li, in a report titled "Apple to unveil iPhone wireless charging with AirPods":
The report adds:
All in all, it's a rather strange report that inspires a lot of questions. Would a user hold or lay their iPhone against the AirPods charging case? The case's current floss-container-like design means that the iPhone would need to be precisely balanced on top of it, if not held together in your hands.
In addition, the AirPods case is and will likely remain too small to adequately charge the latest iPhones. The battery in the current case has a capacity of 398 mAh, roughly 14.6 percent of the iPhone X's battery capacity of 2,716 mAh, limiting its usefulness to emergency or must-have situations.
Is the report backwards? Is it possible some iPhones will be able to wirelessly transfer power to the AirPods charging case on the go? Or, more likely, is the report simply mistranslating the fact that the latest iPhones and the AirPods charging case will be compatible with the AirPower charging mat?
At this point, all we know for certain is that Apple will release both its AirPower charging mat and optional AirPods charging case later this year. According to the reliable Mark Gurman, Apple is aiming to release the AirPower by September, so there's a good chance it'll launch alongside the next iPhones.
The first paragraph from Cheng Ting-Fang and Lauly Li, in a report titled "Apple to unveil iPhone wireless charging with AirPods":
Users of iPhones will soon be able to wirelessly charge their handsets using the charging case for Apple's popular AirPods wireless earphones, according to an industry source familiar with the plan.The report claims the charging case could be available as soon as the end of this year, although the timeframe is subject to change.
The report adds:
The development would add to Apple's much-anticipated AirPower wireless charging mat, unveiled last year and due out soon, bringing chief designer Jony Ive's call in 2016 for a "truly wireless future" a step closer. Apple has previously said it is working on a wireless charging case for AirPods that could also be topped up with the AirPower pad, though it gave no further details.It's not entirely clear if the report is referring to the same AirPods charging case that Apple previewed alongside the iPhone X last year. Apple said that optional accessory will be released in 2018 alongside its AirPower charging mat.
All in all, it's a rather strange report that inspires a lot of questions. Would a user hold or lay their iPhone against the AirPods charging case? The case's current floss-container-like design means that the iPhone would need to be precisely balanced on top of it, if not held together in your hands.
In addition, the AirPods case is and will likely remain too small to adequately charge the latest iPhones. The battery in the current case has a capacity of 398 mAh, roughly 14.6 percent of the iPhone X's battery capacity of 2,716 mAh, limiting its usefulness to emergency or must-have situations.
Is the report backwards? Is it possible some iPhones will be able to wirelessly transfer power to the AirPods charging case on the go? Or, more likely, is the report simply mistranslating the fact that the latest iPhones and the AirPods charging case will be compatible with the AirPower charging mat?
At this point, all we know for certain is that Apple will release both its AirPower charging mat and optional AirPods charging case later this year. According to the reliable Mark Gurman, Apple is aiming to release the AirPower by September, so there's a good chance it'll launch alongside the next iPhones.
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Buy Now)
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Top Rated Comments
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16 months ago
It would make more sense to me to charge the AirPods with my iPhone than the other way around.
16 months ago
This is extremely dubious. The AirPods case battery is less than 200mAh... the smallest iPhone battery (in the SE) is 1624 mAh. Induction charging also carries with it a significant inefficiency, so you might only see *half* that charge on the phone (meaning ~ 100mAh, or less than 10% battery)
In no world would it make sense to have the AirPod case charge an iPhone. Dumb rumor. Either they got it backwards, or this is pure bs.
In no world would it make sense to have the AirPod case charge an iPhone. Dumb rumor. Either they got it backwards, or this is pure bs.
16 months ago
I imagine the battery is too small to make a huge difference. Also, what if users don't want to charge their phone - will just having them touch cause it to happen?
Calling this report bs - it just doesn't make much sense.
Calling this report bs - it just doesn't make much sense.
16 months ago
I'm certain something got lost in translation here...
I'm sure they mean that the charging mat delivered with the airPod-case will also be able to charge an iPhone.
I'm sure they mean that the charging mat delivered with the airPod-case will also be able to charge an iPhone.
16 months ago
Induction charging is bi-directional so theoretically it could go either way; AirPods charge iPhone or iPhone charge AirPods. Just tell them which one is doing what.
If your iPhone dies and you need to make a call you can likely get at least enough charge from the AirPods to make a couple of calls or send/receive some texts or run GPS for a few seconds.
This is such an edge case that it would hardly matter.
16 months ago
Is nobody else reading this that you might be able to charge your iPhone via induction while your AirPods charge via mains power?
Seems practical to me, or vice versa, as long as one of the two devices is getting power directly.
Seems practical to me, or vice versa, as long as one of the two devices is getting power directly.
16 months ago
I want a charging mat for my iPhone X, Air Pods, iPad 12.9, Macbook Pro, Macbook, Macbook Air, Beats Studio, and my apple watch. It should be as easy as just laying down all these devices on a pad before I go to bed and I wake up and have everything fully charged.
I pictured a charging mat the size of a twin mattress
16 months ago
Or it will be a new "mat", i.e. extra reason to buy AirPods if you have an iPhone 8/X (and Watch 3)
16 months ago
Is nobody else reading this that you might be able to charge your iPhone via induction while your AirPods charge via mains power?
Seems practical to me, or vice versa, as long as one of the two devices is getting power directly.
Also, you can't start introducing your own theory into an already shaky rumor. There's nothing that says anything about the iPhone being able to charge the AirPod case. So no vice versa.
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