Report: iPhone 8 Wireless Charging Feature Being Tested By Foxconn

Apple may be getting ready to bring wireless charging to the iPhone with the iPhone 8 release next year, according to a new report today by a Japanese publisher. The report, which cites industry sources as its reasoning for the current speculation, claims that Apple is currently awaiting for confirmation from its iPhone builder, Foxconn, as the company is still working to boost yield rates for wireless components required to satisfactory levels.

While Apple is keen to get wireless charging into the iPhone 8, the report claims that the decision to include it next time around will depend on Foxconn’s ability to ramp up production.

apple-wireless-charging

While Foxconn is said to be working to get wireless charging ready for at least one iPhone next year, however there is currently no indication as to whether that will lead to a product that will be ready to ship during September of next year.

“But whether the feature can eventually make it into Apple’s updated devices will depend on whether Foxconn can boost the yield rate to a satisfactory level later on,” the source said.

Wireless charging is not a new technology on the face of it, and with many smartphone makers already having had the same feature available for a number of years, and while this report doesn’t clarifies it, it has been rumored that Apple’s wireless technology will include the ability to charge the device from a distance, instead of having to place it on a charging pad, like it’s done currently with Qi-enabled devices.

It’s clear that Foxconn has been requested to put the wheels in motion for such a thing to happen, although there does appear to be doubts as to whether Foxconn is yet ready to build new wireless charging features into every iPhone it makes just yet.

“The source adds that Foxconn is making modules that will be incorporated into the handsets, but it is unclear whether all iPhone models for release in 2017 will come with the new function.”

Could the iPhone 8 Plus be the only iPhone with wireless charging built in, for example? We’ll have to wait to find that out.

iPhone-8-concept-main.png

(source: Nikkei)

You might 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.