I'v been using the digital key for a couple weeks now and really like it. It comes in handy a lot more often that I thought, but it does seem fragile. In the 2 weeks since I got it to work, Iv had to redownload the key 5 times. One of those times was due to an update. One time the key would not redownload until the next day the other times the key downloaded and worked immediately. I'v used it when running errands around town but I wouldn't leave home without the Key.

 

If you carry the fob with you, how do you know you're using the digital key?

 

The real question is, if you have the digital key how are you sure you have the key fob with you? My wife carries the fob so when I'm by myself its digital key only. It also says new key every time you use the digital key, so the answer to the first question is that if I'm leaving town and it says new key when starting I need to go find the fob before I leave.

 

yes! I have an android, Samsung Galaxy s21, a year old. Every time I use the digital key my battery goes straight down. Twice, it hit zero - fortunately I was home and it wasn't a crisis. But the first time I noticed the issue, my wife and were out for the evening and I noticed my battery ay 17%. Looked 20 minutes later and it was 10%! We went home early and I held my breath the entire time. Made it home with 6% battery.
My wife uses the single fob as it is her car, I use the phone key, but even if I only use the RX briefly in the am, my phone will drain rapidly all day. Going in and shutting down the Lexus app seems to help, but it seems like this is one more fix the lexus engineers should correct.

 

I would hope that the app can be turned off and does not run 24/7 in the background.

 

If you close the Lexus app when you are not needing it, your battery will last a lot longer. As soon as you leave the car and its locked, close the app. You may still get messages if you forget to lock it or leave a window open but as long as the app is closed you battery won't drain.

 

I am waiting for me new Lexus as was a little sad that I cannot get the card key since the hardware or something is not installed. I know this is minor but I hate the key fob feeling in my pocket and when I sit it hits buttons and stuff. So my hope is that I can just use my phone and leave my key fob at home. What scares me a little is what happens if the car does not pick up my phone key or something. Has this happened to people? Or should I be safe just leaving my key fob at home?

 

I keep my FOB in my right jeans front pocket with the buttons facing my leg and can use all the functions without removing from my pocket. Had the keycard on previous LX 570’s but nothing replaces the FOB for me. It is like carrying my phone, never leave home without it.

 

The short answer is that the Digital Key (what you call "phone key") works for most, but not all of us, but it's not reliable enough to leave town without the FOB. Read this thread (below) for the longer answer. I do not carry a FOB and depend on the Digital Key, and so far it's always worked. But as I said, I wouldn't go too far away from home on just the Digital Key:


https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...questions.html

 

Interesting that you need to have the app opened or in background for digital key to work. That might just be a feature killer for me.

 

I do so much else with my phone, that I’ve gotten used to it. But I’ll admit that it’s not quite as automatic as the FOB in the pocket.

 

Nothing beats the credit card key in my books. Our RX 450H uses it.

Leave it in your wallet/purse, and forget about it.

Come on Lexus bring that back!
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Are you sure you have the digital key if you don't have a credit card style key?

 

This happened to me once. I had my physical key in my pocket during my work day as I didn't want to take my purse. Left work and drove 35 minutes home. When I went to get my purse out of the back of the car, the kick sensor wasn't responding. Quickly realized it wasn't responding because I didn't have my physical key with me. Drove home with my digital key and didn't know it. After a panicked (because we only have the one key) drive back to my office, I found the physical key under my desk.

 

Well the dealer just called me and they have an RX that has the digital key, I am so happy I will not have to deal with app being open or not