More Apple AirPower launch rumors point to a late March release window

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Well, we’ve nearly finished a week filled with Apple hardware releases, yet the AirPower wireless charging mat that promised to charge your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once is still missing. Still, there might be some light at the end of the tunnel, with Digitimes dredging more supply chain quotes up from Apple’s supply chain that claims the AirPower will be launching in “late March.”

Since we’re well into that time period, maybe that quote won’t turn up to be accurate. Apple’s keynote event on Monday is likely to be all about services, not hardware. Plus recent quotes from Digitimes have given other timeframes. This time last year, they reported on a 2018 release, which obviously didn’t happen. Part of that was due to the reported overheating issues, which have now allegedly been rectified.

Then there are issues with the actual name of the device

The other part of the missing release is the AirPower name itself. According to MacRumors, Apple only just secured the rights to the trademark this week. Without the rights to the name, Apple wouldn’t have gone to market with the device, as the Air- naming convention wouldn’t be available. AirMat? AirCharger? AirWheresMyWallet? See, nothing is as simple or catchy as AirPower. It’s probably also why Apple removed every reference to the AirPower name back in September 2018.

I’m not sure why Apple waited until the summer of 2018 to trademark the AirPower name when it was first announced in 2017. Seems like an uncharacteristic slip-up for the image-obsessed company. Whatever the reason, it appears that Apple had to buy the rights off from a company called Advanced Access Technologies, who applied for the trademark before summer 2018. Did they file before the AirPower announcement in 2017 or was it afterward, knowing that one way or another owning the trademark would be a financial windfall?

A recent leak from Apple could mean that the AirPower is finally happening

While I’m not holding my breath for a March release, there are signs that the AirPower release is imminent. Once the AirPods page on Apple’s website was updated to show the new wireless charging case version, another image was mistakenly released, showing the AirPods case and an iPhone XS charging simultaneously. I’m not sure why the Apple Watch wasn’t also put on there unless it’s just because of the AirPods focus.

Maybe we’ll get an official announcement next week, but either way, at least it seems to be on the way soon.

What do you think? Are you still excited about the AirPower or do you even care at this point? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Joe Rice-Jones

Maker, meme-r, and unabashed geek with nearly half a decade of blogging experience at KnowTechie, SlashGear and XDA Developers. If it runs on electricity (or even if it doesn't), Joe probably has one around his office somewhere, with particular focus in gadgetry and handheld gaming. Shoot him an email at joe@knowtechie.com.