Wireless charging

iPhone 8 said to offer Bluetooth 5 and wireless charging via Broadcom chip

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 3, 2017

JPMorgan said in yesterday's note to clients ahead of Apple's earnings report that iPhone 8 would implement support for the latest Bluetooth 5.0 standard and wireless charging via a Broadcom chip. Broadcom's chips support both PMA and Qi wireless charging standards, but it's unclear if iPhone 8 might use either of them or rely on Apple's custom version of these standards.

At any rate, Apple's business could add between $500 million and $600 million to Broadcom's annualized revenues, JPMorgan predicted. Though the note doesn't say which new iPhone models will pack wireless charging, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said before that all 2017 iPhones would offer this feature.

Galaxy S8 is the world's first phone with support for the new Bluetooth 5.0 standard, which promises to double the speed and quadruple the range. Bluetooth 5.0 also allows multiple devices to be used at the same time, meaning iPhone 8 could allow two users to watch a movie on the device with two sets of Bluetooth headphones.

Bluetooth 5.0 was certified by Bluetooth Special Interest Group back in June 2016. Apple is a promoting member of the organization with voting rights.

In February of this year, Apple joined Wireless Power Consortium, potentially giving some credence to rumors about wireless charging in iPhone 8. The Cupertino company is listed as a member on the organization's website.

There are currently 213 members of the consortium.

In 2016 year, 152 different brands registered a Qi-compliant product on the official Wireless Power Consortium website, up from 86 in 2015. The Qi protocol is currently used by more than 200 companies and is in 1343 products you can buy now. Apple Watch uses a bespoke version of the Qi wireless charging standard that’s incompatible with existing Qi chargers.

JPMorgan said this morning that there's a “high likelihood” that Apple will pre-announce and preview iPhone 8 at WWDC next month, ahead of its launch in the fall. But if you ask another investment firm—Deutsche Bank—no new iPhone 8 will arrive this year.

“Several supply chain reports have suggested that key component shortages and technical challenges could delay the release of a high-end iPhone 8 device this fall,” reads Deutsche Bank's report. “We believe this report further underscores the uncertainty around the timing of Apple's next-generation iPhone model”.

Photo: ON Charge magnetic wireless charging solution for current iPhones

New iPhone 8 schematic hints at wireless charging, vertically stacked cameras & no rear Touch ID

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 26, 2017

Multiple sources, including KK Leaks, OnLeaks and Benjamin Geskin, have tweeted out this claimed iPhone 8 schematic obtained from an unknown source. The alleged technical drawing may help cast light on some of the more prominently rumored features of the OLED-based device, namely wireless charging, a vertically aligned dual-lens camera on the back and—thankfully—no rear Touch ID. We cannot vouch for the legitimacy of the leaked diagram so you're advised to approach this report with some skepticism.

Alleged supplier of iPhone 8 wireless charging components expects revenue boost

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 10, 2017

Component vendor Lite-On Semi was mentioned in a recent Chinese-language Commercial Times report as a possible supplier of wireless charging parts destined for Apple's 2017 iPhones. According to Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes, the supplier is expecting to see its revenues reach the peak for 2017 in the third quarter (when iPhone 8 is rumored to enter mass-production, mind you) thanks to robust demand for its power management chips used for wireless charging in smartphones and other devices.

Reuters: Apple has at least five different groups working on wireless charging

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 23, 2017

Citing a person with knowledge of the matter, Reuters reported Thursday that there are at least five different groups within Apple working on wireless charging technologies ahead of iPhone 8. As we reported recently, the iPhone maker has joined the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC).

Disney creates prototype living room with ubiquitous wireless power delivery

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 20, 2017

While speculation keeps mounting that iPhone 8 might come outfitted with some kind of wireless charging technology, a research arm of the entertainment conglomerate Disney has engineered and shown off a prototype living room capable of ubiquitous power delivery over-the-air without requiring any cables, wires or charging pads.

