Well-known Apple watcher Ming-chi Kuo reported this week that all three 2017 iPhone models to be released will feature wireless charging right out of the box. But a new report is claiming that support for the same specifications will be optional for the iPhone 8, and the same goes for headphone jack and USB-C.
Picking up on the latest information shared by Japanese blog Mac Otakara, iDownloadBlog.com reported that unlike the iPhone 7 of last year Apple will not bundle a 3.5mm audio jack adapter and a Lightning to USB-C cable with the 2017 iPhone refresh. The report also stated that while all new iPhones will have wireless charging capability, accessories for the feature will not be found inside the box.
In other words, users wanting to take advantage of the convenient feature will have to spend additional cash as the wireless charger accessory will be offered as a separate purchase. It's unclear if the plan will apply for all iPhone flavors that Apple intends to serve this 2017.
But the same report reiterated the earlier forecast issued by Kuo that apart from the 5.8-inch iPhone 8, which will boast of an OLED wraparound display with an all-screen and all-glass profile, Apple will make available two more builds that will serve as sequels to the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.
As expected, the iterations will be known as iPhone 7S and 7S Plus and will sport the same 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch form factors of their immediate predecessors. Rumors say that unlike the iPhone 8, which will boast of a mostly glass build with metal chassis, the 7S series will retain the industrial design that Apple first introduced with the iPhone 6 in 2014.
Kuo, however, is convinced that all the new iPhones will have glass casing, which will be crucial in implementing the wireless charging feature for the three models. In a report, Business Insider said that with the introduction of wireless charging Apple is currently dealing with the problem of possible overheating.
"The thermal system becomes less efficient with glass casing, as compared to metal casing used previously. Furthermore, wireless charging increases handset temperature," the analyst was quoted by the report as saying.
Kuo likewise predicted that while the 7S and 7S Plus will sell with the usual introductory prices employed by Apple in recent years, the iPhone 8 on release date this 2017 will cost no less than $1000 per unit, mostly due to the curved OLED display and enhanced 3D Touch sensor.