KGI: Apple's Own Wireless Charging Accessory Will Not Debut at Today's Event

[MacRumors]

Apple isn't prepared to debut its own first-party wireless charging accessory for the upcoming iPhones, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus are all expected to support inductive wireless charging when they are announced later today, so in the interim between the smartphones' launch and the launch of a first-party Apple wireless charging pad, users will have to purchase third-party accessories.

Apple isn't ready for the launch of its own wireless charging accessory because it has "higher requirements for wireless charger RF specifications," according to Kuo. This means that there is currently no definite timetable for the mass production of Apple's accessory, and it's unclear when such a device will launch. Apple might even be waiting for certain "technological breakthroughs" before ramping up production.

An example of a Qi wireless charging pad​

Apple's own-brand wireless charger is not expected to debut at the media event, which we believe is primarily because Apple has higher requirements for wireless charger RF specifications, so there will be no definite mass production timetable prior to technological breakthroughs. However, the new iPhone models supports the WPC standard, so we think users will be able to purchase and use non-Apple WPC-compliant wireless chargers with the new iPhone models.

In the same report, Kuo said that Foxconn is planning to see a significant ramp-up in production on its 5.5-inch LCD iPhone assembly line, by as much as 70-80 percent. This falls in line with previous reports that said Apple plans to boost production and availability of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, while the OLED iPhone X will be particularly difficult to come by early on.

We're now just a few hours away from the official unveiling of the tenth-generation iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, Apple TV 4K, Apple Watch Series 3, and more, all taking place at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park. MacRumors will follow all of the stories and news coming out of the event today with a live blog, articles, video recap, and more. Follow our @MacRumorsLive Twitter account ahead of time to see live tweets as Apple breaks news during the event.

Article Link: KGI: Apple's Own Wireless Charging Accessory Will Not Debut at Today's Event

 

[1Zach1]

I'm not really sure the upside of inductive charging, but my wife told me this morning that this could be her favorite feature on the phone, so I guess I'm just not the target audience.

 

[nabeel24]

Feels like this launch is quite disorganized.

 

[xalea]

If this is true it will overshadow a lot of the news/discussion about the phone itself. How do you not have a design change for three years, with the resources of Apple, and not be able to ready your own charging station? It would be really nice if this affected some kind of leadership change at Apple as this is just a symptom of a larger problem, but I doubt if that will happen.

 

[rumz]

Bonkers. I remember my Palm Pre in 2009 coming bundled with a little charging puck that worked just fine. Of course it was a thicker device and batteries were much smaller then... still.

 

[moooooooo]

i'm always careful with an Apple 1.0 product and usually wait awhile. For example first iPhone was the 3GS, iPad 3, Apple TV3 etc.
The watch ? not there yet as i dont need it, but hey never say never but if they announce a new Apple TV ? Not gonna touch it until iFixIt tear it down.

 

[rpat701]

Feels like this launch is quite disorganized.

Behind the scenes, launches are always chaos. I do think Apple is reaching technically lately to try and keep up with competition.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

most people won't care, they'll just buy a third party charger if they want it.

edit: wireless charging isn't the must have feature to me anyway. I'll probably get the Apple charger when it's released but for now I'll be fine with lightning cables. I like a lot of the things we've heard about iPhone X but I'm disappointed about TouchID likely being removed. I'm going to watch the keynote though and then make up my mind as to whether I'm an iPhone 8 or iPhone X user.

 

[1Zach1]

If this is true it will overshadow a lot of the news/discussion about the phone itself. How do you not have a design change for three years, with the resources of Apple, and not be able to ready your own charging station? It would be really nice if this affected some kind of leadership change at Apple as this is just a symptom of a larger problem, but I doubt if that will happen.

Makes me wonder if Apples device will be a wireless at a distance charger with Qi cross compatibility. I know it's very unlikely, just might be a reason Apple hasn't finished the puck yet? I'm really just spitballing here.

 

[stanman64]

If this is the case, this may be the most fractured "launch" ever.

 

[Falhófnir]

If 3rd party Qi chargers will work then that's a big plus as I've got a few old Nokia ones lying around that I could put back into use

 

[Nik]

It continues: Last year the AirPods weren't ready. This year it is the charger. Wasn't the CEO himself a supply chain guy?

