Everyone’s favourite Apple analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities, has come out with a new prediction regarding the upcoming iPhone 8, and it’s a big one.
Kuo, who has a strong track record in predictions concerning Apple and Apple devices, has stated that he believes the 2017 iPhone 8 will be the first iPhone ever to support wireless charging. According to Kuo’s note, first acquired by MacRumors, consumers will be using a similar charging setup to that of the Apple Watch.
Currently, there are a handful of Android smartphones that support wireless charging with either a plastic of metal chassis, but if Kuo is correct in his predictions, the 2017 iPhone will switch to an all-glass casing that would allow the device to charge at fast speeds with minimum frequency interference.
However, Kuo also says that Apple will likely not bundle a wireless charger into every model, instead keeping the tech for the more expensive, higher-end iPhone models. He does, however, expect the company to fully adopt the tech by 2018.
Nothing is concrete at this point, but users who purchase lower end models may end up needing to purchase a separate accessory in order to charge their iPhone wirelessly in the future.
Beyond the wireless charging feature, Kuo also predicts that the phone will come in two sizes, 4.7 and 5.5-inches. There have also been constant rumors about OLED displays, though recent reports suggest that supply chain restrictions may limit that to just the larger phone.
The analyst forecasts Apple next year could see 120-150 million iPhone sales when new models launch, beating records set by the iPhone 6, as customers continue to upgrade from older devices to the new ‘iPhone 8’.
We have a long time to go until the iPhone 8, which will likely release next fall, assuming Apple maintains its normal pattern of yearly releases.