The solution is based on aluminum panels, which cover the walls, ceiling and floor, a single generator located just outside the room and a copper pipe containing more than a dozen capacitors which are capable of setting the electromagnetic frequency of the structure and finding the electric fields.

Apple has joined Wireless Power Consortium, giving credence to rumors of wireless charging in iPhone 8

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 13, 2017

Apple has officially joined the Wireless Power Consortium, a multinational technology consortium which creates and promotes market adoption of its ubiquitous interface standard Qi (pronounced chee) that's being used for wireless charging across a number of consumer electronics devices.

The move could be interpreted as another sign that Apple's rumored iPhone 8 might come with wireless charging capabilities, as rumored.

Rumor: iPhone 8 won’t ship with wireless charger, USB-C cable or headphone jack adapter

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 11, 2017

Japanese blog Mac Otakara claimed Saturday that iPhone 8's rumored wireless charging feature may require a dedicated wireless charger accessory that customers would need to purchase separately. Citing reliable sources within Apple's supply chain, the story goes on to say that iPhone 8 also won't ship with the 3.5mm headphone jack adapter found in the iPhone 7 box nor will it come with a Lightning to USB-C cable as some have hoped.

iPhone 8 again rumored to sport iris scanning and wireless charging

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 10, 2017

Apple's iPhone 8 is (again) rumored to feature wireless charging and iris scanning to permit users to authenticate themselves securely with their eyes, DigiTimes reported Friday. The report, citing sources from Apple's supply chain, adds that the Cupertino company has moved up iPhone 8 production earlier than the schedule in previous years.

According to the report, suppliers are scheduled to begin delivering parts and components for Apple's tenth anniversary handset later in the first quarter of this year.

KGI: all 2017 iPhones to have wireless charging, iPhone 8’s 3D Touch pricier to build

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 9, 2017

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted in a new note to clients, obtained by MacRumors, that all new models of iPhone introduced this year would feature wireless charging. In addition, the report cautions that production costs of iPhone 8's enhanced 3D Touch module might rise between 30 and 50 percent.

A report yesterday by FastCo stated Apple would pass any increased production costs stemming from iPhone 8's OLED screen and other hardware advances onto the consumer, speculating that the final sale price of iPhone 8 could pass $1,000 in US.

Lite-On Semi rumored to supply fast wireless charging components for iPhone 8

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 19, 2017

According to a recent Chinese-language Commercial Times report cited by trade publication DigiTimes, Apple signed a component contract with supplier Lite-On Semi which should provide several parts that the iPhone maker needs in order to realize fast wireless charging on iPhone 8.

The Taiwan-based supplier has been tasked with building GPP bridge rectifiers that help reduce thermal issue and increase efficiency of wireless power transmission.

Energous says truly wireless charging tech rumored for next iPhone is coming this year

Cody Lee ∙ January 4, 2017

Rumored Apple partner Energous says its truly wireless charging tech is nearly market-ready. In a phone call ahead of CES, the company's CEO Steve Rizzone told The Verge their wireless charging transmitters, capable charging devices wirelessly from several feet away, will begin shipping by the end of 2017.

As you may recall, the company made a similar claim at CES 2015, but Rizzone says their plans changed after it signed a "key strategic partnership" following the convention. The deal saw Energous refocus its efforts on miniaturizing the tech, and gave its partner the right to be the first to ship it in its products.

KGI predicts massive iPhone 8 upgrade cycle, 4.7″ model to feature wireless charging

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 29, 2016

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo issued a note to clients this morning, a copy of which was obtained by MacRumors, predicting record 150 million iPhone sales in the second half of 2017. A 4.7-inch iPhone 8 with an LCD screen and glass casing should feature wireless charging, he wrote.

“Unprecedented replacement demand” will, of course, be led by a rumored high-end iPhone 8 model with brand new industrial design, power-saving OLED display technology and other “notably superior specifications” from the “less exciting” 4.7 and 5.5-inch LCD iPhones.