WSJ: iPhone 5 to Have New Charging Feature, Cheaper iPhone Coming with Edge to Edge Screen

Earlier today the Wall Street Journal’s well-informed Yukari Iwatani Kane reported Apple is preparing a new iPhone for the third quarter that will be ‘thinner and lighter’, with an estimated 25 million units shipped as part of target estimates (read here on how Apple masters its supply chain via its billions in cash).

As with most of her articles, there are always updates later in the day (as spotted by 9to5Mac), and this time around she noted the next iPhone will have a new way of charging, and also reiterated the former rumour of a cheaper iPhone with edge to edge screen.

People briefed on Apple’s plans said the company is planning a major iPhone revamp then, with one person saying the company has been experimenting with features such as a new way of charging the phone.

Apple has also been working on a less-expensive phone with new features such as an edge-to-edge screen, according to this person.

A new way of charging the phone? Innovative charging solutions have come from HP and their Touchstone, which offers wireless charging. What could Apple come up with to top wireless charging? The only thing I can think of is a solar-charging iPhone. We’ve reviewed solar-powered chargers before, but the technology still has lots to improve.

The first rumours about an ‘edge to edge’ screen were mentioned by This is My Next back in late April. That spawned a plethora of iPhone ‘Nano’ mockups. There have been rumours of a cheaper prepaid iPhone, as this is one segment of the market Apple has stayed away from thus far. Could that change in the next quarter?

[WSJ]