A rumor stemming from Taiwan’s DigiTimes says Apple plans to incorporate inductive / wireless charging in its iPhone lineup this year, though one source with equally reliable connections says otherwise.
The report from the Taiwanese trade publication notes that both Apple and Samsung are making forays into the technology, with Samsung using Qi wireless charging, and Apple employing a proprietary method.
Citing industry sources, the report says, “Following the steps of Nokia, LG Electronics and HTC, Samsung Electronics and Apple are expected to add wireless charging capability to their flagship models in 2013.”
“Samsung is expected to adopt Qi wireless charging technology run by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) for its next flagship model, the Galaxy S IV, the sources indicated,” it adds.
Sources speaking to 9to5Mac, however, say that’s not entirely the case. At least not in 2013, which is “an ‘S’ year for the iPhone,”
according to the site.
This reportedly implies minor design changes, and “the design changes to the aluminum shell to make wireless charging possible would need to be significant,” the site adds, meaning it’s highly improbable for the Cupertino giant to go down this road in 2013.
2014, however, is a different story. Most pundits agree that Apple will reserve the iPhone 6 for next year, as this year will see the introduction of the iPhone 5S as well as a potentially cheaper version of the handset.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said that Apple’s “cheap” iPhone is likely to employ
a “hybrid casing of fiberglass and plastic.”
Such an enclosure would, in fact, allow Apple to include wireless charging technology in this rumored low-cost iPhone.
However, it is unclear just how low-cost this device can be, considering all the premium features it is rumored to have.
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