On top of its inability to work on older iterations of the iPad Pro, the second-generation Apple Pencil will not also charge via Qi wireless power technology, as confirmed by Apple.
Apple introduced the new Pencil alongside its fresh lineup of 11- and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models last week, though the digital stylus does not work on older versions of the tablet. Now, Apple Pencil fans might be in for another letdown as the tech giant reportedly confirmed that the latest iteration of the stylus does not support Qi wireless power transfer.
That means the second-generation Apple Pencil will charge only when it is attached to the side of the new iPad Pros. For comparison, the first-gen Pencil is compatible with the older versions of the iPad.
It’s not clear, however, why Apple opted to limit the accessory’s compatibility especially with a popular standard such as Qi. This by no means indicates Apple’s aversion to the standard. It’s worth noting that there’s plenty of wireless charging pads for the iPhone family, that are based on Qi and already available in the market. These include the Logitech POWERED, announced in August, and Apple’s very own AirPower.
Nonetheless, there’s still a good deal of features to like about the stylus. For example, its ability to magnetically attach to the new iPad Pro models means it can wirelessly charge when docked into the tablets without needing the Lightning port.
Source: ZDNet
