Exclusive: Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Are Getting Upgraded Wireless Phone Chargers

Tesla vehicles include built-in wireless phone chargers beneath the front display (and in the rear for the Model S), but these chargers are relatively slow by current standards and tend to generate excessive heat.

Late last year, a wishlist of features for Teslas wireless phone chargers was outlined, and soon Tesla will be addressing some of these requests.

According to a trusted source, Tesla will add its actively cooled wireless phone charger, first introduced in the Model Y L, to the rest of its vehicle lineup.

The updated design places fans beneath the charging pad to blow air toward the phones resting above. This active cooling helps prevent overheating that can throttle or halt charging, particularly in direct sunlight or summer heat.

The upgrade will also modernize charging speeds. Currently, Tesla vehicles charge phones wirelessly at 15W, but with this update, theyll be able to reach up to 50W of power for phones that support non-Qi2 fast wireless charging.

Engineered in China

The cooled charging pad debuted in the six-seat Model Y L when it launched in China. The assembly includes separate cooling fans and vents for the driver and passenger charging pads up front. Now, Tesla plans to use that same Model Y L component across the broader Model 3 and Model Y lineup.

Sharing the part should simplify production while delivering a sought-after feature to more owners. The updated part revision is not yet available on Teslas Electronic Parts Catalog.

The hardware has already shown some compatibility. Tesla Android developer Micha2 Gapi4ski installed the entire assembly in a refreshed Model Y and, with extensive programming, got it working. This indicates the new component was designed to be largely compatible with other vehicles.

Cybertruck May Be More Challenging

Unlike the Model 3 and Model Y, the Cybertruck has a substantially different center console layout. That could make it difficult to install the same Model Y L charging and cooling assembly without reworking the console or creating a Cybertruck-specific version.

Tesla can still apply the same strategy of fans and directed airflow, but it will likely require a more bespoke design rather than a simple component swap.

Checking off the Wishlist

Back in 2025, a wishlist detailing how Tesla could improve its phone chargers was compiled. An off switch has since been added, and now 50W charging and active cooling are finally on the way.

Some overheating and slow charging also stemmed from poor phone-to-charger alignment. A final hoped-for change is the inclusion of the open Qi2 wireless charging standard (Apple MagSafe compatible); however, the charger is expected to be the same one used in the Model Y L, which does not include Qi2 charging.

Qi2 wouldnt just keep a phone more securely attached; it would also enable faster charging.