Android Auto Charging Too Slow To Be Useful

[Mister A]

I posted a while back about wireless charging issues and wanted to follow up with a new question in a new direction. The wireless charging seems fine until Android Auto is involved.

 

I found that if AA is running on any Android phone I have, the charging (wired and wireless) is not enough to really make a positive difference. Wireless charging can't keep up and wired charging barely made an impact. I drove for about an hour plugged into the front USB-C port and got maybe 20% in a Pixel 5. A Samsung S10e had similar results in the driveway. My last vehicle was a 2012 without any options so much of this is new to me but I am very underwhelmed by this since it seems that charging and AA should be working together to give a positive experience.

 

Does everyone have this type of issue when it comes to charging and using AA at the same time? Turning off AA on the phone gives me my faster charge back but having AA drain the device running it faster than it can charge seems upside-down backwards.

[Anacortes Army Guy]

2 hours ago, Mister A said:

I posted a while back about wireless charging issues and wanted to follow up with a new question in a new direction. The wireless charging seems fine until Android Auto is involved.

 

I found that if AA is running on any Android phone I have, the charging (wired and wireless) is not enough to really make a positive difference. Wireless charging can't keep up and wired charging barely made an impact. I drove for about an hour plugged into the front USB-C port and got maybe 20% in a Pixel 5. A Samsung S10e had similar results in the driveway. My last vehicle was a 2012 without any options so much of this is new to me but I am very underwhelmed by this since it seems that charging and AA should be working together to give a positive experience.

 

Does everyone have this type of issue when it comes to charging and using AA at the same time? Turning off AA on the phone gives me my faster charge back but having AA drain the device running it faster than it can charge seems upside-down backwards.

I routinely use the wired Android Auto function on my 2020 1500 LT (don't have wireless charging capability on my truck) for charging, and it charges my Samsung Galaxy S10 very quickly, to include while concurrently using the Waze navigation app AND YouTube Music.  Matter of fact, I used it on a 800 mile trip in the last 48 hours and it worked like a champ.

[Transient]

Until recently, wireless charging was not an option for my truck.  I've been using the power port (formerly known as a cigarette lighter) with a device that has 2 USB female plugs.  Even with 2 phones charging simultaneously I found the performance to be very good.  I do not use the USB and USB-c plugs in the Infotainment system.  Those might go to my kids in the back seat with an extra long cable so it doesn't bother me.  They haven't complained yet, so I guess it's keeping their tablets powered up. 

 

I don't use Android Auto.  I tried it when I first got the truck, using the aforementioned USB port on the Infotainment console, and hated it.  If something was wrong with the connection between the phone and cable it would become disconnected.  Bumpy roads are good at that.  Also, I prefer to use Samsung Music for all the songs (about 2,200) I have purchased and saved on my phone over the last decade+.  The music service through Android Auto just not allowing me to enjoy all of my music.

 

Getting back to the topic of wireless charging, I recently installed the wireless charger in my truck.  I have no issues with its performance.  My phone charges up just fine while I'm streaming music to my truck via Bluetooth.  I have a Samsung S21 Ultra 5G.  It has a larger battery (5,000 mAh) than your s10e battery (3,000 mAh) and Google Pixel 5 battery (4,080 mAh).  Maybe something is wrong with your truck?  Maybe something is wrong with your phones?  I dunno.  I just know that I'm satisfied with how things are working for me. 

Edited August 17, 2021 by Transient

[ericarenee]

I use Android Auto in my Truck . I use  a VERY GOOD Quality cable and have no issues with charging and using android Auto at the same time. 

In Android auto i always  use Amazon Music and Waze . they both auto start when i plug my phone in.. 

 

This to consider. 

If you are draining batter faster then the charging can keep up. Go into your phones battery usage and see what is actually using the Battery up. . Try turning off notification for background running apps and turning any rogue (app that starts on and call home in the background) These app tear thru bandwidth and if you have 5G . The Radio is stupid battery hungry.  

My phone is a LG  Dual screen So it has a GIGANTIC Battery. But my Wifes  lg v60 also works well. 

 

Good Luck..

[AngryBeaver]

On 8/17/2021 at 1:56 AM, Transient said:

Until recently, wireless charging was not an option for my truck.  I've been using the power port (formerly known as a cigarette lighter) with a device that has 2 USB female plugs.  Even with 2 phones charging simultaneously I found the performance to be very good.  I do not use the USB and USB-c plugs in the Infotainment system.  Those might go to my kids in the back seat with an extra long cable so it doesn't bother me.  They haven't complained yet, so I guess it's keeping their tablets powered up. 

 

I don't use Android Auto.  I tried it when I first got the truck, using the aforementioned USB port on the Infotainment console, and hated it.  If something was wrong with the connection between the phone and cable it would become disconnected.  Bumpy roads are good at that.  Also, I prefer to use Samsung Music for all the songs (about 2,200) I have purchased and saved on my phone over the last decade+.  The music service through Android Auto just not allowing me to enjoy all of my music.

 

Getting back to the topic of wireless charging, I recently installed the wireless charger in my truck.  I have no issues with its performance.  My phone charges up just fine while I'm streaming music to my truck via Bluetooth.  I have a Samsung S21 Ultra 5G.  It has a larger battery (5,000 mAh) than your s10e battery (3,000 mAh) and Google Pixel 5 battery (4,080 mAh).  Maybe something is wrong with your truck?  Maybe something is wrong with your phones?  I dunno.  I just know that I'm satisfied with how things are working for me. 

How fast on average does it charge. Say, in a 30 minute window, how much? And does your phone show "fast charging" or just "charging" on the phone screen?

 

Mine is extremely slow to be any useful. I get way better results by charging with a cheap cigarette lighter charger.

[Frizz]

Very curious of a solution as I have the same issue with a 2025 AT4.  AA is connected and the phone just drains  battery while charging wirelessly.  It shows connected to the wireless charging as well.  Not sure what to make of this???

[redwngr]

Solution is to plug it in, to the USB-C connection. 

 

We've had multiple GM vehicles with wireless charging.

They have all been slow -- so I don't ever bother to use them. We've also found that if the phone is doing a bunch of work that the wireless charging often cannot keep up.

Phone gets plugged in if it needs charging -- otherwise it's usually in a pocket.  

 

If it's an android phone (at least the newer ones), it will have a setting for what charge speed it will accept. 

Cable, charge source and phone setting can all be the limiting factor for charge speed.

USB-C usually has faster charging capability than USB-A. 

If the phone is in a case, that can also slow wireless charging.

 

Not sure about charge rates on apple product.

 

Edited November 7 by redwngr