Rumor: Apple’s iPhone 8 Will Feature Wireless Charging Exclusively, Ship without 3.5mm Adapter
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Famed and historically accurate KGI Securities analyst, Ming Chi Kuo — who has an outstanding record of accurately predicting future iPhone features and developments — in his most recent research note to investors suggested that all three of Apple’s upcoming flagships will ship with some form of wireless charging technology built in. However, according to an even more recent blog post that was published over the weekend to the popular Japanese blog, Macotokara, it is only the top-tier, OLED-equipped ‘iPhone 8’ that will feature a ‘glass sandwich’ design capable of inductive charging. Not only that, but according to the same post, Apple’s take on wireless charging will require the use of a “separate accessory,” altogether, in order to juice up the iPhone 8 without a cord.
The general consensus of the report is that Apple will be relying on a “contact-based” form of wireless charging technology, and that the requisite components might be supplied by the Chinese firm, Luxshare — the same company that was previously rumored to be supplying Cupertino with the coils and technology employed to wirelessly charge its Apple Watch.
Interestingly, however, the report would contradict a number of previous reports, which have suggested Apple was working with a company called Energous, which had shown off its all-new ‘truly wireless’ charging technology at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada, earlier last month.
In another strange plot twist, the report goes on to suggest that Apple will no longer be including the gratis Lightning to 3.5mm analog headset adapter with its future iPhones, which was included with the company’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus handsets, and was seen by many as an attempt to quell the concerns of users who were wary about the Silicon Valley tech-giant’s willful omission of the venerable, 3.5mm analog jack.
While Macotokara has, in the past, been accurate in predicting certain iPhone features — including the iPhone 7’s removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack in the first place — the accuracy of this report is nevertheless questionable, and should thus be taken with an extra pinch of salt until we receive further clarification. Macotokara has also reported, for example, that the iPhone 8 will feature only a 5-inch display; while a myriad of other reports have unanimously pointed to the device boasting a much larger, 5.8-inch curved-OLED display, with the iconic home button slated to be embedded underneath the glass display, itself.
Given the somewhat contradictory nature of this rumor, we will just have to wait and see what Apple’s 10th anniversary iPhone 8 actually has to offer, and that should become increasingly clearer as we progress further and further towards the kick-off of an earlier than expected iPhone manufacturing season, and an almost certain, fall 2017 unveiling.
How would you feel if only the $1,000+ iPhone 8 featured wireless charging? Let us know in the comments!
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[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]