iPhone 6 Wireless Charging More Probable, Despite iPhone 5S Rumors

Despite claims that the iPhone 5S will feature wireless charging Apple fans will likely need to wait for the iPhone 6 for the convenience of wirelessly charging the iPhone without a case.

A new DigiTimes report claims that the Apple is working on integrating wireless charging, alongside HTC and Samsung. The report claims these companies are looking to integrate wireless charging into their flagship smartphones for 2013.

HTC just launched the flagship HTC One, which does not feature wireless charging. The Samsung Galaxy S4 launches next week, and will likely feature Qi wireless charging.

Apple’s next flagship is almost certainly the iPhone 5S, which could arrive between July and August according to recent rumors. The iPhone 5S will likely be a minimal upgrade to the iPhone line, much like the other S upgrades, and as 9to5Mac observes, it’s not likely that Apple can add wireless charging without a larger redesign. A redesign that would dictate a large feature-set change and a bump to the iPhone 6 name.

The iPhone 5S may feature a fingerprint reader beneath the home button, according to multiple sources, and will likely arrive with an improved camera, faster processor and rumors of anodized color options; but with all these new features it would be a big surprise to see a redesign. Recent reports claim the iPhone 5S is already in production and that the iPhone 5S release could take place in July or August.

DigiTimes provides an out in the report, as sources say, “it remains unknown if the next-generation iPhone will come with built-in wireless charging capability or with other attached accessories.”

Availability of iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S wireless charging accessories is a given in 2013. iPhone wireless charging cases and kits are not new, and now that manufacturers are working with the Apple Lightning connector we expect the first iPhone 5 wireless charging case this spring. If the iPhone 5S keeps the same design, the accessory should fit the newer iPhone.

If Apple plans to include wireless charging in the iPhone, expect a wait until the iPhone 6. While early reports suggested the iPhone 6 could launch late in 2013, it is more plausibly set for a 2014 launch. Apple’s track record indicates that the iPhone 6, or the next, next iPhone, will come with a redesign. The redesign would allow Apple to include new features such as wireless charging, and possibly a larger screen option.

Little is known about the iPhone 6, but that hasn’t stopped iPhone 6 concepts from imagining an iPhone 6 with a Galaxy Note 2 sized display or an iPhone 6 with no home button and a 4.8-inch display.

The prevalence of wireless charging is increasing in smartphones like the HTC Droid DNA, Nokia Lumia 920 and the LG Nexus 4. We expect the Samsung Galaxy S4 will feature wireless charging or an option for a wireless charging back and Qi compatible plate. From a third-party standpoint, we also expect to see more QI compatible chargers available to consumers and even wireless charging built into cars this year and into 2014.

It may take Apple to bring wireless charging to the masses, and if that’s the case consumers may benefit from Apple’s wait-and-see strategy. While Qi wireless charging is an industry standard we discovered that not all Qi chargers will charge all Qi phones. Apple owns several patents on wireless charging, but if the Qi standard develops better this year the company could choose to use a standard and not a proprietary method of wireless charging.