Apple's next iPhone could ship without a single port or socket, making it the first truly wireless smartphone.
New leaks suggest that the handset - thought to be called the iPhone 8 - will feature wireless charging technology, removing the need for a physical cable.
Steve Rizzone, chief executive of Energous, has dropped heavy hints that his company will be providing wireless charging technology for Apple's next mobile device.
In an interview with The Verge, he revealed that Energous has signed a "key strategic partnership" with "one of the largest consumer electronic companies in the world".
Although Rizzone did not name the partner, it is widely suspected to be Apple.
"I cannot tell you who it is, but I can virtual guarantee that you have products from this company on your person, sitting on your desk, or at home," said Rizzone.
Until now, wireless charging has tended to rely on charging plates, meaning devices cannot be moved while powering up.
However, Energous's WattUp technology uses special power units placed strategically around the home or office to charge devices over–the–air from a distance of as much as 15 feet.
This potentially means that Apple's next generation of iPhones could be charging constantly while inside the building, without interrupting usage.
This is not the first time wireless charging has been rumoured as a feature for the iPhone 8 .
A report in Bloomberg last year claimed that Apple was working on "cutting edge" wireless technology that would allow future iPhones and iPads to be placed further away from charging mats than current smartphones.
The unnamed sources said Apple was working on overcoming "technical barriers including loss of power over distance," and that the technology will feature in iPhones coming out in 2017.
<>Following the removal of the headphone jack with the iPhone 7 in 2016, the addition of wireless charging could see Apple launch a smartphone with no ports or sockets at all in September.This would force all iPhone owners to use wireless headphones to listen to music or podcasts. The device would most likely come bundled with Apple's AirPod earphones.
Other rumours suggest that Apple's iPhone 8 will be made entirely from glass and come in three size options. At least one of these is thought to feature a curved OLED display , similar to Samsung's Galaxy S7 Edge, and boast 4K resolution.
Apple is also rumoured to be getting rid of the physical Home button and replacing it with a touch-sensitive digital button. Eye-scanning technology is also rumoured, as well as a dual-lens camera on all three models.
0 comments: