iPhone Qi Wireless Charging

[Debangor]

I have a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. It just BARELY fits in the space of the rubber mat on there. But, because it just barely fits means it can't move around at all so mine will stay charging even while driving. The biggest drawback is that its just slow. When wireless Android Auto, the phone still loses charge even while charging. It goes down much slower, but still loses charge.

I have an iPhone 12 Pro and it loses its charge while charging. It seems to keep the charge and even gain a little when it is plugged (usb C), but don’t like that it doesn’t seem to be charging wirelessly.

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[Debangor]

Can't say that I've known any built-in Qi chargers that worked very well, or were up to current supported wattage/speeds.

If you got a newer iPhone, you're better off getting a magsafe charger and even just plugging it into one of the USB ports up front. Would be fastest with a 20W 12V adapter, but then you'd have to run the cord into the armrest area.

I use an off-brand magsafe plugged into the front USB port, and it does pretty well for me.

My iPhone 12 Pro loses its charge while on the wireless charger. It seems to charge better using a USB C cable, but I plug it the back and run the cable between the passenger seat and console so it isn’t so visible.

 

[methorian]

My iPhone 12 Pro loses its charge while on the wireless charger. It seems to charge better using a USB C cable, but I plug it the back and run the cable between the passenger seat and console so it isn’t so visible.

Yea - this is why I use a magsafe charger plugged into the USB C port. It'll actually gain charge this way. Again - not as fast as wired, or with a 20W power supply for the magsafe, but better than the built-in Qi charger.

 

[Jeffvisor]

This is par for the course, unfortunately. I thought this was just a Ford problem, but my wife's new RAV4 Prime does the exact same thing with either of our phones on its Qi charger. Maybe Qi and the vibration while driving just don't mix? Do any cars have solid Qi charging while driving?

We had this issue with my wifes iPhone 12 Pro in a new Volvo XC-60 wireless charger. it would connect for a second then stop charging. Volvo fixed it with a dealer software update and now it works.

 

[Jeffvisor]

I just got the iPhone 13 Pro and put a clear case on it and it wireless charges in the Mach-e. Maybe they fixed something since the iPhone 12 came out in the new 13.

 

[JohnnyForensic]

My iPhone 12 Pro would start charging and then lose connection after a couple of minutes—without ever even leaving the garage. (So much for the “shimmies off the sweet spot theory….”)

I moved to a 13 Pro Max, and I’m using it caseless. When I put it on the charging pad, it starts charging and STAYS charging, regardless of how bumpy of a road I’m on. Even with CarPlay and GPS, I still end with more juice than I left with. Over the weekend, I drove about four hours, always in wireless CarPlay, and I never saw it break charging connectivity once.

 

[Davedough]

My iPhone 12 Pro would start charging and then lose connection after a couple of minutes—without ever even leaving the garage. (So much for the “shimmies off the sweet spot theory….)

I moved to a 13 Pro Max, and I’m using it caseless. When I put it on the charging pad, it starts charging and STAYS charging, regardless of how bumpy of a road I’m on. Even with CarPlay and GPS, I still end with more juice than I left with. Over the weekend, I drove about four hours, always in wireless CarPlay, and I never saw it break charging connectivity once.

Well I’ve been himming and hawing about whether or not to do the Verizon trade deal for my 12 Pro for a 13 Pro. This might solidify things for me

 

[JohnnyForensic]

Well I’ve been himming and hawing about whether or not to do the Verizon trade deal for my 12 Pro for a 13 Pro. This might solidify things for me

Honestly, I’m still wondering how much “caseless” is coming into play here. The rubber pad over the Qi charger is pretty thick, and cases have varying degrees of thickness, too. I didn’t try the 12 Pro caseless because my case was a press-on type, but it was very thin…not going to get a lot thinner unless it’s just a decal…so I don’t know. I just do know that the 13 Pro Max without a case fits into the charging area snugly (though the extended camera bump makes it pitch up in that direction slightly), and I can have it facing either direction (port toward me, port toward dash) and it has been charging fine.

I still have the 12 Pro case, come to think of it. It won’t fit correctly, but it would fit “enough” that I might be able to see if that was the issue.

