Apple Is Working On An iPhone That Charges Wirelessly

Wireless charging could finally be coming to Apple devices as soon as 2017, but unlike the technology of its competitors, it is reportedly capable of charging even from an extended distance.

Japanese newspaper Nikkei has revealed (via AI) that Apple has recently started mass production of the smaller iPhone, ahead of the official launch expected to take place in March.

Sony Corp. and Google Inc. are among rivals that have released wirelessly-charged smartphones that still require proximity to a charging plate.

Apple has filed a number of patents relating to wireless charging technology.

A couple of months ago, we came across an Apple patent pointing towards inductive charging technology without using any external hardware. PCWorld’s Mark Hachman reported on a similar technology called Cota at CES, which can send power up to 10 meters away.

If Apple does add wireless charging, it’s unlikely to remove the traditional power cord as this will still be required for connecting to a Macbook or PC.

Apple is working to solve these problems, according to Bloomberg.

Some smartphone makers have been including wireless charging capabilities in their handsets for a few years, allowing you to drop your phone on a charging pad to refuel the battery without connecting any wires. That’s because no matter “whether the device is real or not”, he wouldn’t expect “Apple to sell significantly more iPhone 6C devices than the typical low-end model (currently the 5S)”.

The company’s working is under wraps and prototype stage being developed in partnership with United States and Asia. Magnetic induction at a distance of more than an inch or two has been in development for a very long time, but current versions of the technology still results in inefficient charging.