Wireless charging reportedly coming to next year’s iPhone

These sources say Apple is working with partners in both the US and Asia – where much of Apple’s hardware production is contracted out to – to develop the capability to deploy the feature on mobile devices within the next year.

Of course, at first glance, launching wireless charging support on a 2017 device sounds pretty awkward, especially for a company the size of Apple. Instead, the new wireless system will arrive in 2017, according to Bloomberg’s sources, which means it will probably be included in next year’s iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus.

It’s possible these “units” were only prototypes; Apple often manufactures a small number of iPhone prototypes to use internally, regardless if some models never launch to the public. And sales of the iPhone are flattening as smartphone penetration rates plateau and replacement cycles slow.

Apple is reportedly working on wireless (and contact-less) charging technology for the iPhone. If Apple is trying to build a sleek phone, those two issues create a compounded problem where it’s hard to charge a battery quickly. A new report, however, suggests the Cupertino, Calif. firm could be developing a new way to charge the iPhone that wouldn’t require any cables. The company was granted a patent in which an iMac acts as a wireless charging station capable of recharging devices at a distance of about 1 meter using a technique called near-field magnetic resonance.

Existing wireless charging features from Samsung and Sony have failed to catch on, despite the belief that there was a pent-up demand for powering smartphones without plugging them into the mains.

But don’t go picturing a scenario where your phone is constantly being charged, no matter your location. Shares in Apple stock fell to $95 – down 19% from value per share since January 2015.