Hands-On Apple 190: Adding CarPlay on a Budget

Summary

Hands-On Apple 190: Adding CarPlay on a Budget

Podcast Information:

• Title: All TWiT.tv Shows (Audio)
• Host: TWiT (Micah Sargent)
• Episode: Hands-On Apple 190: Adding CarPlay on a Budget
• Release Date: July 10, 2025

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Introduction

In the July 10, 2025 episode of Hands-On Apple, hosted by Micah Sargent, the focus is on helping listeners retrofit Apple CarPlay into older vehicles without incurring significant expenses or engaging in complex installations. The episode addresses a listener's query about adding CarPlay to a 2015 Honda Civic, offering practical solutions and product recommendations to achieve this upgrade cost-effectively.

Listener's Query and Initial Response

Micah begins by introducing the episode's topic and presenting a question from a listener named Dustin:

Micah Sargent [02:55]: "Hi Micah, my wife just picked up a 2015 Honda Civic as it's a little too old, it doesn't have CarPlay. What are some good options these days to add CarPlay without a huge cost, or hopefully without needing to remove the entire head unit and do complicated wiring?"

Acknowledging the common challenge of integrating modern technology into older vehicles, Micah empathizes with Dustin's situation and outlines the importance and benefits of CarPlay:

Micah Sargent [03:30]: "CarPlay is very handy. Wireless CarPlay is great because I have it in my car via an aftermarket head unit. I can keep my phone tucked away, and it connects automatically, providing a seamless experience."

Aftermarket Head Units vs. Portable Solutions

Micah discusses two primary approaches to adding CarPlay: installing a full aftermarket head unit and using portable CarPlay devices.

1. Aftermarket Head Units

Micah explains that aftermarket head units offer full integration, allowing the use of existing vehicle features such as steering wheel controls, built-in microphones for calls, and access to Siri. He highlights the following points:

• Pros:

  • Comprehensive integration with vehicle systems.
  • Enhanced functionality and user experience.
  • Utilizes existing car hardware for seamless operation.

• Cons:

  • Higher cost compared to portable solutions.
  • Requires installation, which may involve some technical know-how.

Micah Sargent [05:15]: "With full integration of the aftermarket unit, you get things like using the steering wheel controls to navigate songs, adjust volume, and communicate via the car's built-in microphone. This functionality makes a significant difference in the overall CarPlay experience."

2. Portable CarPlay Units

For those seeking a more budget-friendly and less invasive option, Micah introduces portable CarPlay units. He reviews two specific products:

a. Car and Driver Intellidash Pro X10

• Features:

  • 10-inch wireless CarPlay touchscreen.
  • Auxiliary output for audio connection.
  • Connects via the cigarette lighter socket.
  • Price: Approximately $180.

• Pros:

  • Relatively affordable compared to full head units.
  • Easy to set up without extensive wiring.
  • Provides essential CarPlay functionalities.

• Cons:

  • Limited integration with vehicle controls.
  • Dependent on auxiliary connection for audio, which may not be as seamless as built-in systems.

Micah Sargent [07:00]: "The Intellidash Pro X10 is not cheap, but it’s much less expensive than an aftermarket head unit. It offers wireless CarPlay with essential features like AUX output, making it a solid choice for budget-conscious users."

b. EON 10.26-Inch Wireless Apple CarPlay Unit

• Features:

  • 10.26-inch display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.
  • Built-in backup camera connectivity.
  • Front camera for in-car monitoring, beneficial for insurance claims.

• Pros:

  • Additional features like backup and front cameras.
  • Enhanced functionality suitable for modern needs.
  • Slightly more versatile with Android Auto support.

• Cons:

  • Still less integrated than full head units.
  • May involve additional setup for camera functionalities.

Micah Sargent [09:45]: "The EON 10.26-inch unit not only provides CarPlay but also allows integration with backup and front cameras, adding layers of functionality that can be particularly useful for insurance purposes."

Recommendations and Best Practices

Micah offers clear recommendations based on the listener's needs and budget considerations:

1. Opt for Aftermarket Head Units for Best Experience:

   • For those willing to invest more, a full aftermarket head unit from reputable sources like Crutchfield ensures comprehensive integration and the best user experience.
   • Quote:

     Micah Sargent [12:30]: "If you want to give your wife the best possible experience, it is going to be that aftermarket head unit install."

2. Consider Portable Units for Budget Constraints:

   • Portable units like the Car and Driver Intellidash Pro X10 and the EON 10.26-inch offer functional CarPlay features without the higher cost of full installations.
   • Quote:

     Micah Sargent [11:15]: "These portable units may be what you are looking for if you want something more cost-effective and less complicated to install."

3. Avoid Low-Cost, Low-Quality Options:

   • Micah warns against extremely cheap CarPlay solutions (ranging from $20 to $50) due to poor performance issues such as lag, inadequate screen brightness, and unreliable connectivity.
   • Quote:

     Micah Sargent [13:50]: "I highly recommend avoiding those because the experience, the lag, the screen that does not get anywhere near bright enough for a car that's moving through areas with a lot of sunlight, all of that is going to hamper your ability to be able to use this CarPlay system."

