Wireless Charging for the Next iPhone?

No More Plugging In Your iPhone?

Apple has recently joined the Wireless Power Consortium, a group dedicated to promoting a universal wireless charging standard. This move has added fuel to the rumors that the upcoming iPhone will be able to charge wirelessly. The consortium of over 200 organizations, including Apple, confirmed the news to CNNTech.

The anticipation around the new iPhone, rumored to be called the “iPhone 8,” is particularly high as it coincides with the 10-year anniversary of the smartphone. Each new version of the iPhone generates a lot of buzz and speculation before its official release.

Apple has already shown its interest in eliminating the need for cords. The Apple Watch, for instance, can charge wirelessly if users purchase a magnetic charging dock for $79. Additionally, the latest MacBook now comes with only one USB port, indicating Apple’s preference for wireless connectivity.

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By incorporating wireless charging into the next iPhone, Apple would create a new revenue stream by selling a separate wireless charging station. This feature would simplify the charging process, as users would only need to place their phones on the charging dock instead of plugging them in.

Apple stated on Monday that it joined the Wireless Power Consortium to contribute its ideas to the development of wireless charging standards.

Other rumored features of the next iPhone include an edge-to-edge display, a glass body, and the removal of the home button.

CNNMoney (Washington) First published February 13, 2017: 2:42 PM ET