• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon

2

Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military

3

'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032

1

Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon

2

Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military

3

'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032
TechApple

Apple’s Now-Canceled AirPower Charging Mat Is Just One in a Series of Hardware Gaffes. Here Are Four More

By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 2, 2019, 12:08 PM ET

It took nearly two years for Apple to finally admit it, but its ambitious AirPower charging mat is the latest in a growing line of recent Apple hardware failures.

Last week, Dan Riccio, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, said in as statement that the AirPower had failed to meet the company’s “high standards” in testing and that it had been canceled before ever being publicly released. Riccio didn’t say specifically why AirPower failed, but several reports over the past year suggested Apple’s desire to make it possible for customers to wirelessly charge their iPhones, AirPods earbuds, and Apple Watches simultaneously wasn’t technically feasible.

In testing, those reports said, Apple’s AirPower would overheat and fail to adequately charge the devices.

The AirPower, which was supposed to be released in 2018, is an embarrassing misstep for Apple, which has typically kept its hardware plans quiet until after it knows a product is ready. Indeed, Apple’s commitment to secrecy is as much about building hype as it is a desire to avoid looking foolish.

AirPower wasn’t a critical product and didn’t permanently damage Apple’s reputation. But it’s the latest in a string of hardware troubles that raise questions about the company’s vetting of new products.

Here are a other recent hardware failures by Apple:

Butterfly Keyboard

Apple’s MacBook “Butterfly” keyboard, so named because it resembles a butterfly’s wings, was supposed to reinvent the keyboard when it was introduced in 2015. But users quickly started complaining about its keys sticking or letters appearing on screen, even when users never pressed the corresponding keys.

In 2018, Apple announced a free repair program to fix the faulty keyboard.

Now in its third generation, the Butterfly Keyboard is still causing users trouble. Just last week, The Wall Street Journal‘s technology columnist Joanna Stern published a column about Apple’s keyboard woes. Her column, which omitted all “e” and “r” letters due to her own faulty Mac keyboard, prompted Apple to issue another statement about the matter and to apologize.

An Apple spokesperson told Stern that the problem affects only “a small number of users” and that the “vast majority of Mac notebook customers are having a positive experience with the new keyboard.”

Antennagate

In 2010, sales of Apple’s iPhone were soaring and the company’s profits were skyrocketing. And then, Consumer Reports said it couldn’t recommend the iPhone 4 because of its problematic antenna.

In what became known as “Antennagate,” Apple customers—and Consumer Reports—said the iPhone dropped a high number of calls when users inadvertently covered a small gap on the phone’s side—where the iPhone’s antenna was located—with their fingers.

Soon after, Apple and its then-CEO Steve Jobs defended the iPhone’s design and said that phones by other manufacturers also had the same problem.

Eventually, Apple created a bumper that fit around the iPhone and created a gap between the antenna and users’ hands. The company designed subsequent phones so that users were less likely to cover the gap and the antenna with their hands.

In the end, the iPhone 4 dropped only 1 in 100 calls, Jobs said at the time. Many Apple fans have used that estimate to suggest that the problem wasn’t as widespread as suggested.

Bendgate

Shortly after Apple debuted the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in 2014, some users said that their new devices would bend if they applied enough pressure. Some reported that the iPhone would warp if they accidentally left it in their back pocket while sitting down.

Eventually, the problem gained a name—Bendgate. And before long, people published videos of bendable phones on YouTube and other social media sites. In response, Apple announced a free replacement program for any iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus that had been unintentionally bent.

iPhone Batteries

In 2017, some longtime owners of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus said the devices had started to sporadically shut down and drain of battery power.

Apple replied by writing a letter to customers apologizing for the problem and explaining that batteries can lose their charge more quickly as they age. The company also acknowledged that it had recently updated its software to do a better job of managing its battery consumption and stop phones from shutting down due to their aging batteries.

But because problems persisted after the software update, Apple said in its letter that it would make battery consumption information more readily available in its iOS software to give users more insight into how much life their batteries had left. Apple also said that it would cut the price for a replacement battery for an iPhone 6 or later phone to $29 from $79.

At the time, Apple didn’t say how widespread its battery woes were. But after the company disclosed the cut in price for replacing phone batteries, customers flocked to Apple Stores. Soon after, because of huge demand, iPhone owners had to wait weeks for their replacement batteries to arrive.

About the Author
By Don Reisinger
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, US, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026
InvestingWall Street
Wall Street dumped nearly $1 trillion in tech stocks by midday—then clawed it back and bought peanut butter and paint
By Eva RoytburgJune 9, 2026
4 hours ago
AI isn’t replacing Hyatt’s salespeople—it’s freeing up a full day of work every week, according to the CEO
AIBrainstorm Tech
AI isn’t replacing Hyatt’s salespeople—it’s freeing up a full day of work every week, according to the CEO
By Sharon GoldmanJune 9, 2026
5 hours ago
America’s grid is reeling. General Motors offers itself as a distributed utility in disguise
EnergyAutos
America’s grid is reeling. General Motors offers itself as a distributed utility in disguise
By Nick LichtenbergJune 9, 2026
5 hours ago
Tesla cofounder: ‘We should be really worried’ about the U.S. grid as China speeds ahead in the power race
EnergyBrainstorm Tech
Tesla cofounder: ‘We should be really worried’ about the U.S. grid as China speeds ahead in the power race
By Jordan BlumJune 9, 2026
5 hours ago
The AI industry spent years chasing bigger models. Now it’s chasing efficiency
AIBrainstorm Tech
The AI industry spent years chasing bigger models. Now it’s chasing efficiency
By Sharon GoldmanJune 9, 2026
6 hours ago
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma speaks on stage at Fortune Brainstorm Tech 2026.
Big TechMicrosoft
‘Not an Allbirds Moment’: Xbox’s new CEO says she is grounding the console in gaming roots, not AI
By Sebastian HerreraJune 9, 2026
7 hours ago

Most Popular

Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon
Environment
Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon
By Sasha RogelbergJune 8, 2026
1 day ago
Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military
Asia
Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military
By Kate O'Keeffe and BloombergJune 8, 2026
1 day ago
'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032
Economy
'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032
By Nick LichtenbergJune 9, 2026
9 hours ago
Current price of oil as of June 8, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 8, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 8, 2026
2 days ago
Gen Zers are arriving at college unable to even read a sentence—professors warn it could lead to a generation of anxious and lonely graduates
Success
Gen Zers are arriving at college unable to even read a sentence—professors warn it could lead to a generation of anxious and lonely graduates
By Preston ForeJune 7, 2026
2 days ago
Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there
Success
Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there
By Preston ForeJune 8, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.