A new report confirms what have long been rumored that the iPhone 8 and other iPhone models in the near future will be equipped with wireless charging capabilities. The new iPhone models will supposedly be waterproof as well.
Tom's Guide cited a reported by "Nikkei Asian Review" released on Wednesday which said that Wistron, a Taiwanese company, has confirmed that the upcoming 5.5-inch iPhone model will come with wireless charging and will be waterproof. Wistron happens to be one of the companies that Apple has trusted to assemble its iPhones. Wistron CEO Robert Hwang explained during the company's annual shareholders' meeting that the assembly process for previous iPhone generations has not changed much, "though new features like waterproof and wireless charging now require some different testing." He also said that it is necessary to slightly change the assembly process to accommodate the new waterproof function.
Apple has already introduced waterproofing with its iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus having an IP67 rating which means they are already dustproof, waterproof and splash-proof. Hwang is probably saying that the next iPhones will have an improved IP68 rating.
Based on Hwang's pronouncements, it is likely that the iPhone 8 or iPhone X will have the wireless charging feature since it will be Apple's high-end flagship iPhone. Though it is also possible that Hwang was describing the iPhone 7s Plus. According to MacRumors, Wistron will be splitting the orders for the 5.5-inch iPhone with another company. This bit of news, which comes from Jeff Pu of Yuanta Investment Consulting and Fubon Securities' Arthur Liao, may indicate that Wistron is working on either the iPhone 8 or the iPhone 7s Plus, both high-end handsets.
Apple is reportedly working on three iPhones rumored to be the iPhone 7s, iPhone 7s Plus and the iPhone 8. Aside from the 5.5-inch variant, the other two iPhones will measure 4.7 inches. One version of the 4.7-inch model will allegedly sport a flat display while the other will come with a curved screen.