 

[JohnnyForensic]

Honestly, I’m still wondering how much “caseless” is coming into play here. The rubber pad over the Qi charger is pretty thick, and cases have varying degrees of thickness, too. I didn’t try the 12 Pro caseless because my case was a press-on type, but it was very thin…not going to get a lot thinner unless it’s just a decal…so I don’t know. I just do know that the 13 Pro Max without a case fits into the charging area snugly (though the extended camera bump makes it pitch up in that direction slightly), and I can have it facing either direction (port toward me, port toward dash) and it has been charging fine.

I still have the 12 Pro case, come to think of it. It won’t fit correctly, but it would fit “enough” that I might be able to see if that was the issue.

Update:

I slapped the old 12 Pro case on the 13 Pro Max, put it in the car, and let it run for about 10 minutes. It didn’t lose charging, and the 12 would have for sure by then.

So, maybe it’s just the 13 Pro Max. Maybe the 13 Pro too, but can’t confirm or deny. I just know the 13 Pro Max is holding charging for me.

 

[Davedough]

Update:

I slapped the old 12 Pro case on the 13 Pro Max, put it in the car, and let it run for about 10 minutes. It didn’t lose charging, and the 12 would have for sure by then.

So, maybe it’s just the 13 Pro Max. Maybe the 13 Pro too, but can’t confirm or deny. I just know the 13 Pro Max is holding charging for me.

Well I'll just motor my way up to Verizon then.

...wait, I don't have a car.... and I sold my other one. Guess I'll wait until my wife gets home

 

[methorian]

Well I'll just motor my way up to Verizon then.

...wait, I don't have a car.... and I sold my other one. Guess I'll wait until my wife gets home

Not so sure you'd find a 13 in-stock right now either. Pretty sure they're backordered with Verizon for a few weeks, best to check the website first before heading out!

 

[JohnnyForensic]

Well I'll just motor my way up to Verizon then.

...wait, I don't have a car.... and I sold my other one. Guess I'll wait until my wife gets home

Also one thing to note…if you use an Apple Watch, the 13 broke some connectivity to the watch in certain apps—most notably the ability to automatically unlock if you have a mask on but have your watch on and unlocked, AND the new FordPass remote control. So, just something to know.

Apple’s working on a fix. Will come pretty quickly with as many people pissed about the masked unlocking not working.

 

[Davedough]

Also one thing to note…if you use an Apple Watch, the 13 broke some connectivity to the watch in certain apps—most notably the ability to automatically unlock if you have a mask on but have your watch on and unlocked, AND the new FordPass remote control. So, just something to know.

Apple’s working on a fix. Will come pretty quickly with as many people pissed about the masked unlocking not working.

You know what’s weird about that is iOS 15 made my watch act funky too. Randomly my phone will lose association with my watch and I have to reboot it. I wonder if it’s more 15 related than the new phone

 

[macchiaz-o]

Another update: So the iPhone 12 Pro will not consistently charge for more than 30-60 seconds on the wireless charging pad even without a case. I tried an iPhone XR and that one works fine even with a case on. I decided to do another experiment. I took off the rubber pad that covers the wireless charging pad and placed the iPhone 12 Pro directly on the charging pad (with case on). I assumed it would slide around too much and lose connection but instead it maintained connection through the whole ride which was about an hour. It looks like something about Fords rubber pad is causing the problem but only with this one phone model. Maybe it's too thick?

At least that gives me an option now. If I want to use the wireless charger just pull off the rubber pad for the time being

iPhone XR is Qi compatible. iPhone 12 Pro is not. I don't see iPhone 13 listed, either, but as others claim to have better success with it, perhaps Apple decided to quietly return to standards?

See this post (from prior page in this discussion) and visit the link that Ford provided for verification.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/iphone-qi-wireless-charging.4458/post-180170

 

[MachGeo]

iPhone XR is Qi compatible. iPhone 12 Pro is not. I don't see iPhone 13 listed, either, but as others claim to have better success with it, perhaps Apple decided to quietly return to standards?

See this post (from prior page in this discussion) and visit the link that Ford provided for verification.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/iphone-qi-wireless-charging.4458/post-180170

That is very false. All 12 & 13 models are Qi compatible.

Yea - this is why I use a magsafe charger plugged into the USB C port. It'll actually gain charge this way. Again - not as fast as wired, or with a 20W power supply for the magsafe, but better than the built-in Qi charger.

Since I've yet to be inside a Mach E yet but have one on the way...mind showing a picture of what it looks like with the MagSafe setup? Do you have it fasten to anything in the car? This is something I may consider doing as well.

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