Apple CarPlay (2020) Review: The last word in infotainment
"Continuous improvements have made Apple CarPlay an essential feature for new cars."
-
responsive
-
Clean, intuitive interface
-
Extended third party app support
-
Apple Maps is still tightly integrated into the user interface
As with many automotive technologies, the quality of OEM infotainment systems can vary widely from manufacturer to manufacturer or from model to model. Even if a manufacturer uses infotainment technology correctly, there is hardly any incentive for companies to develop and support a specific system as soon as the car rolls out of the showroom. This can lead to outdated information, permanent errors in the software and functions that no longer work right away.
When Apple closed CarPlay at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2014, it tried to put an end to this nonsense by creating a unified interface with its own design that would help you avoid the problems often associated with Cupertinos' OEM systems self-grown, self-supported solution. By adapting the user interface specifically to drivers, Apple wanted to make the roads safer by reducing possible distractions that would distract the driver's gaze (and attention) from the road.
In a way, CarPlay delivered straight from the gate. The user interface was intuitive and responsive, so drivers could access what they wanted with minimal effort so they could focus on the task at hand. But there were a few wrinkles that needed to be ironed out after the debut.
Apple has refined and improved CarPlay over the years. With some of the key changes made in the recent updates, we thought it was time to take a look at the state of Apple CarPlay in 2020.
compatibility
You need a few things to use CarPlay. On the mobile side, you need an iPhone 5 (or newer) with iOS 7.1 (or higher), and most vehicles need a wired USB connection. Some companies like Audi and BMW now support wireless CarPlay. We love the convenience of the function – but be warned, it can affect battery life.
Apple CarPlay icons
CarPlay compatibility is now almost ubiquitous on the vehicle side – at least as part of an option package for new vehicles. While it is supported even more than Android Auto, it is worth noting that the launch of the Google platform is currently not as widespread.
Some automakers have problems with CarPlay support, but most are boutique brands. For example, if you own a 2020 Aston Martin Vantage or a 2019 Rolls-Royce Cullian, you're out of luck with the OEM hardware. However, something tells us that you will make it.
interface
Distracted driving was associated with nearly 3,200 fatal accidents in 2017 alone, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with cell phone and SMS use identified as the main drivers for a significant proportion of these incidents. Apple developed CarPlay to minimize these distractions, and Siri is the star of the show.
Incoming text messages are shown by a pop-up banner at the top of the CarPlay display and read out by the system when they are accessed. Once you're done, you'll be asked if you want to respond by voice. The answers will be read back for accuracy and confirmation before being sent. It is a function that has worked excellently in recent years and continues to do so today.
The implementation of Siri (and general utility) left something to be desired when CarPlay was originally launched. Fortunately, Apple has reworked Siri with iOS 13, which leads to noticeable improvements in CarPlay.
From a visual standpoint, it is now less intrusive and appears as a translucent waveform overlaid on the screen that is active at the time the function is invoked, rather than Siri simply taking over the screen completely.
Apple has also expanded the tools available to app developers to integrate Siri features into their own software. For example, you can go to a Spotify playlist or go to instructions with a voice command.
Apple CarPlay dashboard
In addition to an improved dashboard layout that divides the area between navigation and frequently used apps, CarPlay for iOS 13 allows a device bound to CarPlay to be used for other tasks without affecting the display on the CarPlay display. For example, when a passenger queues a song on this iPhone, the vehicle's infotainment screen does not suddenly change from the navigation screen to the music app. This may seem trivial, but it makes a big difference in everyday use.
iOS 13 also introduced a redesigned music interface in CarPlay. The album art is now emphasized more, both in Now Playing and elsewhere. The user interface has been optimized to make navigation through your album collection more intuitive.
navigation
Apple has completely revised its native Maps app for iOS 13. These changes lead to more details and expanded functionality in CarPlay. The biggest game changer in CarPlay's relatively short history made its debut a year earlier when iOS 12 introduced support for third-party navigation apps. This immediately brought two heavyweights into play: Waze and Google Maps.
Apple CarPlay Google Maps
Although Apple Maps has improved since its rocky debut in 2012, it is still catching up. Google Maps in particular leaves little to complain about in 2020. With real-time redirection of traffic, offline maps (useful when cell coverage is not or insufficient) and Siri integration, which are now all part of the mix, it is fully functional. CarPlay-compatible navigation program that iOS users have been waiting for.
For many users who were used to the look and feel of Google Maps, iOS 12 support transformed the overall usefulness of CarPlay from temporary curiosity to car navigation.
App support
As mentioned earlier, iOS 12 has greatly improved CarPlay's third-party app support, but Google Maps and Waze aren't the only apps that will benefit from the change.
The list of supported apps by CarPlay now includes WhatsApp, Spotify, BBC-Sounds, Amazon Music, Google Play Music, iPlayer-Radio, CBS-Radio, Pandora, Slacker-Radio, Gezeiten, Audible, NPR One, VOX, Clammr , Downcast and Here This applies in addition to the native iPhone apps that are compatible with CarPlay.
Our opinion
CarPlay has come a long way since its original iteration and shows this. Apple has reduced fat while improving the strengths of the user interface, which enables more meaningful integration of third-party apps. These changes have resolved many of the previous frustrations. In short, it is now the infotainment replacement solution it should be.
Should you get it
If you have a compatible iOS device and infotainment system, you owe it to yourself to try CarPlay. It is (usually) free of charge. So what do you have to lose?
Editor's recommendations