Future iPhone May Use Customized Wireless Charging System Made in Partnership with Broadcom

[Ken Linger]

As long as it's supporting the Qi standard...I would really hate a proprietary wireless charging standard by Apple.

Exactly... and unlikely. Wouldn't that be the FIRST time Apple adapted to a standard versus releasing their own proprietary solution? Qi means that, on day one, you have 100s of charging pads, car adapters, etc. available versus a single Apple-only solution until 3rd parties comply with licensing rules and release a product 3 months later.

I'm all for Qi... I have several stands/docks I could use on day one. I would, however, be completely surprised if it was compatible with anything you can buy on Amazon today for under $20.

 

[kognos]

My money is on something that is Qi compatible but extended to have benefits unique to Apple, like the M1 chip did with bluetooth. Kind of best of both worlds. Hopefully.

 

[DUIduckSAUCE]

Was there ever any doubt it would be proprietary?

 

[macTW]

Likely the delay in any implementation for Apple is the development or difficulties in developing a substantially useful form of wireless charging i.e. longer distance. Restraint to a 5-inch circle, as opposed to a 3-foot sphere via cable, is a huge hindrance in apple's (and many people's) eyes.

 

[macduke]

Sur is not sure

LOL.

I'm sorry… *leaves for the weekend*

 

[Mac 128]

Exactly... and unlikely. Wouldn't that be the FIRST time Apple adapted to a standard versus releasing their own proprietary solution? Qi means that, on day one, you have 100s of charging pads, car adapters, etc. available versus a single Apple-only solution until 3rd parties comply with licensing rules and release a product 3 months later.

I'm all for Qi... I have several stands/docks I could use on day one. I would, however, be completely surprised if it was compatible with anything you can buy on Amazon today for under $20.

Except compatibility with the norm is not usually Apple's goal. Mats aren't particularly compelling technology. If Apple goes with inductive charging, it's a temporary bridge to true contactless charging. However, Apple needs a method to physically connect to the iPhone for data and charging as well. And Lightning is not likely long for the iPhone either, nor is USB-C a likely replacement. Apple seems to be going for no ports. So their solution to bridge the gap right be the smart connector, which will eventually become the only way to connect to the iPhone physically.

 

[SeattleMoose]

iPhone 8 wish list
1) Headphone Jack (just admit you made a mistake for once)
2) Dedicated Home Button
3) Option for "old fashioned" wire charging
4) Finger ID sensor

Make changes that IMPROVE functionality and that are low risk in lieu of rolling out premature half-baked solutions. Or going 100% with specs that won't be fully embraced for years (hello MBP/USB-C). Wireless charging, requiring wireless earbuds, removing home button for ???....just when the design was converging to perfection. "Think different" is good but not when it is change for the sake of change, or worse, when functionality is traded for gimmicky "improvements".

 

[oplix]

the future has passed apple

 

[Shirasaki]

As soon as I cannot use the phone while charging, I won't support that so-called wireless charging.

And it looks like Apple cannot bring a solution to wirelessly transmit power in the next generation of iPhone.

 

[pika2000]

Not sure why this is a big deal. We have dock connectors, lightning connectors, all proprietary, no big deal.
How many people have wireless charging today? How man devices come with wireless charing out of the box?
If you have adopted one format of wireless charging, that's your risk for being an early adopter.

For the general consumer, they will just use what their current phone offers, be it wired with whatever connector, or wireless charging with whatever standard.

 

[apple_iBoy]

I want a slightly smaller phone, with a higher resolution screen, better design with out the plastic lines on the top and bottom (I don't care where and how much they were changed in the iPhone 7, they are still there), better battery life, and a reflective deep blue option. But, you can't have everything

How much higher resolution does the screen need to be?

 

[BoltmanLives]

Not sure why this is a big deal. We have dock connectors, lightning connectors, all proprietary, no big deal.
How many people have wireless charging today? How man devices come with wireless charing out of the box?
If you have adopted one format of wireless charging, that's your risk for being an early adopter.

