"For the longest time..." is one of my favourite songs. It also applies to Apple, who happen to take the longest time to either invent a better version of something and call it their own, or to eventually adopt an existing technology, then extend it. Apple gets its Qi on, with the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and iPhone X.
Apple was late to the party and surprised a few pundits when it officially joined the Qi Wireless Power Consortium.
Apple tends to love inventing its own standards, including Lightning cables and connectors, and then makes money licencing them to accessory makers.
While there was a battle between PowerMat and Qi for the longest time, it seems Qi won, when Nokia, Samsung, and Apple joined Qi.
Apple gets its Qi on
Many Apple accessory makers are already part of the Qi wireless power consortium, including Belkin and Mophie, who both offer wireless chargers for the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and iPhone X.
Apple joining Qi was a major victory for Qi, and a surprise to many Apple tech reviewers.
Apple has put its own engineering into a new Qi-based charger, the Apple AirPower charging solution, which will be the first Qi charger capable of charging more than one device at a time.
Apple's Airpower station will be able to charge an iPhone, an AirPods case, Airpods, and an Apple Watch at the same time, all resting on one base station. AirPower will cost US$100 and be available in early 2018.
Until next time,
Xavier Zymantas
XYZtech
XYZ Media Group