If you're planning on upgrading to the next version of the iPhone this year, you may have to get used to another big change.

A new leak suggests the highly anticipated gadget may drop the traditional charging cable in favour of wireless charging capabilities.

Apple made the bold decision to remove the 3.5mm headphone jack for the iPhone 7 and dropping the charging cable completely could cause an additional headache.

Especially since customers would need to invest in a wireless charging pad that may be sold separately.

Pictures of these charging pads have been circulating on Chinese social media site Weibo.

(
Image:
ZEALER/WEIBO)
(
Image:
ZEALER/WEIBO)

Although the charging pads appear to have been developed for the iPhone 8 , there is a suggestion they will work with the iPhone 7s and 7s Plus as well. All three phones are expected to be revealed by Apple at an event in September.

Other phones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S8, already include wireless charging technology, but so far the technology has failed to go mainstream.

A report in Bloomberg last year claimed that Apple was working on "cutting edge" wireless technology that would allow future iPhones and iPads to be placed further away from charging mats than current smartphones.

No more charging cables? (
Image:
Getty)

The unnamed sources said Apple was working on overcoming "technical barriers including loss of power over distance," and that the technology will feature in iPhones coming out in 2017.

However, many punters might not like the idea of having all their charging cables rendered obsolete if and when they decide to upgrade their phone. Only time will tell.