Roger Fingas
Apple is indeed planning to remove the headphone jack from next-generation iPhones, but will "very likely" be adding features like wireless charging and a waterproof chassis, a new report claimed on Thursday.
The company is collaborating with its usual audio chip supplier, Cirrus Logic, to adapt technology for use with the iPhone's Lightning port, a source told Fast Company. The phone will also allegedly employ new noise-canceling technology from Wolfson Microelectronics, a firm bought by Cirrus in 2014.
Software for the cancelation feature will reportedly be included in headphones as well as the iPhone itself. Third parties wanting to make supporting headphones will have to pay for a license.
The source suggests that people wanting Apple-made noise-canceling headphones won't get them out of the box, but will probably have to buy them separately, possibly from the company's Beats division.
Sacrificing the headphone jack will allow Apple to make the new iPhone even thinner, the person said.
As for wireless charging, Apple allegedly considered the feature for two previous iPhones, but may now be finally ready to implement it. The source didn't say whether Apple would conform to industry standards — which would allow people to use existing chargers — or force people to buy into a new proprietary format.
Apple could potentially pull either wireless charging or waterproofing out of the final design, the source cautioned, adding that it will be months before the new iPhone enters production.
The report appears to back recent rumors while also expanding on them with word of wireless charging and native noise cancellation. Wireless charging is a common feature on many high-end Android phones, but Apple has so far stayed out of the space for reasons unknown.
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58 Comments
Apple will advertise it as "water resistant". I highly doubt it will have wireless charging. Only a handful of phones have it now. iPhone won't have it until other phones have next generation of wireless charging.
The feature I really want to see is smaller top and bottom bezel's.
Could care less about water resistance and wireless charging.
More nonsense about making the phone thinner. Hey media get a clue. There are existing phones plus iPod touch that are thinner than the iPhone 6/S but still use the headphone jack.
If it is included at all, of course the wireless charging will be proprietary. And it will be better than what's out there now.
The features I want are a front flash/movie light so I can Facetime in a dark setting, an optical zoom lens, and a password protected power-off switch - paired with a SIM lock and remote photo taking - so I can find the bastard who just stole my phone.
This "report" looks like it is prepared by a fan, who has analyzed Apple's suppliers and purchases, and no by a professional analysts. Anyway, it is ok.