iPhone 8 wireless charging for cars is supported by these 10 automakers
Your new iPhone 8 can be charged wirelessly in a car, but only select vehicle makers have implemented the right tech to make it all work.
This year, Apple finally decided to build wireless charging technology into the iPhone, starting with the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. This means that instead of having to plug your iPhone in with a Lightning cable to charge it, you can instead place it on a wireless charging pad to power up the battery over the air.
In the iPhone 8’s announcement keynote, Apple execs made much of the fact that your car is one of the places you’ll now be able to wirelessly charge your phone. However, there’s a big caveat: not all cars offer wireless charging, and only select car makers are using the correct technology for an iPhone 8.
It’s because Apple has opted for the Qi standard of wireless charging. Qi is a way of certifying wireless charging devices to meet specific requirements, and it’s one of several options. So if your car has a wireless charging system that isn’t Qi-certified, it won’t work with the iPhone 8.
Fortunately, Apple has put together a list of car companies that have committed to using the Qi standard of wireless charging, which reads as follows:
- Audi
- BMW
- Chrysler
- Ford
- Honda
- Mercedes-Benz
- PSA
- Toyota
- Volkswagen
- Volvo
In the USA, you’ll also be able to wirelessly charge with the following car models:
- 2018 GMC Terrain
- 2018 GMC Yukon
- 2018 GMC Sierra
- 2018 Chevrolet Bolt
- 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe
- 2018 Chevrolet Silverado
- 2018 Chevrolet Suburban
- 2018 Cadillac Escalade
- 2018 Buick Enclave
There are some points to note. Firstly, just because your car maker is listed above doesn’t necessarily mean all models will feature Qi wireless charging. You’ll still need to make sure you’re buying a car with the correct wireless charging functionality if you want to power up your iPhone 8 wirelessly.
Secondly, Apple rightly points out that while your iPhone 8 will probably work fine with all of the above automaker’s wireless charging pads, the iPhone 8 Plus might not. That’s because the iPhone 8 Plus is significantly larger than the iPhone 8, and thus might not fit onto certain wireless charging pads. Be sure to try out your iPhone 8 Plus on the pad first before splashing cash on a new car.
Related: iPhone 9 release date
Have you tried wireless charging yet? Do you prefer it to regular charging? Let us know via Facebook or tweet us @TrustedReviews.