For the general consumer, they will just use what their current phone offers, be it wired with whatever connector, or wireless charging with whatever standard.

Or ignore wireless charging and go with fast charging , like I do. I've never wirelessly charged my 950 because its worse on the battery. Charging for 55 minutes after waking up...not that hard. Pray for fast charging apl users and OLED, glance, removable battery and sd would be nice.

 

[pika2000]

iPhone 8 wish list
1) Headphone Jack (just admit you made a mistake for once)
2) Dedicated Home Button
3) Option for "old fashioned" wire charging
4) Finger ID sensor

Make changes that IMPROVE functionality and that are low risk in lieu of rolling out premature half-baked solutions. Or going 100% with specs that won't be fully embraced for years (hello MBP/USB-C). Wireless charging, requiring wireless earbuds, removing home button for ???....just when the design was converging to perfection. "Think different" is good but not when it is change for the sake of change, or worse, when functionality is traded for gimmicky "improvements".

1. I don't see this is a mistake. Motorola did it before Apple. My friends with iPhone 7 don't seem to complain. By second year, there will be more 3rd party adapters and lightning earbuds as well, along with more bluetooth devices being more commonplace.
2. I doubt Apple would get rid of this. It's their signature usability.
3. Lightning will remain. Don't take rumors at face value.
4. TouchID will be here for a long time. Apple is building an ecosystem around it with Apple Pay and putting TouchID on Macs.

Rumors are that, rumors. It's just that the tech "bloggers" are so into themselves that they will believe the rumors that they started themselves.
[doublepost=1487386388][/doublepost]

Or ignore wireless charging and go with fast charging , like I do. I've never wirelessly charged my 950 because its worse on the battery. Charging for 55 minutes after waking up...not that hard. Pray for fast charging apl users and OLED, glance, removable battery and sd would be nice.

I believe the iPhone can already fast charge with the higher amperage chargers. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

 

[BoltmanLives]

1. I don't see this is a mistake. Motorola did it before Apple. My friends with iPhone 7 don't seem to complain. By second year, there will be more 3rd party adapters and lightning earbuds as well, along with more bluetooth devices being more commonplace.
2. I doubt Apple would get rid of this. It's their signature usability.
3. Lightning will remain. Don't take rumors at face value.
4. TouchID will be here for a long time. Apple is building an ecosystem around it with Apple Pay and putting TouchID on Macs.

Rumors are that, rumors. It's just that the tech "bloggers" are so into themselves that they will believe the rumors that they started themselves.
[doublepost=1487386388][/doublepost]
I believe the iPhone can already fast charge with the higher amperage chargers. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

It can charge faster with an Ipod charger... not specifically designed to do that. It would be better if they committed to desingning the phone for Fast Charging and gave users a decent fast charger cord (thicker).

 

[Gorms]

Absolutely off topic. I still have a bad taste in my mouth about the earlier report from some analyst about dropping Touch ID.

If this is because you can't do it under the glass let's just aim for the one article image and aim for that concept. It's really warmed on me, that one. The Basic Touch ID dock idea works quite well actually, using the capacitive Touch ID ring as a focus device is nice. You could get real clever and even make the capacitive Touch ID ring function as some sort of haptic-faked-physical joystick for games. Let's aim for that please? But not drop Touch ID.

What was this article about? *scrolls up*

Ugh, the charging thing. Man, at this point, if ain't inefficiently charging my phone wirelessly from across the room using what I can best describe as insane science and engineering; let's just leave it as is. Or go USB-C. This is the total non-issue headphone whiners that have forced them t think this is a good idea.

 

[pika2000]

It can charge faster with an Ipod charger... not specifically designed to do that. It would be better if they committed to desingning the phone for Fast Charging and gave users a decent fast charger cord (thicker).

I do agree that Apple should bundle in "faster" chargers. Maybe they will officially do it as a marketing bullet point in the future once they can bundle in fast charger with their preferred margin.

