Apple has already been tipped to introduce wireless charging with the iPhone 8 – but the feature may not be available at launch.
For years, rival smartphone makers like Samsung have been fitting their flagship smartphones with the ability to wirelessly charge. This involves placing the phone on a charging service, from which power is inducted into the handset, thus recharging the battery. But Apple has always steered clear of the tech for the iPhone.
But there’s been no shortage of rumours suggesting that Apple is finally ready to make the leap. Unfortunately, there’s a slight spanner in the works, as renowned Apple blogger John Gruber explains in a tweet:
I’ve heard that inductive charging will (a) be sold separately, and (b) might be late, waiting for iOS 11.1 (a la Portrait mode last year). https://t.co/N65dHMNQIJ
— John Gruber (@gruber) July 8, 2017
Gruber’s first claim is that inductive charging will be sold separately. We assume he means that the actual charger accessory plates will be sold separately, rather than the feature being an optional upgrade within the phone. This is exactly surprising news; it would seem very odd for Apple to simply give away a wireless charging accessory with every new iPhone purchase as standard.
The second point Gruber makes it more interesting: that the launch of wireless charging may be late. He suggests that the functionality may depend on the arrival of iOS 11.1, which is likely to be the first software update available post-launch. But in a later tweet, Gruber explained that he wasn’t sure whether the delay would be hardware or software related:
I’m not sure if the holdup is hardware or software. And they could catch up in next three weeks.
— John Gruber (@gruber) July 8, 2017
Gruber also seems certain that the method of wireless charging will be inductive. Apple has previously patented radio-frequency methods of charging devices, but the Apple Watch – the only wireless charging Apple product to date – uses inductive charging. It seems the iPhone 8 will too:
Inductive.
— John Gruber (@gruber) July 8, 2017
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 8 early next month, likely either on September 12 or 13. The phone is tipped to debut a significantly redesigned body, and will mark the 10th year since Apple starting selling iPhones. Until the announcement takes place however, we’d recommend taking all leaks with due caution.
Related: iPhone 7S
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
