Apple Admits to BMW Wireless Charging Issue With iPhone 15 Lineup, Promises Fix Later This Year

[DoctorMesmer]

Wonder why it's limited to BMW and Supra models. What's with their chargers?

The annoying thing is that even if they are out-of-spec Apple has to fix it, because the problem is whacking Apple's phones.

Edit: looks like the trolls are up late.

BMW chargers being out of spec seems to be the likeliest explanation; however, it’s also possible that Apple is at fault here, by not following its own specs or by those specs being incomplete or containing vulnerabilities.

Still, ”When the president does it, that means it is not illegal.”

 

[kid1230]

you would think these things are tested prior

 

[Reverend Benny]

you would think these things are tested prior

I think its a bit much asking Apple test if their phone work in every car model that has a QI charger.

 

[4odomi]

Apple today acknowledged a BMW wireless charging issue affecting the iPhone 15 series, and promised that it will make a fix available later this year.

In an internal memo shared with Apple Authorized Service Providers, Apple said charging an iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max with a "small number" of wireless phone chargers built into certain recent BMW and Toyota Supra models may temporarily disable the NFC capabilities of the device. The memo does not provide a specific reason for the issue, which we first reported earlier this month.

In an iPhone, the NFC chip powers features like Apple Pay and digital car keys. Users affected by this issue may receive a "Could Not Set Up Apple Pay" error message in the Wallet app, even if they have already set up Apple Pay.

Apple said the issue will be addressed in a software update coming later this year. Given the memo was put out hours after iOS 17.1 was released today, it appears the update will require a subsequent update, such as iOS 17.1.1 or iOS 17.2. In the meantime, Apple advises affected customers to stop using in-car wireless charging.

There are some complaints about this issue across the MacRumors Forums and X, formerly known as Twitter, but it is unclear how widespread the problem is. Affected customers said the iPhone goes into a data recovery mode with a white screen, and the NFC chip is no longer functional after the device reboots. There is no way for customers to fix the problem, so a trip to an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider is required.

Apple says technicians can attempt to restart the NFC chip in an affected iPhone by using a software tool part of Apple Service Toolkit 2. If this step does not resolve the issue, Apple advises technicians to initiate a hardware repair.

To book a service appointment, visit the Get Support page on Apple's website.

Article Link: Apple Admits to BMW Wireless Charging Issue With iPhone 15 Lineup, Promises Fix Later This Year

I have a BMW wireless charger, series 5 2017, the wireless charger worked once or twice, when I got the car 2 years ago, now it simply doesn't charge my 13 pro or the 12 pro or the SE.
BMW charge £300 for Apple Car Play.
This is a BMW issue and has been for years.
The Dash Cam they sold me for £500, only works when it feels like it as well.
Decent cars, terrible 3rd party applications 😡

 

[4odomi]

It's hilarious that when this was first posted there were scores of apologists defending apple, and blaming BMW.

Where are they now?! 🤣

Just because Apple has to fix it, doesn't mean they've created the problem!
You're clearly not a BMW owner?
I am, trust me it's BMW's fault 😡

 

[JPack]

I think its a bit much asking Apple test if their phone work in every car model that has a QI charger.

Why is that? All Apple had to do was send an iPhone over to each car manufacturer. They send far more to reviewers.

 

[JonaM]

Wouldn’t this mean apple NFC has issue ? As usual, apple pushing the responsibilities to other party.

Not necessarily. There is an issue, that's confirmed, but not which party is at fault. Given it only occurs with BMWs there's definitely something unique to BMW there, but only seems to occur with iPhone 15s so definitely something unique to Apple there too.
It's just that Apple are implementing the workaround to restore the phones' NFC functionality

 

[brummygit]

It's worth noting that some BMW models support using the iPhone as a car key with the digital key stored in the Apple wallet. In order to start my vehicle the iPhone needs to be in the wireless charging tray. It could be a communication / data issue causing the problem.

 

[mrochester]

Why is that? All Apple had to do was send an iPhone over to each car manufacturer. They send far more to reviewers.

Isn’t the whole point of a standard that you don’t’/shouldn’t need to do that level of testing?

 

[JPack]

Isn’t the whole point of a standard that you don’t’/shouldn’t need to do that level of testing?

There’s a difference between theory and reality.

If that were the case, there wouldn’t be any need for USB-IF certified cables or Wi-Fi or cellular testing.

What’s ironic here is Apple clearly worked closely with BMW before with the launch of CarKeys in 2020.

 

[ohthehorror]

Too sad for words. Just pitiful.

 

[sbn]

Will they also fix the issues with the Tesla charger then?

 

[laptech]

What's the betting BMW are not using Apple NFC hardware but a cheaper version which is not fully compatible with the latest NFC technology that is in the iphone 15 range and BMW are reluctant to tell Apple this because they was supposed to use Apple NFC approved hardware but didn't.

