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Tesla Model 3 wireless charger: Factory-look and it’s fast

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A big thanks to Nomad for providing me with this Model 3 wireless phone charger. This isn’t a mandatory glowing review – you can find those on YouTube. Rather, this was an opportunity for me, a product person, to inspect the design of a product that I needed/wanted and photograph it. I like photos. A lot.

The Tesla Model 3 is full of forward-thinking technology and amazing performance stats, but if I’m being honest, its built-in elements for phone charging have some room for improvement.

In a car that requires neither gas nor keys to operate, wireless phone charging seems like a natural fit, but it isn’t a factory option (yet anyhow). Thankfully, a company called Nomad has recognized the void in charger options and now offers a product specifically designed for the Model 3.

I got a hold of one and had a look for myself.

 

The Nomad Wireless Phone Charger for the Tesla Model 3 is basically what it sounds like – a pad for charging your compatible iPhone or Android device (7.5 W charge output or Qi-enabled) simply by setting it down in your car’s center console. An LED indicator confirms the process is working: amber while charging, and white when fully charged. Since Nomad’s charger supports two phones, your passenger can enjoy the same wire-free perks that you do. My passenger definitely appreciated it when I was trying the device out.

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Even though I was looking for an improvement to my Model 3’s factory phone charging options, I’m still a huge fan of the Tesla aesthetic and wince at the idea of interfering with the look and feel of my car. That said, I was really pleased with how Nomad’s charger matched my Model 3’s design. It’s actually one of the core reasons I chose their charger over the many other wireless chargers that I saw were available on Amazon.

Photo by me.

Since there’s obviously a lot of motion involved while driving, Nomad’s pad has a matte black, soft rubber coating to keep your phone from sliding around. For small phones, spacers are included for extra stability which is a pretty cool compatibility consideration in my opinion. The specs of the charger say that some larger phones won’t fit into the charging space with their cases on, but my iPhone fits perfectly.

I did look at other wireless pads on the market that utilize a horizontal charging position, but personally didn’t like that look, and found Nomad’s upright mount to simulate more of the Tesla look and feel that’s similar to the Model S and Model X. Also, this is a minor detail to some, but it’s worth noting that I finally reached out to Nomad for a charger after seeing online reviews indicating that their charging was faster than the competition.

In terms of installation? Easy peasy. Open the top center console; remove the non-slip pad and USB cables inside Nomad’s Apple-like packaging; feed Nomad’s wires through the cable hole and plug into the Model 3’s USB ports. Not much to write about beyond that.

Photos by me.

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While the standard setup of the Nomad charger worked great for my needs now, I also liked that there’s flexibility with the product in case my needs change in the future. For example, two USB splitters are included in the box if I have an audio device that requires a USB port or I want to record video from my dashcam.

Overall, I’m pretty satisfied with Nomad’s wireless phone charger in my Tesla Model 3. If you’re in the market for a factory-looking wireless charger, that charges quickly and has a solid, premium build, I recommend giving this phone charger a go. Full specs and pricing details can be found on Nomad’s website.

Thanks for listening and happy charging!

Lifestyle

Tesla brings perhaps the coolest interior feature to cars in latest update

Tesla adds on to the “fun” aspect of its vehicles.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has brought perhaps the coolest interior feature to its cars in a new update that is rolling out to vehicles now.

The feature will require a newer vehicle that has interior ambient lighting, which is present on the new Model S, Model X, Model 3 “Highland,” and Model Y “Juniper.” The Cybertruck also has ambient lighting strips throughout.

Tesla Model Y’s ambient lighting design changes revealed in leaked video

With the Version 2025.26+ Software Update, Tesla is rolling out a new “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music” feature, which is available on the Tesla Toybox:

To enable the feature, you’ll access the Toybox, choose “Light Sync,” and then choose “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music.”

Although it does not improve the performance of the vehicle, it is yet another example of Tesla making one of the coolest cars out there. This is truly a cool add-on that can be used to impress your friends and family.

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xAI, Musk Foundation helps schools near Memphis supercomputer site

Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.

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(Credit: xAI)

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI and the Musk Foundation have been supporting Memphis-Shelby County Schools with HVAC repairs and facility upgrades, while also funding youth programs for students in the area. 

Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.

xAI’s school visits lead to facility repairs

Representatives from xAI visited John P. Freeman Optional School, Fairley High School, and Westwood High School, all of which are located near its Colossus supercomputer site, to assess HVAC systems, plumbing, gym facilities, and athletic fields. The visits resulted in a list of priority repairs, some of which were completed in April and May.

In addition to the repairs, xAI also shared a number of initiatives that are planned for students in the area, as stated in a Commercial Appeal report.

“xAI is working on providing STEM workshops for local students, donating equipment to technical training programs, and supporting job fairs to boost employment opportunities. These initiatives reflect xAl’s commitment to fostering education and economic growth in Memphis,” xAI noted in a statement.

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Musk Foundation donation

Apart from xAI, the Musk Foundation also donated $350,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, enabling the reopening of two club sites located at Booker T. Washington High School and Westwood High School. Both locations had closed earlier this year due to lapses in funding. As per xAI, the Musk Foundation’s donation allows clubs to reopen for almost 1,000 students. 

The donation will fund staffing, supplies, and transportation, among others. “Kids are the future of humanity,” Elon Musk said in a statement, adding that students need “every chance to shoot for the stars.”

“We’re honored to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis in reopening these sites, giving kids in underserved communities the tools to build brighter futures,” Musk said.

The gift was praised by local officials, including Boys & Girls Clubs board chair Michael Garriga, who stated that the “commitment will ensure the youth of our community have the opportunities they need to develop their skills and talents to become successful students and future citizens.”

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EV fans urge Tesla to acquire Unplugged Performance for edge in fleet and security industry

Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles.

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Credit: Unplugged Performance

A growing number of Tesla enthusiasts and longtime community voices are calling on the electric vehicle maker to acquire Unplugged Performance, a California-based aftermarket company best known for tuning Tesla vehicles and developing specialized government fleet solutions under its UP.FIT division.

The idea was once considered a niche proposal among EV fans, but it is now gaining serious attention not just as a performance play but as a strategic move to deepen Tesla’s roots in the fleet and security industry. 

A strategic fit

Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles, from track-optimized components to visual and aerodynamic upgrades. But in recent years, its UP.FIT division has pivoted toward a more functional future by outfitting Tesla vehicles like Model Ys for police, military, and government use.

That work has sparked growing calls for closer collaboration with Tesla, especially as the EV maker increasingly leans into autonomy, AI, and fleet services as core components of its next chapter.

“I posted this four years ago, but I think it’s more true now than ever,” wrote Whole Mars Catalog, a well-known Tesla investor and FSD Beta tester, on X. “Tesla should buy Unplugged. But not just as a Performance division. What they are doing with UP.FIT unlocks large government and commercial fleet purchases that can improve utilization.”

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Tesla fans such as shareholder Sawyer Merritt echoed the sentiment, calling Unplugged a “great fit within Tesla.” adding, “They are literally located directly next to Tesla’s design studio in Hawthorne.”

Enabling the next wave

Supporters of the idea noted that integrating Unplugged into Tesla’s corporate structure could help accelerate the adoption of autonomous technologies in government sectors. With UP.FIT patrol cars already in use across some U.S. police departments, Tesla fans envisioned a future where self-driving Teslas could potentially revolutionize law enforcement, search-and-rescue, and public service logistics.

“Just imagine how autonomous patrol cars could transform policing and bring us into a safer future,” the veteran FSD tester wrote.

The benefits could also extend to Tesla’s existing consumer base. “They also have some incredible products in the works that I think will appeal to many ordinary Tesla drivers — not just those looking for performance or mods. Stuff that’s so good it should have come straight from the design studio next door,” Whole Mars Catalog noted.

Unplugged Performance, founded in 2013, shares not just a product vision with Tesla, but also geography. Its Hawthorne headquarters sits directly adjacent to Tesla’s design studio, and the two companies have maintained a close working relationship over the years. The aftermarket firm has long positioned itself as a “mission-aligned” partner to Tesla.

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In response to the recent calls for acquisition, Unplugged Performance acknowledged the support from the community. “Our very existence is to support the Tesla mission with @UpfitTesla and @UnpluggedTesla,” Unplugged CEO Ben Schaffer posted on X. “We love working with Tesla and are grateful for the community’s support since 2013!”

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