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Apple CarPlay is common parlance in showrooms across the nation, as drivers look to bring the iPhone experience from their pocket into the car, keeping them connected while also adhering to the rules of the road.
It offers much more than an easy way to make and receive phone calls though, with CarPlay offering up a wealth of features to make your drive easier, more productive, and more enjoyable.
So what is Apple CarPlay, how does it work, why is it good and why isn’t it so good? We’ve got all your CarPlay questions answered right here, so keep on reading.
What is Apple CarPlay?
Apple CarPlay allows you to connect your iPhone to your vehicle’s large infotainment system, providing safe and convenient access to key apps via the in-car screen.
This allows you to interact with your iPhone - from making and taking calls, and sending messages, to streaming music and using navigation - without the need to pick up the device, and thus keeping you within the confines of the strict mobile phone laws while driving.
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How does Apple CarPlay work?
CarPlay uses a wired or wireless connection between your iPhone and your car's infotainment system, and you’ll need to check in your vehicle’s manual to see which is supported.
Wired connections require you to grab the charging cable for your iPhone and plug it into your car’s main USB port - generally located somewhere in the centre console. Depending on your car, this USB port may be USB-A (the traditional, larger rectangular port) or USB-C (a smaller, oval-shaped port) - so make sure you check you’ve got the correct cable before setting off.
For wireless connection support, find Apple CarPlay in the menu (or sub menu) of your car’s infotainment system and follow the on-screen instructions to get it linked to your iPhone. You’ll need Bluetooth enabled on your iPhone to pair it with your car.
Once connected, the car's display mirrors a simplified version of your iPhone's interface. You can control CarPlay using your car's touchscreen, buttons, or knobs, or by using Siri voice commands.
As well as needing a car with Apple CarPlay support, you’ll also need an iPhone 5 or later. Seeing as the iPhone 5 launched in 2012, there’s a very good chance the iPhone you’re using will support Apple CarPlay.
Do you have to have an iPhone to use Apple CarPlay?
Yes, you do need an iPhone to use Apple CarPlay. If you don’t have an iPhone, fear not. Google has a very similar service for Android smartphone owners, called Android Auto.
What can Apple CarPlay do?
Since CarPlay’s introduction in 2014 we’ve seen the number of supported apps increase, giving drivers more options when using the service.
Some of the most commonly used Apple CarPlay apps are navigation related, with Apple Maps, Google Maps and Waze popular choices for turn-by-turn directions.
These mobile mapping apps are usually more up to date than your in-car sat nav, and provide additional features including real-time traffic information, roadworks warnings, and road closure information at no additional cost.
Even if your car doesn’t have a sat nav built in, if it has CarPlay support you’ll be able to use a mapping app on the central display in your vehicle.
CarPlay lets you easily make and receive phone calls, plus it can read out messages and let you dictate responses. But there’s much more on offer too, from support for music, podcast, radio and audio book apps, to news, sports, weather, parking and EV charging applications.
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What Apple CarPlay apps are available?
There’s a wide range of supported Apple CarPlay apps. Below you’ll find a number of popular applications which you can use - but note, this list is not exhaustive.
Supported apps you already have downloaded on your iPhone will be displayed in the CarPlay interface on your vehicle’s infotainment screen.
Apple-developed CarPlay apps
- Apple Music
- Apple Maps
- Podcasts
- Books
- News+
- Audiobooks
- Phone
- Messages
- Calendar
- Settings
- Now Playing
Major third-party Apple CarPlay apps
- Google Maps
- Waze
- TomTom
- Spotify
- BBC Sounds
- Tidal
- YouTube Music
- Amazon Music
- Overcast
- Audible
- VOX
- Downcast
- Charge Point
- PlugShare
- RingGo
Does Apple CarPlay use my data plan?
Apple CarPlay does use your data and this is something you’ll want to factor in if you’re renewing your phone contract. How much data you’ll use depends on what you do – nav tends not to be too data intensive, but streaming lots of music at a high sound quality will quickly eat through your data.
What cars are fitted with Apple CarPlay?
Apple provides a list of vehicles which work with CarPlay - and there’s plenty of choice with over 800 models mentioned. This list isn’t quite up to date with the very latest car launches, but it covers the majority of what’s currently available on the market.
Many modern cars include Apple CarPlay as standard, so if you’re in the market for a new car, or a second hand car which is only a few years old, chances are it’ll come with support.
However, not all makes and models support CarPlay, and older cars with simpler infotainment systems certainly won’t have it built in. Any car older than 2014 will not have Apple CarPlay support built-in.
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Can I add Apple CarPlay to my older car?
It's an emphatic – yes – to that question. Almost all cars can be upgraded with a double din head unit that includes Apple CarPlay. As well as giving you CarPlay, these newer stereos will usually include modern functions like a digital radio and a Bluetooth phone connection.
A good system costs around £300 and most shops that sell them will also fit the unit for you for around £50. As upgrades go, this is arguably one of the easiest ways to modernise an old car.
You can also get dash-mounted screens which support Apple CarPlay. These generally cost less than a built-in double din unit, but won’t look as good stuck to the top of your dash.
Is there a monthly charge for Apple CarPlay?
There is no monthly charge for Apple CarPlay. The only costs you need to consider are your iPhone’s mobile data plan and any associated, optional in-app purchases you may wish to make.
What are the disadvantages of Apple CarPlay?
Apple CarPlay comes with plenty of advantages, but there are a few things to consider before jumping in head first.
CarPlay is a demanding service, and your iPhone will likely become warm during use. On long road trips, the excess heat can cause the iPhone - and CarPlay - to slow down. You may get an excess heat warning and have to unplug your iPhone to allow it to cool down.
If you’re using wireless CarPlay you also need to be mindful of the battery drain, as you don’t want to arrive at your destination with 2% battery left. If your car has a wireless charge pad - and your iPhone supports wireless charging - you’ll want to make use of this. But again, this can lead to the phone heating up during extended use.
Wired users don’t need to worry about battery levels, as your iPhone will be charging while connected to the vehicle.
As we’ve briefly mentioned, online services such as navigation and music streaming will use mobile data. If you only have a few GB of data on your mobile plan, you’ll want to consider if Apple CarPlay is the right option for you.
While Apple CarPlay removes the need for you to pick up and look at your mobile phone while driving, it’s not completely distraction-free. Notifications can still ping through, so we’d recommend turning off all but essential notifications to avoid easy distractions.
If your car has a digital cluster display, or you’re lucky enough to have a HUD (heads-up display) you may be used to seeing navigation directions shown in these places - which are much easier to look at while driving versus the central display.
However, many vehicles won’t mimic directions from an Apple CarPlay app in the cluster or HUD, which can be a little frustrating.
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