Analysts predict that the US and Chinese smartphone markets are saturating and Apple would witness its first yearly decline in iPhone sales this year. But the Cupertino company is working relentlessly to introduce innovative technologies in its next-gen iPhones to boost sales. Sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that the company was working with its partners to develop a new long-range wireless charging technology.
The tech to be ready in time for iPhone 7S
The technology is not going to make it to this year’s iPhone 7. It is more likely to be incorporated in the next year’s iPhone 7S. Sources told Bloomberg that the technology could be deployed on iPhones as soon as next year. Several companies including Samsung, Sony and Google offer smartphones with wireless charging capabilities. But a big problem with existing technologies is that they require the phone to be in contact with a charging plate.
The power transfer efficiency declines as the distance between the transmitter and receiver increases. Apple’s new technology could allow you to charge your phone from a distance of at least three feet. The iPhone maker has already patented a method for making aluminum casings that allow radio waves to pass through, minimizing the impact of metal interference with transmitted signals.
iPhone 7S may solve this problem
Apple will reportedly ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack in the iPhone 7 to make it slimmer, forcing consumers to use Lightning port-compatible headphones. It had many customers worried because they would not be able to charge the phone and use the Lightning headphone at the same time. Wireless charging in the iPhone 7S could solve that problem. Apple is also expected to make a switch from LCD panels to OLED displays with the iPhone 7S.
Separately, an Apple audio supplier called Cirrus Logic indicated on Thursday that the upcoming iPhone 7 will come with noise-cancelling headphones. Notably, iPhones with noise-cancelling headphones have been rumored for months.
