A report from DigiTimes states that industry sources have said Apple is going to use a “wireless charging technology developed internally” to allow the iPhone 5S and future iPads to forgo charging cables.
Except, the rumours may not hold much water, according to 9to5Mac.
Apple has a “tick-tock” system for iPhone releases, with the iPhone 4 being followed by the 4S, followed by the 5, which is expected to be followed by the 5S.
Each “S” update doesn’t introduce radical changes – like the iPhone 4’s redesign, or the 5’s 4-inch display – which would suggest that Apple won’t introduce something like wireless charging into an “S” update. The current rumours indicate that the iPhone will receive a more powerful ARM chip, better cameras and possibly a finger-print scanner.
Apple has, of course, patented wireless charging technology, but that doesn’t mean it’s coming.
Less than five months ago, Phil Schiller, one of Apple’s most senior and influential executives, downplayed the role of wireless charging in the next iPhone:
As for wireless charging, Schiller notes that the wireless charging systems still have to be plugged into the wall, so it’s not clear how much convenience they add. The widely-adopted USB cord, meanwhile, can charge in wall outlets, computers and even on airplanes, he said.