AirPower - does it matter for Watch owners?

[twanj]

I WAS waiting for AirPower...but at this point, it doesn't seem as exciting.

It would be cool to charge 3 devices overnight like that, but now...it seems like a non-issue.

I have an Orzly stand (aka charging puck holder) I got for a few bucks, and I assume most people have something like that, or an integrated stand, or the official Apple charging dock.

That said, lying your Watch face up on a charging slab doesn't seem like the safest spot to put it overnight, even if the slab has a non-slip coating. A phone in a case, or an Airpods case, sure. But I like the security of the magnet puck & something else.

For non-overnight charging of a phone, I prefer wired. You can actually still use the phone easy, while it's plugged in, unlike when it has to rest on a charging pad. I have a cheap phone charging pad I never use and instead use the lightning cable.

 

[bbednarz]

The biggest advantage for AirPower IMO is for traveling. Only need to grab one cord and the one pad instead of multiple lightning cables and the watch charging cable plus the charging bricks. I also have one of those Orzly stands for the watch. It would be hard to justify buying a $149+ mat to charge my stuff...

 

[MacintoshDan]

I have a Mophie Wireless Charging Base and the revised Apple Magnetic Charging Dock. Works for me, don't have any other wireless devices. For travel I have a USB-PD battery and all the cables in a pouch ready to go.

 

[staggerlee41]

The biggest advantage for AirPower IMO is for traveling. Only need to grab one cord and the one pad instead of multiple lightning cables and the watch charging cable plus the charging bricks. I also have one of those Orzly stands for the watch. It would be hard to justify buying a $149+ mat to charge my stuff...

I agree with you on this. I held out for using wireless charging on my 8+ for almost a year, then figured why not try it. It's nice but it's not any more convenient to me than using a cord. The charger still needs a cord so while it's wireless, it's not really wireless.

When I travel, I just take a multi port charger, 1 small charger and 4 cables. This way I can keep the small charger in my laptop bag and pack the others. It's honestly not all that bad and not something I really find to be inconvenient.

Long way of saying I'm not really sold on AirPower.

As for watch stands, I have a couple of them from Spigen and like the metal stand. I don't charge mine over night as I use it for sleep tracking.

 

[bbednarz]

I agree with you on this. I held out for using wireless charging on my 8+ for almost a year, then figured why not try it. It's nice but it's not any more convenient to me than using a cord. The charger still needs a cord so while it's wireless, it's not really wireless.

When I travel, I just take a multi port charger, 1 small charger and 4 cables. This way I can keep the small charger in my laptop bag and pack the others. It's honestly not all that bad and not something I really find to be inconvenient.

Long way of saying I'm not really sold on AirPower.

As for watch stands, I have a couple of them from Spigen and like the metal stand. I don't charge mine over night as I use it for sleep tracking.

I actually really enjoy wireless charging itself, more than I thought I would. It's small, but its really convenient to just slap it on the charger before bed or when I am sitting at my desk at work to just pop it on the charger. One wireless charger a friend gave me and another I got for Christmas.. both work well so no real need for AirPower.

 

[gsmornot]

I still connect a cable to charge. With an iPad, I have to anyhow so what is one more cable to connect. I think it would be more convenient but just have never made the change.

 

[tl01]

I can see how AirPower would be cool for traveling with just one person....but usually when I travel I have my kids and all their devices too. I have sort of moved on from AirPower at this point. I have wireless chargers at home and in one of my cars. Soon I’ll have it in two cars. I don’t see myself buying it. I’ll just keep charging the way I already do.

 

[Akrapovic]

I have a Nike Sport Band. Doesn’t look like it’d even work with the AirPower.

 

[twanj]

I have a Nike Sport Band. Doesn’t look like it’d even work with the AirPower.

Why not?

 

[jazz1]

I agree with you on this. I held out for using wireless charging on my 8+ for almost a year, then figured why not try it. It's nice but it's not any more convenient to me than using a cord. The charger still needs a cord so while it's wireless, it's not really wireless.

When I travel, I just take a multi port charger, 1 small charger and 4 cables. This way I can keep the small charger in my laptop bag and pack the others. It's honestly not all that bad and not something I really find to be inconvenient.

Long way of saying I'm not really sold on AirPower.

As for watch stands, I have a couple of them from Spigen and like the metal stand. I don't charge mine over night as I use it for sleep tracking.

I thought wireless charging would be so great. Today in trying to simplify my charging stations I finally resorted to a plug in charging station I had for my former iPhone 8+ and Gen. 1 Apple Watch. No more bing, bing alert when the iPhone XS isn’t seated right on the wireless charger.

I’m gifting the Moshi wireless charge pad to my kid (on the right of the picture below)

. Heck, I even stopped using a stand for my iPad Pro. The IPP now magnetically sticks to my metal dry cabinet while charging overnight. Working on some charging simplicity for my two wireless headphones and wireless earbuds. What first world problems I have

 

[Akrapovic]

Why not?

You’d have to remove the sport loop band to be able to lie the Watch flat.

 

[twanj]

You’d have to remove the sport loop band to be able to lie the Watch flat.

Oh gotcha! You wrote Nike Sport Band so I was trying to figure out how it wouldn't work, like it was specific to the Nike Sport Bands with holes in them. Sport Bands will work.

The issue is with LOOPs not Bands.

Sport Loop, Nike Sport Loop, Milanese Loop, and Link Bracelet will all have to be detached on at least one side I guess or taken off. Milanese Loop end magnet will now go through the hole.

 

[Akrapovic]

Oh gotcha! You wrote Nike Sport Band so I was trying to figure out how it wouldn't work, like it was specific to the Nike Sport Bands with holes in them. Sport Bands will work.

The issue is with LOOPs not Bands.

Sport Loop, Nike Sport Loop, Milanese Loop, and Link Bracelet will all have to be detached on at least one side I guess or taken off. Milanese Loop end magnet will now go through the hole.

Ah yes, my bad. It is indeed the loops that will have a problem. I believe some of Apples new Milanese Loops go through the hole, but they still sell some which do not.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/1...wireless-iphone-charging-products-at-ces-2019

Given that Griffin recently announced this (which has existed in eBay Chinese Knock-Off form for over a year now), it seems remarkable that Apple would release something which is less compatible with its own hardware than third party vendors are already making. I am disappointed that Apple aren't doing the little flip up for the loops.

 

[twanj]

Ah yes, my bad. It is indeed the loops that will have a problem. I believe some of Apples new Milanese Loops go through the hole, but they still sell some which do not.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/1...wireless-iphone-charging-products-at-ces-2019

Given that Griffin recently announced this (which has existed in eBay Chinese Knock-Off form for over a year now), it seems remarkable that Apple would release something which is less compatible with its own hardware than third party vendors are already making. I am disappointed that Apple aren't doing the little flip up for the loops.

Yep, the original Milanese Loops don't, but the recent ones do go through the hole.

I agree, that seems better for a Watch charger (sideways) - I have a feeling the Watch will be too easy to accidentally knock off if it's flat.

 

[skanska]

I have used a chopping board and made up a docking station with all the bits and bobs from other rubbish connectors and stands it keeps my ipad watch and phone all together in one place and keeps them charged.