Published on 05/27/2008
Could Apple actually release a solar-powered iPhone sometime down the road? The chance is definitely there after discovering Apple having filed for a patent that will see the use of solar power in their mobile devices, be it portable media players or the iPhone. The advantages are obvious as there is enormous potential to see significant gains in the battery life, but integrating solar panels into such tiny devices isn't as easy as it sounds. Apple plans to place these solar panels behind the actual LCD display though, which could be a practical and doable solution that might catch on with other handset manufacturers in the future as well. Still, it will take a fair bit of time before a solar-powered iPhone hits the market.