AirPower release date: Apple's mysterious iPhone charging mat appears to be on the way, finally

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Apple's mysterious AirPower charging mat might finally be on its way.

Numerous rumours have suggested production is starting on the wireless charger – which is intended to allow people to charge their iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods all at the same time – and that it could be released this year.

The charger had been feared dead after it was unveiled in September 2017 but then hardly mentioned again. Late last year, Apple removed almost every mention of AirPower from its website, leading to fears it was being quietly erased from history.

But the name still appeared in some unexpected places: the user guides for the latest iPhones make reference to it, some Apple job postings appear to suggest it is still being worked on, and one version of Apple's website made reference to it in reference to the company's new battery cases.

Now numerous reports suggest AirPower has now entered production and could be released later this year. The charger's release date should come "later in 2019", the website DigiTimes reported, citing sources in Apple's supply chain.

DigiTimes had previously reported that the charging mat was getting ready for a March 2018 release date, which turned out to be untrue. But repeated rumours have suggested that Apple was in fact working to get AirPower out much earlier, but that technical issues had got in the way of making it available to the public.

Those reports chime with similar claims earlier this month that AirPower was on its way and was making its way through Apple's supply chain. The beginning of production comes after Apple solved the technical issues – thought to be problems with overheating and other challenges – according to numerous reports.

When Apple revealed AirPower in September 2017, promising it would be available soon, it showed a rounded charging mat that would allow people to charge phones and Apple Watches alongside AirPods in a special new case. But there has been no sign of the new product – with major events like the release of the iPhone XS and XR passing without a mention.