Pull your phone off the Telluride's charging pad after a drive and it's hot to the touch, maybe with a "charging on hold" message. Here's why it happens and what you can do about it.
Why your phone gets hot
- Misalignment. Standard Qi wireless charging only works efficiently when the phone's coil sits right over the charger's coil. When it's off-center, and on a moving road it often is, more energy turns into heat instead of charge.
- A closed-in spot. Charging pads usually sit in a console cubby with little airflow, sometimes in direct sun.
- Your phone is working hard. Navigation, Bluetooth audio, and CarPlay or Android Auto (especially wirelessly) all generate heat on their own.
- Thick or metal cases. Bulky cases trap heat and add distance from the charger. Metal plates or cards block charging and heat up.
When a phone gets too warm, it protects its battery by slowing or pausing charging. That's why you can drive for an hour and gain almost nothing.
Quick fixes to try today
- Center the phone carefully on the pad and check it doesn't slide on turns.
- Take off thick cases, and remove any magnetic plates, cards or pop-sockets from the back.
- Point the A/C toward the console, or keep the cabin cool on hot days.
- Lower screen brightness and close apps you aren't using.
- Use a cable on long road trips when you need maximum charge.
The long-term fix: magnetic Qi2 charging
The root problem is alignment. Qi2 magnetic chargers use a ring of magnets, the same idea as Apple's MagSafe, to lock the phone into the exact right spot every time. Less wasted energy means less heat and faster charging, up to 25W with Qi2.2 on compatible phones. (Qi vs. Qi2 vs. Qi2.2 explained)
That's why we built the Faro-Dock for the 2027+ Kia Telluride: a custom-fit console cradle with built-in Qi2.2 magnetic chargers and an open, vented design so your phone isn't sealed in a hot cubby. It snaps in with no tools and plugs into the Telluride's factory USB-C ports.
Not sure your phone will work? Check our Phone Compatibility list, or email info@farodock.com with your phone model and case.