26 Aug

iPhone 7 Charging –  What's new?

Why Apple won’t make the change to wireless charging, and what innovative charging methods they’ll have next. So what’s the latest in technology, and will we see it in the iPhone 7? Well, there’s wireless charging made possible through QI technology, even Ikea are making furniture with built in wireless charging docks! Pretty much every Android smartphone since as early as 2013 have QI technology on-­board. But it’s unlikely we will see QI technology in the new Apple iPhone 7. This is due to the fact that Apple have the rights to the Lightning technology, and for every third-­party lightning cable sold (with MFI approval), Apple earn a royalty. Ever wondered why your MFI approved lightning cable has a higher price tag than a standard micro-­USB to USB cable? That’s due to the MFI approval fee that Apple charge third-­party resellers.

If you’ve bought a super cheap lightning cable and have read a pop up message on your screen saying something along the lines of ‘this cable is not supported by Apple and is a non ­certified cable’, you have been victim of a company selling you a non MFI approved cable, and at some point in the near future, you’ll probably have to go out and buy a new certified cable. It’s even been rumoured that Apple could include regulations in their new updates that will stop your non MFI approved cable from working!

So no, unfortunately, the new iPhone 7 won’t be compatible with wireless charging. In fact, not much will change at all with how the iPhone 7 charges compared to the iPhone 6s/6. For now, we’ll have to be content with the 'lighning charged' iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, launching in September, and the continued use of lightning cables for charge and sync!