 

[rp2011]

Hmm Not ready till 2018?

I guess we're getting those new iPhones from made in India

 

[The Game 161]

what we really need for the new iphone is FAST CHARGE

works great with samsung phones

 

[truthertech]

Custom. Smh. Another proprietary bit of mullarkey from Apple instead of going with a universal standard. Lovely.

So, without knowing anything about what Apple might have developed, its pros and cons, whether Apple has developed something that you and other customers would prefer, it's automatically bad if Apple develops something new? Kind of hard to make technological improvements if everyone just keep using the same "standard." Lovely.
[doublepost=1487390729][/doublepost]

Exactly... and unlikely. Wouldn't that be the FIRST time Apple adapted to a standard versus releasing their own proprietary solution? Qi means that, on day one, you have 100s of charging pads, car adapters, etc. available versus a single Apple-only solution until 3rd parties comply with licensing rules and release a product 3 months later.

I'm all for Qi... I have several stands/docks I could use on day one. I would, however, be completely surprised if it was compatible with anything you can buy on Amazon today for under $20.

Just wanted to double-check before I passed your comment on to Tim. Based on what you wrote, even if Apple develops a more capable charging system, for example, a truly wireless one, you want them Tim to make sure it is never released, and that Apple instead simply adopts what everyone else is using? Assuming Tim agrees to issue a cease and desist order to the product development team working on new charging systems, how long do you want Apple to keep the ban on improvements in place?

 

[doelcm82]

Don't know about others but I would love a wireless mat big enough for my phone and watch; would just have to lay it down for it to charge. Simple

That would be nice, except I have a (faux) Milanese Loop on my watch, and it needs a stand where the puck can fit inside the loop. There's no way to lay it flat on a mat, because the band is always in the way.

 

[Abazigal]

Alright, Im gonna ask a potentially stupid question here.

Why is everybody talking about the iPhone 8. Isn't it iPhone 7s that is up next?

The iPhone 7 was basically a souped-up iPhone 6S+. If we assume that this is Apple moving to a 3-year refresh cycle, then the next iPhone would herald the start of the next 3-year redesign, whatever it's called.

 

[Naraxus]

So, without knowing anything about what Apple might have developed, its pros and cons, whether Apple has developed something that you and other customers would prefer, it's automatically bad if Apple develops something new? Kind of hard to make technological improvements if everyone just keep using the same "standard." Lovely.

It's called "Learning From History". Apple has a well-known history of this kind of asinine consumer-hostile behavior, the most recent being their decision to dump a port that's been working without a hitch for over 100 years just so they can sell a few dongles & $150 airbuds and call it courageous.

The truly sad part is the Apple lapdogs and sycophants (Ritchie, Dalrymple, Gruber etc) consistently blindly praise any and all things Apple does (with very RARE exceptions):
http://www.loopinsight.com/2016/11/14/review-15-inch-macbook-pro-with-touch-bar/

http://www.imore.com/smart-battery-case

and then sit there befuddled when things like this happen:

"I write Mac software for a YC company in the pro video space. Our new product started deployments a couple of months back, and a major source of problems has been the Apple platform — both hardware and software. It’s so bad that we’re actively working to move off the Mac completely. (I’ve spent 15 years doing Mac software, so this is a big deal for me.)"

http://www.loopinsight.com/2016/09/29/apples-relationship-with-the-pro-community/

 

[rajat8676]

It would have been good to see Apple develop ground breaking wireless charging technology rather than adopt Qi. Across the room charging without wires would have been great.

 

[iansilv]

Energous with Watt Up along with Surface charging at a faster rate.

 

[chr1s60]

I still think inductive charging on a phone is less convenient in most cases but I guess it's a selling point,

Cool factor sells. Not knocking Samsung phones, but a large reason for their current popularity was the introduction of gimmicky features that had a cool factor the iPhone didn't. The screen size wasn't a major sell in the early years when they were first having success, but it did eventually develop into a selling point.