Why AirPower’s Death Is Actually Good News for Apple Users

Apple has officially canceled AirPower. That’s probably a good thing for Apple users.

Of course, AirPower’s death is undoubtedly disappointing to those who were excited about it. Apple is probably disappointed about it, too — especially since the decision appears to have been made very recently.

AirPower, built to Apple’s standards, would have provided a unique experience, even in a crowded wireless charging market. But Apple’s ambitions for the product were probably too high. As Apple’s own Dan Riccio told TechCrunch, the device ultimately didn’t meet the company’s “high standards.”

And yet, despite the fact that we won’t get our hands on AirPower, Apple and its users will likely be better off.

For one, it’s undoubtedly a good thing that a product which could potentially cause overheating and damage to user devices isn’t on the market. We’ve all see the fiery consequences of battery- or power-related fiascos.

Apple and Apple customers don’t need that type of trouble. Though we can only speculate, there was likely some type of underlying safety or fire risk inherent in AirPower. Apple probably didn’t want to gamble on that, so it took the cancelation option, instead.

On the other hand, today’s surprise announcement proves something else about the company: Apple is, ultimately, willing to publicly announce defeat. That’s important.

There’s a very vocal section of the internet that adamantly claims that Apple is too stubborn to acknowledge its mistakes. Some point toward the butterfly keyboard, others use Apple’s recent string of product delays in past years as an example.

Today’s announcement completely flies in the face of that opinion.

To be clear, Apple saves face when it can. All companies do. That’s just public relations. But Apple could have easily let AirPower slip into oblivion without so much as another peep about it. And yet, it didn’t.

AirPower’s cancellation just demonstrates that Apple’s standards are still high. It isn’t going to put out junk. Apple’s attention to detail and its care about its customers haven’t waned nearly as much in recent years as some in the Apple blogosphere might have you think.

Apple makes mistakes. So does every other company. But Apple’s mistake here wasn’t aiming too high with AirPower. Engineering projects like AirPower fail all the time, in every company. Apple’s mistake, ultimately, was announcing AirPower too soon.

But that doesn’t devalue its products or its services. Apple still makes great things and will continue to do so. And a mistake like teasing AirPower too soon, which is admittedly unprecedented, may prove to be something Apple can learn from. Apple wants to be on the cutting edge of technology (and it often is). But going forward, it may just hold off on major announcements or launches until everything is as polished as it can be. That’s another boon for Apple users.

AirPower’s death is just a bump in the road. And honestly, with the number of great third-party alternatives out there and Apple’s own slate of upcoming devices, even the biggest Apple fans probably won’t miss it.