Apple’s iPhone 8 May Have Wireless Charging

Apple looks set to unveil the most radical redesign of its flagship device for the iPhone’s 10th anniversary in 2017. The longstanding rumor that the iPhone 8 will come with a curved OLED display was more or less confirmed earlier this week, and now a new report suggests that it will also come with wireless charging.

Hon Hai Precision Industry, better known as Foxconn Technology Group, is said to be making wireless charging modules to go with the iPhone 8, according to an industry source familiar with the matter. The source told Nikkei that although Foxconn is definitely working on the technology, “whether the feature can eventually make it into Apple’s updated devices will depend on whether Foxconn can boost the yield rate to a satisfactory level later on.”

Yield rate measures the number of satisfactory units in a batch of components. If the yield rate is low, then its production could be deemed to be too unprofitable and won’t make it to market.

It’s not known whether Apple’s system will offer a wireless charging plate like the ones Samsung made for its Galaxy S smartphones, but a patent application filed by Apple showed images of a round charging device with a concave top, similar to the one used by the Apple Watch.

Following its first annual revenue decline since 2001, Apple will be hoping wireless charging and other new features could rejuvenate its image and boost sales during its 10th anniversary year. For now, the new model has been widely dubbed iPhone 8, although Apple may choose to name it differently given the special occasion.

Here’s some of the latest rumors surrounding the iPhone 8, and here’s why you should wait for it instead of buying the iPhone 7.