I’m getting a new Apple SE iPhone. I’ve confirmed it has Q or whatever that feature is properly called to enable wireless charging, presumably via the wireless charger in my 2021 350 ES. Is there anything I should know about our wireless charger before buying the new phone?
I assume all protective cases have to be removed to enable wireless charging or is there one that need not be first removed?

 

I have a ES 300h with wireless charging. It works with my iphone and I have a plastic case on it too.

I do find though, that while it says its charging, it really doesn't make the battery charge increase much. Just kind of keeps it falling more. I find that the USB cable charger is much stronger. Also, the phone tends to heat up too, on the wireless one. I just don't find that it works great. And it actually can slip around sometimes too, on the pad.

So, in conclusion, I am not a huge fan of the wireless. The USB connected one works far better and more efficiently.

 

Always works more reliably without a case (might be my case). But, as Jeaco said, not as good as plugging in.

 

It's a fact that wireless charging will never outperform plugging in the wire. You should be able to wirelessly charge with the case on, assuming your case is not super thick. I'm using a magbak case and have no problems using a wireless charging.

 

I have no real problem charging it via the charging cable while stowed away in “elbow rest” bin.
Takeaway: Wireless charger is of compromised value. I’ll get the protective case I want, use the cable for charging and not worry about the phone needing to have contact with the wireless.

 

I very rarely use that feature because phone gets hot and charges very slow. Not worth it to shorten life of battery as heat will do.

 

I've added several links that go back to conversations about this very topic some of which you were a participant. A lot of ES owners have found the wireless charging feature to be practically useless, especially with most phone cases—an issue that's been widely discussed in multiple threads due to the prevalence of protective cases. It seems Lexus dropped the ball on this one, as most people who spend a grand or more on a smartphone are going to protect it with a case – often one that's difficult to remove or a bulky one designed for maximum protection, resulting in a feature that's more of a hassle than a benefit for many users.

I myself have an Otterbox that's saved my iPhone 14 Pro Max from becoming toast more times than I can count, but it also makes wireless charging a no-go. While I haven't personally tested the 2023 or 2024 ES models, based on other owners' experiences and the ongoing discussions, I doubt there's been much improvement. For now, using a charging cable is still the most reliable and convenient way to go. Even with using a thin case, the charging will still be slower wirelessly than via USB. Your best bet is to just test it out and see. In one of the links I added, I detailed the testing I did with multiple ES model years and various iPhone cases of different thicknesses and structures..

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...l#post11375916
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...l#post11376160
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...l#post11245025

Or you can just do that!

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Since I lead a dull and sedentary life, I don't use heavy protective cases any more, even on my swell iPhone 15 Pro, which stays in my pocket a lot. I have a glass screen protector on the screen and a plastic film on the back, and nothing on the sides. I have read that thicker cases decrease the efficacy of wireless charging, which makes sense.
With respect to the above comments in this thread, my experience with my '24 ES350 is that the wireless charging works very well, and I have not noticed the phone getting hot. On a long drive, I use CarPlay for navigation apps and for streaming audio (mostly podcasts); it seems to be an even match, as the % of charge in the phone is the same after a 4 hour ride as it was when I started. Most of the time, however, I just leave the phone in my pocket - wireless CarPlay is very convenient.
Also, the charging pad is larger than most phones (to allow for the MAX phones, I guess) and the phone will slide around on the pad when you go around a corner. It won't slide off onto the floor, but you can hear it slide and hit against the ridges around the perimeter of the pad. I found that a few well placed little adhesive button bumpers keeps the phone in place and are not noticeable.

 

It charges slow, phone gets hot cause of wireless charging, and if you use CarPlay it won't charge fast enough to actually get the benefit of charging. It will prevent battery drain though.

Also the coil is quite small compared to other wireless charges so the phone has to be in the exact right location. I have a 2022 so the charger is under the arm rest and the material doesn't keep the phone still sometimes, so moves during driving enough to be misaligned with the coil and not charge. Also, it doesn't charge with a case on I've heard. I use a super thin case or no case on my phone and it can be a little tricky to line up just right. I've completely given up on it and just use a USB cord.

 

My wife and I both have iPhone 14s with the rubber Apple cases. We put her iPhone on the Qi charger on road trips so we can listen to Waze warnings. It doesn’t slip around because of the Apple cover and has never gotten hot on long drives.

 

Rubber is a poor conductor of heat and that kind of case might be the best to use if wireless charging. Might try putting a thin piece of rubber down first to see if makes any difference. Think when I tried the new RX my phone didn't get as hot so probably technology and heat dispersement have improved. The true nature of wireless charging has to produce heat on the primary and secondary coils. The secondary coil is in the phone. When charging wired the heat generating transformer is eliminated.