“Up until last year, wireless charging didn’t work on phones with metal casings, specifically for our purposes—the iPhone. But technologies, like times, change,” Rene Ritchie writes for iMore. “So, could Apple bring wireless charging to the iPhone 7?”
“Apple senior vice president of worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller, spoke about wireless charging in 2012, telling All Things D: ‘[Wireless] charging systems still have to be plugged into the wall, so it’s not clear how much convenience they add… Having to create another device you have to plug into the wall is actually, for most situations, more complicated,'” Ritchie writes. “Schiller said much the same about near field communications (NFC) at the time. Then, in September of 2014, Apple showed off NFC in the iPhones 6. It wasn’t NFC for NFC’s sake, though. It was introduced specifically to enable contactless transactions through Apple Pay.”
“At the same even the company also showed off wireless charging, though not for the iPhone — it was introduced for the Apple Watch,” Ritchie writes. “Unofficially, Apple has begun increasing the water resistance of the iPhones 6s already, even with a Lightning port. Rumor has it, though, that the company may take it to the next level in the future.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take:
SEE ALSO:
Apple will drop headphone jack to make the iPhone 7 super slim, source confirms; wireless charging and waterproof, too – January 7, 2016
Apple looks to patent inductive charging system that could power an Apple Pencil or even a future kitchen appliance – January 7, 2016
Apple files 5th wireless inductive charging patent application since Late September – November 5, 2015\
Apple patent application reveals iPhone inductive charging sans extra hardware – October 8, 2015
Patent application reveals Apple working on wireless charging systems focused on rapid power delivery – August 27, 2015
Apple invents inductive charging interfaces for mobile devices – April 2, 2015
Apple ‘iPhone 7’ models likely to offer wireless charging – April 2, 2015
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz,” “Dan K.,” and “Judge Bork” for the heads up.]
Wireless charging, like Samsung uses on their phone, is a complete gimmick. It actually reduces the phone’s functionality, with their wireless charging stand, your phone has to be flat on the table in order to charge, while with the cable you can pick it up and use it while it’s charging. I would be annoyed as fsck if I was forced to charge my phone using that garbage charger Samsung uses that all the ignorant poor people who don’t think things through are quick to say “that’s cool”.
I have several wireless chargers in my house and office. A couple of them even stand the phone or tablet up. I even have wireless charging in my car. It’s extremely convenient. Whenever my phone isn’t in my pocket, it’s charging.
I agree some recent Samsung chargers are crap, but as long as it’s Qi standard, any charger will do.
As long as you could also charge via wired connection, that would be ok (and I’m guessing you can). Otherwise, charging in the car, etc, will be an issue.
Ideally, a wireless charge would come from cell towers, so as long as you have signal, your phone is also charging, or if that sounds like it would give everyone cancer, then perhaps something in your house with the range of a wifi router or something like that. Setting the phone physically on something might as well be a corded charge and is a marketing gimmick at best.
I have always found this patent that was granted to Apple in 2013 to be interesting – so much so that I have it bookmarked in my favorites.
http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2013/12/apple-wins-patents-for-wireless-charging-system-new-mac-pro.html
I don’t think NFC was added to iPhones “just” for ApplePay …
Under this system, you wouldn’t have to lay your iPhone flat to charge it. I can also envision Apple selling a stand alone plug in unit that you could put on the back of your night stand to charge your iPad Air3, iPhone 7 and Watch 2.0 wirelessly via NFC all at the same time.
I’m pretty sure Apple is heading towards wireless charging. But I am confident Apple will not do it like everyone else is, or has been!