14 DAY TRIAL // Back in 2017 when it announced the iPhone X, Apple also announced a charging pad that was supposed to serve as the go-to wireless charger for everything Apple.
In other words, it was capable of charging not only the iPhone but also the Apple Watch and AirPods, pretty much giving users the option to get one charger for everything.
“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,” Apple said in an announcement in 2017.
The device, however, eventually got the ax because of what sources described as Apple’s failure to build it according to its premium expectations. So the AirPower never came to be, though wireless chargers that work with the iPhone are still there on the market.
Enter Xiaomi
Fast forward to 2021 and here’s Xiaomi launching a charging pad that looks and feels a lot like the AirPower.
The new wireless charger offers up to 20W charging for each device, with support for three devices, so the total output is 60W. You can put a device anywhere on the charging pad and it’ll still work, as Xiaomi has equipped its pad with a total of 19 wireless charging coils.
The device supports Qi wireless charging, so in theory, it can even charge an iPhone because why not.
And at the first glance, it’s pretty affordable too, as Xiaomi plans to sell it for just $90. Apple has never announced how much the AirPower was supposed to cost, but I’m guessing Xiaomi’s device is cheaper anyway.