 

[Wildkraut]

What's the betting BMW are not using Apple NFC hardware but a cheaper version which is not fully compatible with the latest NFC technology that is in the iphone 15 range and BMW are reluctant to tell Apple this because they was supposed to use Apple NFC approved hardware but didn't.

It doesn’t matter what BMW uses, the iPhone NFC should not brake when you put the iPhone on any wireless charger.

That’s just another of these Apple stupidity’s, same was with MacBooks and USB-C bricking:

Apple Releases macOS Update to Stop USB-C Docks from Bricking MacBooks

Power trip.

www.tomshardware.com

 

[laptech]

It doesn’t matter what BMW uses, the iPhone NFC should not brake when you put the iPhone on any wireless charger.

That’s just another of these Apple stupidity’s, just like with MacBooks and USB-C bricking:

Apple Releases macOS Update to Stop USB-C Docks from Bricking MacBooks

Power trip.

www.tomshardware.com

Not all NFC hardware is built the same. Apple will have it's version of NFC hardware and everyone else their own version. Apple would have given BMW the technical specs of it's NFC tech but if the BMW designers have tried to cut costs and use a competitors NFC tech because the cheaper NFC tech is still within the tech specs of Apples current NFC tech it could explain why the iphone 15 range is failing, and this could be due to something that exists in Apple's NFC tech that would not appear in a competitors NFC tech but is tech that the iphone 15 now takes advantage of.

I've been in development meetings of tech hardware and you'd be surprised at how many times a senior managers goes 'OK, we've got the specs from (insert company name), now let's see if we can find the same but cheaper'. I have no doubt the same happened with the BMW designers.

 

[neuropsychguy]

So… the next there is a crack on iPhone led screen, apple is gonna fix with a software update too? 😆

Sure. If you have a non-hardware crack in your screen, Apple could fix it with software...

The fact that Apple / BMW are working on a software fix for this shows it's not really a hardware issue. Apple is replacing some people's phones who were affected because the software fix isn't available yet.

 

[I7guy]

Embarrassing

Sounds like BMW built an out of spec charger that Apple now address. I don’t know.

 

[Mac_The_Ripper]

It just works (sometimes)! Cook's new slogan.

 

[Reverend Benny]

Why is that? All Apple had to do was send an iPhone over to each car manufacturer. They send far more to reviewers.

Have a look at how many models a car manufacturer sometimes produce and also how different it is in every country.
Add software updates on top of that from the car manufacturer that adds to the complexity
Not saying its impossible and it is in everyones interest that they work together. What I think they rely on is that gadgets like QI chargers are implemented in a certain way and follow a standard. Then it should work.


I remember a similar issue a few years ago where my Belkin 3-1 charger didn't work with my iPhone X. That was resolved in an update.

 

[solardudesf]

Why is that? All Apple had to do was send an iPhone over to each car manufacturer. They send far more to reviewers.

So you believe that Apple should outsource their testing to the car manufacturers? That seems like a great idea that will end with great results. /s

 

[randolorian]

iPhone 15 must have been designed primarily during covid. It seems to have a lot of issues.

 

[Rychiar]

Did they forget to pay their wireless charging subscription to test it?

 

[Wildkraut]

Not all NFC hardware is built the same. Apple will have it's version of NFC hardware and everyone else their own version. Apple would have given BMW the technical specs of it's NFC tech but if the BMW designers have tried to cut costs and use a competitors NFC tech because the cheaper NFC tech is still within the tech specs of Apples current NFC tech it could explain why the iphone 15 range is failing, and this could be due to something that exists in Apple's NFC tech that would not appear in a competitors NFC tech but is tech that the iphone 15 now takes advantage of.

I've been in development meetings of tech hardware and you'd be surprised at how many times a senior managers goes 'OK, we've got the specs from (insert company name), now let's see if we can find the same but cheaper'. I have no doubt the same happened with the BMW designers.

Yeah, but it still doesn't matter!

Apple have to make sure the iPhone does not brick, it's their responsibility, or ditch wireless charging altogether if they are unable to protect the internals from malicious wireless chargers.

This could theoretically happen everywhere, with e.g. the wireless charger of a restaurant, or with one of an Airport, etc.

Users didn't place the iPhone on an induction cooker, it was just a normal wireless charger that works flawless with all iPhones<=14* and many other mobile phones.

 

[mattopotamus]

Any Always Sunny in Philadelphia fans? The final episode of the most recent season really tackles this issue. It's worth a watch if you haven't seen it.

 

[nt5672]

I think the main problem causing the delay is getting BMW to swap the car. Oh, wait, auto parts are replaceable.

So the delay must be getting BMW to role out replacement chargers. Oh, wait, BMW probably just said, hey, we complied with the spec.

So I guess it is left up to Apple's poor software engineering team to bandaid the problem so they don't have to replace every BMW owner's iPhone. Wonder if the fix will hobble all iPhone 15's? Or is Apple just doing what it should have done in the first place and design a spec compliant charging system?