It seems like Apple’s plans of not including charging cables with their iPhones might just make a little more sense, considering what they’re building their laptops to do. In patent files recently uncovered by Patently Apple, the company is rumored to be working on integrating wireless charging surfaces into their future MacBooks. According to the patents, charging zones on either side of the trackpad, and even at multiple locations on the lid, will be able to charge a whole variety of Apple products, from the iPhone to the AirPods, Apple Watch, and even probably future iterations of the iPad.
Apparently, we have the new M1 chips to credit for this, thanks to their ability to pull off all this heavy-lifting and power delivery. The patent filing describes how multiple charging coils could be placed inside both the frame AND lid of a MacBook “that could accommodate charging of multiple devices at one time”. Combine this with some iteration of Apple’s new MagSafe technology and your MacBook, whether closed or open, could be the dedicated charging surface for most of your Apple peripherals. It’s an elegant solution that even does a hat-tip to user behavior patterns, where people already keep their iPhones and AirPods around their laptops while they work. Now these devices have dedicated spaces for charging right ON your laptop… and you don’t need a SINGLE cable. The powerful new MacBook got even more powerful!
It’s a good thing that AirPower Mat didn’t work out, huh…
Designer/Visualizer: Sarang Sheth
Image Credits: Sarang Sheth for Yanko Design
Patent discovered by: Patently Apple
