If the rumor mill is to be believed, the iPhone 8 is only about two weeks away. It is expected to bring the biggest design overhaul in Apple’s smartphone lineup in years. The device is said to have some exciting new features including wireless charging. The iPhone 8 was previously rumored to feature Energous’ long-distance wireless charging technology, though more recent rumors point to inductive charging. A new report coming out of Japan suggests that the iPhone 8 wireless charging feature might end up disappointing a lot of fans.
iPhone 8 wireless charging feature would be ridiculously slow
Consumers are eagerly awaiting Apple’s 10th anniversary iPhone. Earlier this year, the Cupertino company joined the Wireless Charging Consortium, which sparked speculations that the iPhone 8 would launch with Qi charging technology. Now Japanese blog Mac Otakara reports that the iPhone 8 wireless charging feature will be limited to 7.5W. In contrast, the latest Qi 1.2 standards support up to 15W.
If it turns out to be true, the iPhone 8 will charge only half as fast as its Android counterparts, which may turn off many potential buyers. Though it would be based on Qi, the technology will be tweaked so that the iPhone 8 supports only Apple’s charging pads or those that adhere to its Made for iPhone (Mfi) program. It means third-party accessories makers will have to make some payments to Apple.
Android heavyweights like Samsung and LG Electronics use the Qi charging standard on their flagship smartphones. The Qi charging speed is already slower than wired charging. Providing only half as much power as the Qi standard will make the iPhone 8 ridiculously slow to charge wirelessly. If it’s any comfort, the iPhone 8 wireless charging feature will be better than the 5W charger.
Minting more money or protecting the ecosystem?
Mac Otakara has been fairly accurate in the past. The publication claims a vast majority of third-party chargers will not work with the next-gen iPhone. Users will have to buy an Apple-branded charger or the one certified under its Made for iPhone (Mfi) program. It also means that majority of wireless charging spots available in public places will not work with the iPhone 8.
We wouldn’t be surprised if the iPhone 8 wireless charging feature indeed turns out to be different from others. The Cupertino company has always done things its own way, whether you love it or hate it. Just look at the Lightning port. Also, the Apple Watch works only with an Apple charger, even though it’s based on Qi charging technology. You can’t buy the Chinese chargers.
iPhone 8 parts leaked
Separately, concept designer and tipster Benjamin Geskin posted photos of what appears to be the iPhone 8’s L-shaped motherboard and the edge-to-edge OLED display panel. The leaked photo of the motherboard confirms previous rumors that Apple had opted for a stacked board design to pack a bigger battery. The photo does not show any chips on the board.
#iPhone8 PCB
(One of the 2 layers) pic.twitter.com/VAYhzQnMuS
— Ben Geskin (@BenGeskin) August 26, 2017
In another tweet, Geskin revealed that the iPhone 8 display assembly was selling for as much as $5,000 on the black market in China. It is unclear who was spending such a huge amount to buy them: individual iPhone fans or Chinese companies looking to replicate the iPhone 8 design. There is no way to verify the authenticity of either component.
#iPhone8 Displays
At the moment, the price of these displays is US$5000 on the Chinese black market.
(via https://t.co/5NIfQH97FV) pic.twitter.com/zFMSWsyPAR
— Ben Geskin (@BenGeskin) August 26, 2017
The most anticipated smartphone of the year
The 10th anniversary iPhone will have many innovative features including the 3D facial recognition that will allow you to unlock the device and authenticate payments using your face. It is also said to have a new SmartCam feature, which would optimize the camera settings based the scene to capture the best shot. It will have no physical home button because the screen would cover the entire front panel, though there will be a virtual home button.
The iPhone 8 is said to have a 5.8-inch OLED display. There will be a vertically oriented dual camera system on the back. The anniversary model will also have special sensors on the front and back to support augmented reality applications, which would be one of the biggest highlights of the iPhone 8. According to a recent leak, the iPhone 8 will be available in 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options.
The device is rumored to pack 3GB RAM, an A11 chipset, and improved waterproofing capabilities. Apple will also launch a 4.7-inch iPhone 7S and 5.5-inch iPhone 7S Plus with the iPhone 8 next month. However, the other two devices will look similar to the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. We are also likely to see a new Apple TV and the third-generation Apple Watch at the same event.
Though Apple is yet to officially send out press invites, sources familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal that the iPhone 8 will be unveiled on September 12th. It is expected to hit the store shelves on September 22nd. If the rumor mill is to be believed, the iPhone 8 will be the most expensive Apple smartphone till date. It would have a starting price of $999. The most expensive model could cost as much as $1,200.
