Apple not expected to debut wireless chargers alongside iPhone X, buyers to rely on third-...
Though Apple is widely expected to introduce three new iPhone models with wireless charging capabilities at a special event on Tuesday, one industry insider believes the company will not debut its own charging accessory, leaving buyers to fend for themselves for the foreseeable future.
Supposed iPhone wireless charging coil.
Well-connected KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in a note to investors seen by AppleInsider says Apple suppliers have no definitive timetable set for mass production, as the company is awaiting "technological breakthroughs" in wireless charging systems.
Specifically, Apple is in a holding pattern as technology catches up to its internal requirements for wireless charger radio frequency specifications. Like other products designed and sold by the Cupertino tech giant, this year's iPhone is expected to conform to a set of stringent standards set forth in part by Apple's research and development and quality assurance teams.
While an Apple branded wireless charging accessory may not ship with iPhone, Kuo says the new iPhone models support the Wireless Power Consortium's Qi standard, meaning buyers can use WPC-compliant accessories to juice up their new handsets.
It can be speculated that Apple might partner with a third-party manufacturer to supply its customers with a sanctioned non-branded option in an arrangement similar to Logitech's 2016 Create keyboard, one of the first to take advantage of then-new iPad Pro Smart Connector technology. Whether such a partnership is primed for announcement tomorrow is unclear.
Last month, rumors from Apple's supply chain suggested wireless charging throughput for the new iPhone models -- iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X -- will top out at 7.5 watts. If true, Apple has seemingly elected to forego integration with the latest Qi 1.2 standard, which supports 15-watt fast charging on select inductive pads.
At the time, it was suggested that Apple might require third-party wireless charger manufacturers integrate a certified control chip, potentially under the "Made for iPhone" program.
Separately, the analyst notes Apple manufacturing partner Hon Hai, better known as Foxconn, will see its allotment of 5.5-inch LCD iPhone assembly orders rise significantly to 70 to 80 percent.
The strategic move is in response to a slow production ramp on the OLED iPhone, thought to be marketed as iPhone X. By taking over 5.5-inch LCD iPhone orders from Wistron, Foxconn will be able to best utilize its manfacturing capacity, Kuo said.
Join AppleInsider as we cover Apple's special media event live from Apple Park today at 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern. Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for all the latest news, photos, video and more.
Supposed iPhone wireless charging coil.
Well-connected KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in a note to investors seen by AppleInsider says Apple suppliers have no definitive timetable set for mass production, as the company is awaiting "technological breakthroughs" in wireless charging systems.
Specifically, Apple is in a holding pattern as technology catches up to its internal requirements for wireless charger radio frequency specifications. Like other products designed and sold by the Cupertino tech giant, this year's iPhone is expected to conform to a set of stringent standards set forth in part by Apple's research and development and quality assurance teams.
While an Apple branded wireless charging accessory may not ship with iPhone, Kuo says the new iPhone models support the Wireless Power Consortium's Qi standard, meaning buyers can use WPC-compliant accessories to juice up their new handsets.
It can be speculated that Apple might partner with a third-party manufacturer to supply its customers with a sanctioned non-branded option in an arrangement similar to Logitech's 2016 Create keyboard, one of the first to take advantage of then-new iPad Pro Smart Connector technology. Whether such a partnership is primed for announcement tomorrow is unclear.
Last month, rumors from Apple's supply chain suggested wireless charging throughput for the new iPhone models -- iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X -- will top out at 7.5 watts. If true, Apple has seemingly elected to forego integration with the latest Qi 1.2 standard, which supports 15-watt fast charging on select inductive pads.
At the time, it was suggested that Apple might require third-party wireless charger manufacturers integrate a certified control chip, potentially under the "Made for iPhone" program.
Separately, the analyst notes Apple manufacturing partner Hon Hai, better known as Foxconn, will see its allotment of 5.5-inch LCD iPhone assembly orders rise significantly to 70 to 80 percent.
The strategic move is in response to a slow production ramp on the OLED iPhone, thought to be marketed as iPhone X. By taking over 5.5-inch LCD iPhone orders from Wistron, Foxconn will be able to best utilize its manfacturing capacity, Kuo said.
Join AppleInsider as we cover Apple's special media event live from Apple Park today at 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern. Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for all the latest news, photos, video and more.
Comments
The watch charger will work, but the watch has a convex back that matches the concave profile of the watch charging puck. The iPhone won't have this. Unless magnets align it without it, it doesn't make sense.
Not sure about your tone in the opening sentence.
Wireless charging is being built into cars and furniture and that's the way it should be - built in and invisible.
However, the "iPhone X" device tree does reference a "dock, 0pin".
I would like to think Apple could, in the future, make a wireless dock that would replace iTunes functionality for backup and recovery or that these tasks could be handled by another attached iOS device.
1. Third party chargers will appear literally within hours of the release.
2. Again, if the rumor is true and the Qi standard is used, there are already chargers on the market.
3. If the rumor is not true Apple will be at the ready with available chargers if the Qi standard is not used.
4. If the rumor is not true and Apple uses the Qi standard then chargers will be available from day one.
There is no scenario in which buyers are left to fend for themselves and I find this rumor to be ridiculous.
I may be old fashion at this point, however, I was probably the last group of engineers who graduate who was not tossed onto a project without reporting to a much more senior engineer. Today kids come out of college and expect to be a senior designer with their own projects, for the most this is what happens and thus the reason we have so much crap being sold. Samsung probably let some interns design their wireless charging system on the Galaxy 7 and we all know how well that turned out.
I am sorry, books and professors can not teach you the life lessons of doing it wrong. As junior engineering I had people reviewing my work and when I screwed up they let me know why i screwed up and why what I was doing was going to causes problems which my not be obvious at first.
I agree, I do not believe apple will not introduce their own product, there is too much risk in letting others do it and screw it up.