iPhone 8 Said To Feature Smart Connector For Wireless Charging And AR/VR Accessories

A new rumor is circulating that has Apple ready to announce the iPhone 8 with a new Smart Connector on board, allowing for wireless charging and connectivity to new AR/VR accessories.

The rumor, which is obviously unconfirmed at this point, comes via Isreali blog The Verifier.

This is not the first time that an iPhone has been rumored to have a Smart Connector built in. Before the launch of the 2016 iPhone, an iPhone 7 Plus leak cropped up which showed versions of the device with the connector built in.

This obviously did not come to fruition and the smartphone shipped with a Lightning connector alone, but it is clear at this stage that Apple has at least pondered the inclusion of such a connector in the past. So far, however, the Smart Connector has remained an iPad-only affair.

As for wireless charging, rumors tying Apple’s next big iPhone release with some form of wireless charging capabilities have been bubbling along nicely for months now. While talk of a Smart Connector has been minimal, such an interface would certainly provide a conduit through which power could be sent although it is unclear whether the connector is designed for the kinds of power draw needed in order to charge an iPhone with a large battery without it taking 12 hours to do so.

The Verifier also reports that Apple’s inclusion of the Smart Connector on the iPhone 8 would also prove of use for augmented and virtual reality applications and accessories, while it also notes that the Apple TV and AirPlay will play roles in Apple’s upcoming work in those fields. What that may mean is anyone’s guess, but it sure has is interested.

Apple has been rumored to have plans for AR and VR for a good while now, and we expect the iPhone 8 to show at least some signs of that being the case.

(source: The Verifier [Google Translate] | Top image: iPhone 8 concept by Computer Bild)

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