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iPhone 8 to Feature Wireless Charging and Waterproofing, CEO of Apple Manufacturer Wistron 'Confirms'

iPhone 8 to Feature Wireless Charging and Waterproofing, CEO of Apple Manufacturer Wistron 'Confirms'

By Tasneem Akolawala | Updated: 15 June 2017 14:55 IST

Highlights

Wistron is an Apple manufacturer with a unit in India
CEO confirms that upcoming iPhone models will sport wireless charging
He also provided an update on iPhone manufacturing in India

Apple’s iPhone 8 is the most anticipated smartphone of the year, and the device has previously been rumoured to come with new AR features, OLED panel, a fast A11 chip, and wireless charging. Now CEO of an Apple manufacturer has all but confirmed the presence of waterproofing and wireless charging in Apple phones coming later this.

Wistron manufactures iPhones, just like Pegatron and Foxconn, albeit in small quantities. Nikkei Asian Review reports that Wistron CEO Robert Hwang has confirmed wireless charging and waterproofing will be included in this year’s iPhone models. "Assembly process for the previous generations of [iPhones] have not changed much, though new features like waterproof and wireless charging now require some different testing, and waterproof function will alter the assembly process a bit," Hwang reportedly told reporters after the company's annual shareholders' meeting.

This is not the first time the iPhone 8 has been tipped to feature wireless charging and enhanced waterproofing capabilities. However, it is still unclear whether Apple will adopt the industry standard of Qi wireless charging, or will introduce a new innovative long-range charging that has been rumoured a couple of times in the past. There’s a recent patent that tips Apple is experimenting with wireless charging technologies that could see you charge your iPhone with a Wi-Fi router.

Hwang also gave an update about the Wistron facility in India that recently starting producing the iPhone SE. Hwang says that though the company makes only "a small number" of handsets in India right now, he expects Wistron's overall smartphone business in the country to break even next year. He added that the growth of manufacturing in India will depend on the negotiations between Apple and the Indian government, but is bullish on the country. "We are being very aggressive in expanding our presence in India in addition to smartphone business," he reportedly told reporters.

Purported leaked iPhone 8 renders suggest that the smartphone will sport a bezel-less display with the fingerprint scanner embedded underneath, a vertical dual camera setup, a glass back, and an elongated power button. While some reports had suggested hiccups in production could cause a delay in launch, others insist that Apple will launch the iPhone 8 in September as per tradition.

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