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Will the iPhone 6 have wireless charging?
- Thread starter Frederico Luna
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Apple traditionally doesn't mess around with gimmick features that add zero value. Wireless charging in its current state is that. A gimmick.
Highly unlikely, for several reasons.
First, wireless charging adds thickness and heft to a device, which goes against Apple's design philosophy.
Second, and perhaps most importantly, there isn't a single dominant wireless charging standard. Of the current three standards groups (A4WP, WPC and PMA), most current phones use Qi which is backed by WPC, but thanks to AT&T and Duracell backing PMA's rival Powermat standard, we are about to enter a world of hurt. PMA recently signed a deal with Starbucks to turn their tables into Powermat-compatible chargers.
Consider this anecdote that basically sums up the current situation: the Nokia Lumia 1520 will have Qi wireless charging overseas but Powermat wireless charging on AT&T. Two totally incompatible formats in what's supposed to be the same phone.
Until the world sorts this out and settles on one standard (or figures out a way to make these standards cross-compatible), there's no reason for Apple to wade into that mine field.
For the record, I loved wireless charging when my daily driver was a Nokia Lumia 920 and I definitely miss it, but I'm certainly not happy about the pile of wireless chargers I now have that may not be compatible with anything a year from now.
First, wireless charging adds thickness and heft to a device, which goes against Apple's design philosophy.
Second, and perhaps most importantly, there isn't a single dominant wireless charging standard. Of the current three standards groups (A4WP, WPC and PMA), most current phones use Qi which is backed by WPC, but thanks to AT&T and Duracell backing PMA's rival Powermat standard, we are about to enter a world of hurt. PMA recently signed a deal with Starbucks to turn their tables into Powermat-compatible chargers.
Consider this anecdote that basically sums up the current situation: the Nokia Lumia 1520 will have Qi wireless charging overseas but Powermat wireless charging on AT&T. Two totally incompatible formats in what's supposed to be the same phone.
Until the world sorts this out and settles on one standard (or figures out a way to make these standards cross-compatible), there's no reason for Apple to wade into that mine field.
For the record, I loved wireless charging when my daily driver was a Nokia Lumia 920 and I definitely miss it, but I'm certainly not happy about the pile of wireless chargers I now have that may not be compatible with anything a year from now.
I think its only a matter of time before Apple does integrate it, and I really hope they do so on the iPhone 6. For now, I will be satisfied using <the iQi> on my iPhone 5...it lets me seamlessly integrate wireless charging underneath my OWN case (only 0.5mm thin) so I don't have to use an ugly/bulky wireless charging case 
About 1-2 years after it's mainstream.
People get upset when they hear "wireless" charging then find out it's a mat.
Then all of a sudden it needing physical contact is dumb, because a cord doesn't?
Anyone who has seriously used it can appreciate it whether it was on an office desk and/or nightstand.
Anyone who has every been laying halfway across a nightstand answering a phone call or text could appreciate it.
How many times have you been laying in bed and get a text and can't decide whether you want to lay uncomfortable or unplug it for a couple minutes then plug it back in? So much more convenient to just grab it and then toss it back on the mat.
People get upset when they hear "wireless" charging then find out it's a mat.
Then all of a sudden it needing physical contact is dumb, because a cord doesn't?
Anyone who has seriously used it can appreciate it whether it was on an office desk and/or nightstand.
Anyone who has every been laying halfway across a nightstand answering a phone call or text could appreciate it.
How many times have you been laying in bed and get a text and can't decide whether you want to lay uncomfortable or unplug it for a couple minutes then plug it back in? So much more convenient to just grab it and then toss it back on the mat.
Hopefully, and maybe Apple will just release their own wireless charging technology?! Who knows...
"Gimmick" may be the wrong word to use, but it's def not mainstream. There is no universal standard, and the technology is meh at this point. And there is not even a slight chance that apple incorporates it on the iphone 6.
I agree about the the standards thing but the technology is awesome it is so convenient to just plonk my phone down on my desk at work on the charging pad and not have to worry about wires and the same when I'm at home.
It's unlikely Apple would use a standard vs their own proprietary tech.
If you have to buy from Apple or from a 3rd party that's buying rights to use Apple tech Apple makes more money. This is something a lot of people don't like about Apple when they ignore standards. And it's not always for a higher quality product but always so they make more money.
Meh, they are a business so you can't get to upset about it.
They can sell us way more expensive, exclusive and all aluminum iMats.
Just place your iPhone on your iMat and it'll start iCharging.
I hope so.
Qi standard is great its low cost and loads of android phones have it. You can also buy receivers costing about $8 to convert some phones which aren't compatible.
They dont add any noticeable bulk only a tiny bit (0.5mm) which you cant notice.
