After the iPhone 8 and X launched with a 5W maximum for wireless charging, Apple upped that to 7.5W shortly after with the release of iOS 11.2. However, a new report today claims that a change in the wireless charging coil in a least one of the 2018 iPhones will allow Apple to move toward 15W.
The main trade-off right now for using wireless charging with an iPhone 8 or X is speed. While there’s definitely the convenience factor for not having to fiddle with a Lightning cable, sometimes that might not outweigh the ability to juice up quickly.
Notably, Samsung supports 15W fast wireless charging with its newer smartphones, and a report from China Times today says that Apple will bring a new wireless charging coil to its 2018 lineup to move beyond the current 7.5W limit.
The iPhone 8/8 Plus and X use a flexible printed circuit (FPC) for the wireless charger coil. One of the main benefits is that FPC coils are thin and light, but the downsides include less than ideal efficiency and being susceptible to overheating. The report notes that due to FPC inefficiencies, 7.5W wireless charging with iPhone is often slower than 5W wired charging.
To offer faster 10W or 15W wireless charging, Apple is said to be using a copper wire coil for at least one of its new iPhones. Compared to FPC, a copper coil offers both greater efficiency and power capability. However, the con to workaround with a copper coil is that they are thicker than a flexible printed circuit.
How about you, are you looking forward to faster wireless charging speeds? Would it be a factor in which iPhone you choose if it’s not available on the whole 2018 lineup? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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