Apple’s future iPhone may feature long range wireless charging

To be launched and made available for iPhone by Q1 2017, the new technology is under the prototype stage and is being developed in association with partners in the USA and Asia.

Bloomberg’s sources said the technology could be deployed on its mobile devices as soon as next year.

Developing wireless charging technology which does not require direct contact with a power mat is not an easy task.

One of the major issues faced by wireless chargers that are based on charging plates or mats is that the quality of power transferred to the device gets affected as the proximity decreases.

iPhones and iPads account for more than three quarters of Apple’s revenue, the implementation of newer technologies can give its devices a competitive edge, allowing the products to be sold at a premium in the slowing market.

This could mean utilising technology it’s developed itself, rather than relying on current wireless charging solutions.

The biggest problems with the technology are that, despite ongoing advancements, your phone and charger still need to be very close together to work, and wireless charging isn’t very efficient compared to a good old wire.

It is possible that the new iPhone would rely on wireless headphones and wireless charging to keep things interesting.

Wireless transmission of electrical power can be done – an MIT team led by Marin Soljačić showcased such a system back in 2007 – but there are various obstacles, including power loss as the distance increases.

While the idea may seem outlandish with those limitations, a Seattle-area company has developed tech that can wirelessly charge devices up to 30 feet away.

Rival companies already have wireless charging as standard and you would think that Apple are now working out the necessities required for the iPhone to follow suit. The new phone will be the same size as the iPhone 5S, and is expected to replace it, adding a faster processor and the capability to use Apple Pay, the company’s wireless payment service.