“Apple will switch to an all-glass casing for next year’s entire iPhone lineup in order to support wireless charging, with Pegatron being the exclusive supplier of the wireless charger,” Tim Hardwick reports for MacRumors. “That’s according to the latest research note by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.”
“According to Kuo, the transition from metal to glass casing is key if Apple is to introduce a wireless charging feature in the 2017 iPhone,” Hardwick reports. “While patented engineering solutions do exist for wirelessly charging devices with metal cases, issues with wireless frequency tolerances for metal alloys can limit the speed at which charging takes place. On top of that, it is widely believed that Jony Ive has wanted to introduce an iPhone that looks like a single sheet of glass for several years.”
Hardwick reports, “Kuo remains uncertain whether a wireless charger will be bundled with all new iPhones, but expects at least some models to [get the capability] next year, with wider availability by 2018.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Is this “glass” as in Gorilla glass or is it bulk metallic glass (Liquidmetal) or both?
The timeframe would be right for Apple to begin using Liquidmetal in earnest.
I estimate that Apple will likely spend on the order of $300 million to $500 million — and three to five years — to mature the technology before it can used in large scale. — Dr. Atakan Peker, one of the Caltech researchers who invented Liquidmetal, May 2012
SEE ALSO:
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iPhone 7 and the potential for wireless charging – January 19, 2016
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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
