iPhone 5S Specs Rumors: Wireless Charging To Come in 2013 (Or Not?); Samsung Also Likely to Adopt Wireless Charging Technology

(Photo : REUTERS/Lucas Jackson) An Apple iPhone 5 phone is displayed in the Apple Store on 5th Avenue in New York, September 21, 2012. 

The next generation of the iPhone could feature wireless charging capabilities if reports are true.

According to DigiTimes, Apple and even Samsung are expected to follow the footsteps of HTC, LG Electronics, and Nokia in having their flagship smartphones carry wireless charging.

An industry source stated Samsung is expected to adopt Qi wireless charging courtesy of the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) for the Galaxy S4. The next generation Samsung smartphone, however, might require owners to purchase a back cover to initiate charging.

As for Apple, the Cupertino-based organization is likely to create their own wireless charging mechanism. At the moment, it is unknown if the next iPhone smartphone will feature the wireless charging built-in or if it'll be part of an accessory.

The source added that Samsung, unlike Apple, is a member of the WPC with HTC, LG Electronics, and Nokia, therefore giving the South Korean-based company an advantage with mainstream Main Street.

"Samsung's adoption of the Qi standards may drive the technology to become mainstream for smartphones, outperforming those promoted by the Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) and Power Matters Alliance (PMA)," reported DigiTimes.

But wait, there's more. Website 9to5Mac has gone on record stating that it's not likely that Apple will include wireless charging on the next iPhone. Either way, until Apple comes 

The latest rumor of the next iPhone comes as a Japanese report stated the next Apple smartphone is starting production.

The main manufacturing company for the iPhone - Foxconn - is reportedly producing the iPhone 5S and there might not be any trouble in constructing the smartphone.

"It seems that most production-process alterations cannot be found so that it may be produced with the same line as iPhone 5," stated the Japanese blog Macotakara.

The iPhone 5S is speculated to be released in June or July this year.