Paul Morris·

iOS 11.1 Said To Unlock Wireless Charging Functionality In iPhone 8 After Device’s Launch

Apple’s 2017 iPhone lineup is expected to ship with a ton of new and innovative features. The iPhone 8 will most definitely be the focus of that range, but one standout feature which is set to be included on all three devices is advanced wireless inductive charging.

That would mean users don’t need to tether an iPhone to a charging cable to charge it. The feature will definitely be welcomed by device owners, but it’s also a double-edged sword due to the fact that Apple is expected to sell a separate accessory to unlock that feature. It’s now being suggested that the required accessory will not ship at the same time as the new iPhone range, with Apple possibly waiting until the release of iOS 11.1 to unlock the wireless charging functionality.

In a tweet posted earlier today, well-placed Apple insider John Gruber has all-but confirmed previous reports that Apple’s wireless charging accessory will be a separate purchase. The tweet also suggests that the accessory “might be late,” and that Apple could be playing the same type of game as it did with the new Portrait mode on iPhone 7 Plus by waiting until the next release of iOS to actually unlock that option.

Those with an iPhone 7 Plus will remember that the new Portrait mode wasn’t made available until iOS 10.1 dropped for compatible devices.

Gruber is generally an individual that is in the know and has a good track record on predictions of this nature. However, the use of the word “might” in the tweet means that the delay has by no means been confirmed and that Apple’s iPhone could still ship with everything needed to take advantage of wireless charging from day one.

With that said, there’s been enough fuel in recent weeks to suggest that the separate accessory fire is actually real. It looks as though device owners will be required to purchase another accessory, it’s just a matter of waiting to see when they will be able to do that.

The interesting question around the iPhone lineup is how Apple actually integrates this wireless charging into the devices. If it comes up with its own proprietary solution then a new accessory will be needed. However, if the company opts to let the devices conform to the Qi standard, then it’s likely that the 2017 iPhone range could be compatible with existing wireless charging platforms.

(Source: @Gruber [Twitter])

You may also like to check out:

You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the Web.