It apparently affects some Toyota Supras too.

Apple says BMW wireless chargers really are messing with iPhone 15s::An Apple memo to authorized repair providers reportedly says BMW and Toyota Supra wireless chargers can disable iPhone 15 NFC chips.

  • danielfgomEnglish
    -9•1 year ago

    Let’s get something clear: a wireless charger CANNOT disable an NFC chip. They are two VASTLY DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES.

    A wireless charger is nothing more than a wire coil hooked up to electricity. That’s it. No smarts involved.

    BMW must likely have an NFC chip also mounted in the same place which for some reason is disabling the NFC on the iPhone.

    Maybe it’s trying to take a reading off the chip but after a while the iPhone disables the NFC because it doesn’t recognise the request? Or maybe Apple haven’t properly programmed properly? Who knows?

    • @haydng@lemmy.nzEnglish
      14•1 year ago

      Disagree.

      They can’t do it through software, but a wireless charger is inducing a current in a coil. NFC chips often use a coil antennal, and inducing a current in that could well trip a protective device, like a resettable fuse. It could be limited to these devices because of a particular resonance or harmonic they share

      • danielfgomEnglish
        1•1 year ago

        It’s still VERY odd. Virtually every phone that has NFC and wireless charging have the 2 very close to each other. The charging coil is normally in the middle of the phone and the NFC a little above it.

        If there was a real chance that the NFC could EASILY be affected by a wireless charger, the engineers would not place the 2 so close together.

        Clearly something is up with Apple or BMW has got something else going on in there.

        Hopefully we’ll find out.

        Not that I care, I use Android and it works properly.