Apple and Broadcom have reportedly been working on a wireless charging solution for two years now, according to JPMorgan analyst Harlan Sur. The report by CNBC reveals that the new wireless charging feature might not come on the next iPhone.
The analyst says that Apple is very cautious when it comes to the new wireless charging technology developed with Broadcom, and after the Galaxy Note 7 recall, the company doesn’t intend to take any chances. However, since Apple recently joined the Wireless Power Consortium, wireless charging will most likely come to the iPhone 8, but it won’t be the mechanism developed with Broadcom.
“We believe the glass back cover is conducive to wireless charging as it reduces signal interference versus a metal casing,” Sur wrote.
The price of the upcoming iPhone 8 could surpass $1,000
“It is possible for Apple to add proprietary features such as fast charging or extended charging to differentiate itself from the pack and enhance the value of its own hardware ecosystem,” the analyst added.
Apple is said to have signed wireless charging partnerships and supplier deals with Lite-On Semiconductor, MediaTek, Foxconn, Pegatron and Luxshare, but it’s difficult to say which company will actually provide the charging technology for the iPhone 8.
Apple’s upcoming iPhone 8 has been long rumored to feature wireless charging tech, some reports say that it could come with long-range wireless charging tech, while others say it might employ an inductive charging solution.
The phone is rumored to come with a glass body, which is necessary for an inductive charging solution. Aside from charging features, the phone will have an edge-to-edge display and ditch the physical home button, while the fingerprint scanning technology could be embedded into the screen.
There are reports saying that Apple could replace Touch ID technology with a 3D facial recognition solution. Apple will also release two more affordable iPhones, the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus, which will feature some minor improvements.
