Since 2008, the Qi standard for wireless charging has been in existence, allowing people to benefit from this technology for the past 15 years. It has generally proven to be reliable over time, except for a specific group of individuals who happen to possess both a BMW and an iPhone 15, in which case, it might be prudent to charge your sleek smartphone using conventional means.
Recent iPhone adopters online have voiced concerns about the charging pads in their BMW vehicles damaging the NFC chips inside their new gadgets, causing contactless payments, certain digital car keys, and other NFC-related features to malfunction.
According to MacRumors reports, users facing this issue have observed their iPhones exhibiting a white screen and entering recovery mode while charging. After rebooting, everything seems normal until attempting to use any NFC-dependent function.
Affected users will encounter an error message within the Wallet app stating “Could Not Set Up Apple Pay.” There seems to be no solution currently, although some customers mention that Apple replaced their defective devices subsequent to the error.
“My friend’s brand-new iPhone 15 Pro Max, bought from the local Apple Store last week, experienced this issue,” wrote an individual on the /r/BMW subreddit. “He returned to the store, and the Apple staff mentioned it was irreparable, resulting in a refund. The challenge arose when they did not have another iPhone 15 Pro Max in stock to offer him. They only managed to place an order with an estimated arrival in the first week of November.”
The MagSafe charging array inside of an iPhone. Apple
Even though Qi charging and NFC functions do not operate on the same frequency, both standards utilize a comparable method of data transfer, known as inductive coupling, allowing devices to wirelessly exchange data at close proximity.
NFC functions at a very low power frequency of 13.56 MHz, and while it could theoretically support charging, the charging capability is quite restricted due to the maximum negotiated charging rate being only 1 watt. Instead, NFC’s common usage revolved around data transfer, particularly in situations where proximity plays a vital role—such as Apple CarKey and Apple Pay contactless payments for iPhones.
On the opposite end, Qi stands as a dedicated charging standard, chiefly focusing on wirelessly transmitting power between a charger and the device minus the clutter of cables. Previous Apple devices operated at roughly 127.7 kHz, while the latest Apple devices compatible with receiving 15 watts of charge through the Qi2 standard work at 360 KHz.
Nonetheless, the manner in which the NFC radio is being damaged remains unclear. Both the Qi charging and NFC radios employ distinct antennas situated in different sections of the phone; presumably, the positioning of each antenna in the iPhone 15 remains consistent.
BMW has been an early adopter of Apple CarKey in the U.S., with CarKey leveraging NFC to authenticate a phone with a vehicle (unless the car supports CarKey over Ultra Wideband like the BMW Digital Key Plus). To enable BMW Digital Key, the iPhone must be positioned in the car’s wireless charging tray for communication with the vehicle—a process akin to how a phone must be in close proximity to a credit card reader for grocery payments.
The potential cause of the exhaustion might be an underlying issue with overheating, worsened by the wireless charging standard.
“The wireless charging pad in my G20 functions like an oven,” shared a user on Reddit. “It barely charges the phone but causes it to heat up significantly.”
Recent statements from Apple indicate that they have “identified specific circumstances that might cause an iPhone to run hotter than normal,” such as setting up the device for the first time with an iCloud backup. Apple has promised to address this issue in an upcoming software update, though it appears to be affecting only their latest smartphones. Additionally, certain popular apps (such as Instagram and Uber) have reportedly led to increased device temperatures.
BMW has stated to The Drive in an email that they are currently “investigating” the matter. Meanwhile, Apple reassures that the iPhone is designed to manage its power consumption and temperatures to prevent any long-term safety or performance risks. This is typically how these devices operate, a fact known all too well by anyone who has tried to use their iPhone on a hot summer day at the beach.
It is currently premature to assign blame to either company, but it is evident that the NFC capabilities of devices are currently malfunctioning. So if you happen to own both a BMW and an iPhone 15, perhaps it would be wise to avoid using the wireless charger and utilize the car key fob for now.
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