The same thing applies to the iPhone 8 as well

Nov 5, 2017 09:13 GMT  ·  By

Apple has finally brought wireless charging to the iPhone, and while this feature lands a few years after Android devices first got it, it’s undoubtedly a welcome addition to anyone who is committed to Cupertino’s device ecosystem.

But wireless charging does come with its own drawbacks, and while it provides a more convenient way to charge the iPhone, there still are a few things that Apple customers must have in mind when planning to use it.

One of them concerns credit cards. As Apple itself confirmed, using wireless charging can damage credit cards if they are placed between the glass back of the iPhone and the charging plate. This covers both the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X, and should be valid for pretty much any other smartphone that supports wireless charging.

In case you’re wondering who on Earth keeps credit cards on the back of an iPhone, you should know this is quite a common thing because there are wallet cases for the iPhone that make it extremely convenient to always have credit cards wherever you go without the need for a wallet.

Remove the cards before charging

And Apple apparently is well aware that wallet cases are super-popular among its customers, so the company says the following in the FAQ page covering the iPhone wireless charging:

  Wireless charging uses magnetic induction to charge your iPhone. Don't place anything between your iPhone and the charger. Magnetic mounts, magnetic cases, or other objects between your iPhone and the charger might reduce performance or damage magnetic strips or RFID chips like those found in some credit cards, security badges, passports, and key fobs. If your case holds any of these sensitive items, remove them before charging or make sure that they aren’t between the back of your iPhone and the charger.  

The worse that can happen if you forget to remove the credit card from the case when charging the iPhone wirelessly is for the card itself to get demagnetized, as a result of the wireless charging system relying on magnetic resonance to charge the device.

This means that you need to contact your bank and issue a new credit card, which in some cases comes along with a small fee depending on the bank and the type of account.