But its so convenient not having to find a cable or stress out the the connector port every time you want to charger. If it takes off in a big way you could have restaurant offering chargers built into tables.
Do it apple.
Do it.
Qi standard is great its low cost and loads of android phones have it. You can also buy receivers costing about $8 to convert some phones which aren't compatible.
They dont add any noticeable bulk only a tiny bit (0.5mm) which you cant notice.
But its so convenient not having to find a cable or stress out the the connector port every time you want to charger. If it takes off in a big way you could have restaurant offering chargers built into tables.
Do it apple.
Do it.
I rather have the solar panel behind the screen. A more innovative solution.A must have for me
I'm curious. Is .5mm a real number? I'm not familiar with what would be in the phone.
To play devil's advocate, Apple has got into this whole size thing so instead of a comfortable phone it's getting thinner. They made great announcements on how much smaller the 5s is using percentages. So... .5mm is 6.6% of the 5s' 7.6mm thickness. Apple is not going to announce the iPhone 6 is 6.6% thicker.
The iQi charging base is a textbook example of what's wrong with wireless charging.
The charging base is a 70mm x 11mm disc. It receives power from a Lightning cable. That means you could just plug the Lightning cable directly into the phone and save yourself the cost, weight and bulk of the disc.
For larger items (iPad, iPad mini), you will have a wobblier setup. You'd really need a bigger charging ring for stability, but that adds bulk and weight, not something you'd want to schlepp along on a trip.
No matter what, it appears the charging disc would have difficulty making good contact if the iDevice is not horizontal, meaning you couldn't charge vertically, upside down, etc. without some fussing with the charging disc. By contract, a Lighting cable really doesn't care about what orientation is it.
Also, you really can't actively use the device while charging.
Worse are charging mats. Big pieces of desktop real estate taken away by a charging mat that you have to carry around and still require wired power.
Note that I have no problem with wireless charging technology per se. I have used rechargeable electric toothbrushes for about a decade, but then again, electric toothbrushes are left on bathroom counters most of the time.
Everything that is retarded about smartphone wireless charging is exemplified by the iQi charging disc.
The charging base is a 70mm x 11mm disc. It receives power from a Lightning cable. That means you could just plug the Lightning cable directly into the phone and save yourself the cost, weight and bulk of the disc.
For larger items (iPad, iPad mini), you will have a wobblier setup. You'd really need a bigger charging ring for stability, but that adds bulk and weight, not something you'd want to schlepp along on a trip.
No matter what, it appears the charging disc would have difficulty making good contact if the iDevice is not horizontal, meaning you couldn't charge vertically, upside down, etc. without some fussing with the charging disc. By contract, a Lighting cable really doesn't care about what orientation is it.
Also, you really can't actively use the device while charging.
Worse are charging mats. Big pieces of desktop real estate taken away by a charging mat that you have to carry around and still require wired power.
Note that I have no problem with wireless charging technology per se. I have used rechargeable electric toothbrushes for about a decade, but then again, electric toothbrushes are left on bathroom counters most of the time.
Everything that is retarded about smartphone wireless charging is exemplified by the iQi charging disc.
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That isn't the point of wireless charging. You don't take the wireless charging base with you. I have a few wireless charging bases and I have one in each room of my apartment. I just plop down my 920 whenever I'm not using it and it gets topped off. Much more convenient than constantly plugging and unplugging it. I don't even remember the last time I ran out of battery. I have a separate usb cable and adapter for traveling.
Huh? Why would you carry around the charging mat or disc? You take a wall charger and lightning cable exactly like you do now. Exactly as it's being utilized now.
Why would you want to use the device and have it charging? This is a long term charging solution, like at night or at the office. Pick it up use it and put it back down. If you need it to be charging and use it the plug it in exactly like you do now. Exactly as it's being utilized now.
Why would you get a mat or disc that's larger then the device? These are accessories that you order IF you want to utilize the wireless charging capabilities.
We are talking Apple here, it's not gonna be some gym mat you layout to charge the phone. And the phone is near identical. You don't have to use it, I don't run around buying plane tickets just to use passbook.
I think Apple could squeeze it into the budget. It has one of the smallest screens, smallest batteries, no NFC, no wireless charging, no addition sensors (barometer for example), etc, etc yet has the largest price tag. As far as material goes you are getting the least for your dollar, user experience is a different story but the iPhone has by far the largest profit % of pretty much any (minus luxury items) electronic.
Compared to a fingerprint sensor?
Nothing gimmicky about the fingerprint sensor. The current implementation makes things better like buying apps and logging on. Once they add more functionality, it will be even better.
Wireless charging is a gimmick because it's useless. Now if it was like Wifi where you could walk into an area and your phone started charging, then I could see Apple jumping on it.