 

[orbital~debris]

Behind the scenes, launches are always chaos. I do think Apple is reaching technically lately to try and keep up with competition.

Or… they aren't willing to compromise, and respect safety more than Sam::BOOM::sung.

 

[Jarman74]

i'm always careful with an Apple 1.0 product and usually wait awhile. For example first iPhone was the 3GS, iPad 3, Apple TV3 etc.

You should have waited six months more for iPad 4 - that was the real deal

 

[recoil80]

I'm not really sure the upside of inductive charging, but my wife told me this morning that this could be her favorite feature on the phone, so I guess I'm just not the target audience.

I don't give a damn about inductive charging now, but it is a good addition to the iPhone.
Sooner or later charging pads will be everywhere and you'll just leave your cable at home. Eventually they'll get rid of the cable and that would be the only way to charge the iPhone, but you'll be able to do it at home, at office, drinking coffee at starbucks, in your car and so on.

 

[bobob]

Feels like this launch is quite disorganized.

That's odd - - you'd think a pixellated view cobbled together from various disconnected third-party sources would be as accurate you can get.

 

[Kabeyun]

Feels like this launch is quite disorganized.

What's disorganized are the rumors around it. We haven't seen the launch yet.
[doublepost=1505217772][/doublepost]

That's odd - - you'd think a pixellated view from various disconnected third-party sources would be as accurate you can get.

Beat me to it. Special lol.

 

[moooooooo]

You should have waited six months more for iPad 4 - that was the real deal

yeah i was pissed off about that one hehe

 

[WoodrowCall]

Feels like this launch is quite disorganized.

I agree. It feels like they're trapped in the annual improvement cycle, and a year wasn't enough this time. Apple always gets credit for actually releasing when they announce, but this time it seems like they're releasing the best they could get in time, without it being fully complete.

 

[SuprUsrStan]

It continues: Last year the AirPods weren't ready. This year it is the charger. Wasn't the CEO himself a supply chain guy?

Yeah, he is a supply chain guy. That's probably why he missed the fact that the TECH was just not ready. Airpods were delayed because beats couldn't get their act together and apple had to fix their design problems and were delayed. I'm guessing apple just couldn't work out the details to the inductive charging dock before the deadline.

 

[Jolson247]

It'll be announced today as "Available Later This Year" and finally be available to purchase in December only to trickle out slowly to Apple Stores and then other stores. The AirPod fiasco all over again.

Why go with new technology or even announce a new product if it's not going to be widely available for 9-12 months? Something isn't right. Are these guys just throwing crap at the wall and seeing what sticks and then scrambling to manufacture stuff? That seems like a silly way to do things.

Update: Available next year?!? Holy balls!!

 

[Falhófnir]

Yeah, he is a supply chain guy. That's probably why he missed the fact that the TECH was just not ready. Airpods were delayed because beats couldn't get their act together and apple had to fix their design problems and were delayed. I'm guessing apple just couldn't work out the details to the inductive charging dock before the deadline.

Not to mention he's probably too busy CEOing to worry about the supply chain personally

 

[x-evil-x]

Wake me up when they have real wireless charging. I feel apple is doing this just to have it like everyone else but it's nothing great. What ever happened to them making a area within a certain range can charge your phone wirelessly. No pad.
I'd rather use a cable 95% of the time than this.
I would use this for the pot holder I use in the kitchen to hold my phone though :] that's about it though

 

[4jasontv]

i'm always careful with an Apple 1.0 product and usually wait awhile. For example first iPhone was the 3GS, iPad 3, Apple TV3 etc.

Ehem, you mean *New iPad*. There was no iPad 3. Let's not forget the stupid things Apple has done.

 

[NightFox]

I know QI is meant to be a standard, but I'm sure I've seen reference to the iPhone potentially only working with Apple's QI charger (or Apple-certified third party QI chargers). Does anyone know if the QI standard would allow this (in terms of technically and contractually)?

I threw out several QI chargers a couple of years back thinking I'd never have a use for them...