What’s All the Fuss About Apple CarPlay? Is CarPlay Worth It?
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Apple CarPlay brings all of the most important iPhone features to your car’s in-dash display. Have you always dreamed of true GPS navigation in your vehicle? CarPlay has it. Want the ability to navigate Apple Music easily, even without taking your eyes off of the road? CarPlay has it. Want the ability to dictate iMessages to your friends and family without ever picking up your iPhone? CarPlay has it!
Apple CarPlay is one of those great things in life that you didn’t know you needed until you finally had it. In many ways, CarPlay brings new features and harmony to your vehicle. It allows you to keep your iPhone tucked away, so you can keep your eyes on what’s most important (the road).
Not only will your in-car entertainment be easier to navigate than ever before, ultimately Siri’s voice command capabilities make it safer, too.
Great news: Vehicle manufacturers are adding Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality at a rapidly-increasing rate, for example my 2017 Honda Civic Si came with compatibility for both as a standard feature. So with some savvy shopping you can purchase a new vehicle off-the-lot that has CarPlay built-in for no additional cost. It’s a feature that new car buyers (including myself) have added to their “must-haves” list, for obvious reasons. But what if you’re not in the market for a new car?
If you don’t have Apple CarPlay in your vehicle and you’re not shopping for a new car, many highly-rated head unit receivers can make CarPlay possible for you. Whether you have a classic car that you plan to keep forever, or have a new-ish car that you’ll be keeping for a long time, adding CarPlay to your vehicle is a worthwhile investment. It’ll add value to your life and will almost definitely add value to your vehicle should you decide to sell it later on.
Even better yet, CarPlay is upgraded alongside your iPhone’s iOS (rather than the receiver itself). This means that the CarPlay software in your vehicle’s head unit receiver will be updated with new features and advancements in tandem with your iPhone, so you won’t have to worry about your new receiver becoming obsolete anytime soon. How cool (and easy) is that?
Having used Apple CarPlay in my personal vehicle for more than a year, I can’t recommend it enough. It makes just about everything easier (and Apple Maps integration is a life-saver). It’s safe to say I would be hesitant (at the least) to purchase a vehicle in the future that didn’t have Apple CarPlay. Is Apple CarPlay worth it? Yes, it most certainly is.
Best CarPlay Recievers
Check out some of the highest-rated CarPlay-compatible receivers available below! Be sure to check the dimensions of the receiver and determine whether or not it will fit in your vehicle’s dash. Additional parts and/or professional installation may be required. Also note that some CarPlay receivers feature traditional CD players, Sirius XM satellite radio capabilities, and even backup cameras in some instances.
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