AirPower Misses Promised 2018 Launch, But Might Not Be Canceled

The calendar has turned over to a new year and Apple has officially failed to deliver on its promise of releasing the AirPower mat in 2018.

airpoweriphone8
Apple first previewed the multi-device wireless charging accessory at Steve Jobs Theater in September 2017, shortly after introducing the iPhone X, and indicated that it would be released at some point last year in a press release:

Apple gave a sneak peek of AirPower, an Apple-designed wireless charging accessory coming in 2018, which offers a generous active charging area that will allow iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus or iPhone X customers to simultaneously charge up to three devices, including Apple Watch Series 3 and a new optional wireless charging case for AirPods.

2018 has come and gone, though, and Apple has not commented on the AirPower for many months. Following its September 2018 event, the company removed all but a few mentions of the accessory from its website.


AirPower is still referenced in the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR user guides, on the Apple Watch Series 3 tech specs page, and in some recent Apple job listings, while Apple has recently applied for a few AirPower-related patents, so there remains some hope for a future release despite the missed deadline.

Sonny Dickson, a source of iPhone leaks in the past, said Apple has faced technical challenges with the AirPower, including overheating. A few days ago, developer Steve Troughton-Smith said he's heard Apple may have overcome those problems and can hopefully move forward with releasing the AirPower.


In a late October research note obtained by MacRumors, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo wrote that Apple may launch the AirPower "in late 4Q18 or early 1Q19," suggesting that the AirPower could be released as late as March.

The delayed or canceled release of the AirPower is likely the reason why Apple has yet to release its optional wireless charging case for AirPods, which remains listed as "currently unavailable" on Apple's website. Like the AirPower, Kuo had said the wireless case may be released by the first quarter of 2019.

appleairpower
At this point, it's a game of wait and see. With the holiday season in the rearview mirror, hopefully Apple provides some clarity on the situation soon.

Popular Stories

iOS 26 Battery Glass Feature

iPhone 16 Pro Max 80% Charge Limit: One Year Later, Was It Worth It?

Wednesday September 24, 2025 3:58 pm PDT by
With the iPhone 15 series, I did an experiment and kept my iPhone's Charge Limit set at 80 percent for an entire year. It provided an interesting look at the impact of charge limits on battery longevity, so I decided to repeat it for the iPhone 16 line. Since September 2024, my iPhone 16 Pro Max has been limited to an 80 percent charge, with no cheating. As of today, my battery's maximum...
iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.1 Beta 1

Monday September 22, 2025 12:44 pm PDT by
Apple released the first beta of iOS 26.1 today, just a week after launching iOS 26. iOS 26.1 mainly adds new languages to Apple Intelligence, but there are a few other features that are worth knowing about. New Apple Intelligence Languages Apple Intelligence is now available in Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Traditional), and Vietnamese. AirPo...
iPhone 17 Pro Colors

Skipped the iPhone 17 Pro? Here's What is Rumored for iPhone 18 Pro

Tuesday September 23, 2025 8:55 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still a year away, there are already a few rumors about the devices that offer an early look ahead. Below, we have recapped some of the early iPhone 18 Pro rumors so far. This story was published previously, and it has been updated to reflect the latest rumors. Many early rumors prove to be true, but nothing is confirmed yet, and Apple's...
apple tv 4k new orange

Next Apple TV Expected to Launch This Year With These New Features

Monday September 22, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
The next Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Likely Features N1 Chip With Wi-Fi 7 Last year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the next Apple TV would be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, which is...
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

Apple Blames In-Store MagSafe Chargers for iPhone 17 Pro Display Model Scratches

Wednesday September 24, 2025 10:22 am PDT by
The marks on the iPhone 17 Pro models that people have noticed at Apple retail stores are caused by the chargers that Apple uses, Apple confirmed today. Apple told 9to5Mac that worn MagSafe charging stands in stores are causing marks on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Apple says that the marks are not scratches, and are instead material transfer from the stand to the phone. The...
iPhone 17 Pro USB C Port

iPhone 17 Pro Max's USB-C Charging Speeds Tested With Apple Chargers

Monday September 22, 2025 7:29 am PDT by
The website ChargerLAB has tested the iPhone 17 Pro Max's USB-C charging speeds with a variety of Apple's chargers, from 18W to 140W. The device reached a peak charging speed of around 36W with the following Apple chargers:40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max 61W USB-C Power Adapter 67W USB-C Power Adapter 70W USB-C Power Adapter 96W USB-C Power Adapter 140W USB-C Power AdapterFor...
AirPods Pro 3 Newsroom

Apple's 'Back to School' Offer Ends Soon, Now Applies to AirPods Pro 3

Wednesday September 24, 2025 7:20 am PDT by
Apple's annual "Back to School" promotion for students ends soon, so act fast if you want to score free AirPods with the purchase of an eligible new Mac or iPad. Until Tuesday, September 30, college students and qualifying educational staff in the U.S. can receive free AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation when they purchase an eligible new Mac or iPad from Apple. This is a $179 value. ...
ios 26 digital id passport wallet

Apple Confirms iOS 26 Wallet Passport Feature is Coming in 2025

Tuesday September 23, 2025 1:06 pm PDT by
Digital ID, the iOS 26 feature that lets U.S. passport holders add their passports to the Wallet app, is coming later in 2025, Apple confirmed today. Apple updated the release timing wording of Digital ID on its iOS 26 features page. "Digital ID will be coming later this year with US passports only," it reads. Prior to today, the footnote for the feature said "Digital ID will be available ...
Apple Intelligence General Feature 2

iOS 26.1 Adds New Apple Intelligence Languages and Expands AirPods Live Translation

Monday September 22, 2025 11:15 am PDT by
With iOS 26.1, Apple Intelligence is gaining support for additional languages, including Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Traditional), and Vietnamese. Apple announced plans to expand the languages that can be used with Apple Intelligence last year, and now the added language support is here. Apple Intelligence is now available in the following...
maxresdefault

iPhone 17 Pro is Vulnerable to Scratching, But Not Where You Might Think

Tuesday September 23, 2025 2:18 pm PDT by
Early reports have suggested that the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air are more vulnerable to scratches and scuffs, primarily due to damage spotted at Apple Stores. Apple customers have discovered that the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models Apple has out for display at its retail locations have scratching in the area of the MagSafe charger. Those devices are handled by hundreds to thousands of...

Top Rated Comments

hobocamp456 Avatar
88 months ago
It's too late. A lot of people don't care about this product anymore. They took too long. Everyone has a wireless charger or two already.
Score: 44 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HiVolt Avatar
88 months ago
It's too late. A lot of people don't care about this product anymore. They took too long. Everyone has a wireless charger or two already.
I agree. This product would have sold if released alongside or at least very soon after the iPhone 8/X launch which were the first iPhones with wireless capabilty. Right now, like you said, anyone with an Apple phone who wanted wireless charging already has one, at a fraction of the price this thing would cost.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bobob Avatar
88 months ago
Has there ever been so much manufactured drama about a single minor Apple accessory?

MacRumors has ridden this click-horse all the way to the bank.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Juicy Box Avatar
88 months ago
As secretive as Apple is, it is strange that they would announce a product before they were sure that they could make it work.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kanyay Avatar
88 months ago
i met with tim a few weeks back and he said itll be out in 2020 when i drop my new album. i dont believe him because i dont have an album dropping in 2020.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DrJohnnyN Avatar
88 months ago
Is there even a demand for this product at this point?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)