4. Utilize Trusted Retailers for Purchases:

   • Websites like Crutchfield provide tailored parts and instructions based on specific vehicle models, simplifying the purchase and installation process.

Micah Sargent [10:25]: "It's very easy to go to a site like crutchfield.com, type in your specific car, and it will surface all sorts of options that you can then install in the vehicle."

Conclusion

Micah Sargent wraps up the episode by reiterating the best approaches to adding CarPlay to older vehicles like the 2015 Honda Civic. While portable units offer a budget-friendly entry point, investing in a full aftermarket head unit provides the most seamless and integrated experience. By leveraging trusted retailers and being cautious of low-cost alternatives, listeners can effectively enhance their vehicle's technology without overspending or facing installation challenges.

Micah Sargent [14:00]: "That is my ultimate suggestion. My last and final suggestion I'll make is..." (summarizes key points and recommendations)

Final Thoughts

This episode of Hands-On Apple serves as a valuable guide for listeners looking to upgrade their vehicle's infotainment system with Apple CarPlay. Through detailed product reviews, practical advice, and clear recommendations, Micah Sargent ensures that listeners are well-equipped to make informed decisions that align with their budget and technical comfort levels.

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements, introductory remarks, and concluding promotions to focus solely on the content discussed during the main segment of the episode.

Transcript

[Micah Sargent]

Coming up on Hands on Apple, we take a look at adding CarPlay to a vehicle after the fact while staying on a budget. Stay tuned.

[Steve Gibson]

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[Steve Gibson]

Podcasts you love from people you trust. This is Twit.

[Micah Sargent]

Foreign. Welcome to Hands On Apple. I am Micah Sargent and today, as always, I am here to talk about your Apple gadgets. This is the show where I teach you about something, or in this case, answer a question that has come in from a listener. So let's take a look. Dustin writes. Hi Micah, My wife just picked up a 2015 Honda Civic as it's a little too old, it doesn't have CarPlay. What are some good options these days to add CarPlay without a huge cost, or hopefully without needing to remove the entire head unit and do complicated wiring? Well, this is a good question. It is a question that honestly, we need to talk about. So first and foremost, I get it. You've got an older vehicle and because of that, you don't have CarPlay built in. CarPlay is very handy. Wireless CarPlay is great because I have wireless CarPlay in my car by way of an aftermarket head unit. And in doing so, I can get in my car, keep my phone tucked away in a bag or in my pocket, and it connects to the car, automatically starts carplay. It's a great experience, but it wasn't the simplest thing I've ever done. I did use Crutchfield, which is a site that sells aftermarket audio equipment and car stuff. And so I was able to essentially go on there, find the head unit that I wanted, which, by the way, head units have gotten a lot less expensive for the most part over time as we have moved away from things like physical media. So they used to have a lot of times like built in CD players, built in DVD players, and a whole hefty head unit. But those head units have been able to get smaller and focus more on the screen over time, which has made them much more cost effective. Now, the cool thing about Crutchfield is if you go there and you buy something, Crutchfield is going to give you, you put in your car's information, all of the little parts and pieces that you need, not give them to you, but let you select them and buy them, all the little parts and pieces that you need to make it work for your vehicle. And so I was able to do that to get the necessary vehicle harness, as it's called, that has the right wiring to plug into the back of the head unit unit to then connect to my car. And then the instructions I was able to follow along with those and get it working for my vehicle. So that is something that I have faith, you know, a somewhat techy person is able to do, particularly if they're a handy person as well. But I understand that's not something you want to do. And so when it comes to this, you are now kind of weighing the pros and cons because with the full integration of the aftermarket unit unit you get things like being able to use the steering wheel controls to go forward and back in songs, turn up and down the volume, use the car's built in microphone to communicate. All of those things that are built in, that functionality is there and that's great. But if you're truly looking for an aftermarket head unit that is more cost effective and also doesn't require a lot of wiring, there are now these portable units that have been made and they may be what you are looking for. So let's head over to macOS to take a look at what we have here. The first one that I want to talk about is this head unit from Car and Driver. Actually this is the car and driver Intellidash Pro X10. And what it has is, is a full featured wireless carplay touchscreen unit. It is nice and wide here so you can see it works as a 10 inch touchscreen that has all of the basic, the basic stuff as part of it including giving you the ability to plug it into, you know, your classic sort of cigarette lighter and most importantly run audio out of it auxiliary out into your car. That's the big thing because it does have kind of built in functionality for being able to listen to stuff. But no, we don't want to use tiny little speakers or anything like that. We want to use it from the car. And so you connect it to your speaker with that actual jack or you can also connect it to your speaker via Bluetooth or FM radio. Again, don't recommend that, but being able to plug that in and have that auxiliary option that AUX cable to do so is quite nice and will give you, I think the functionality that you're looking for. This intellidash is $180, so it's not. It's not cheap, but it is. If you've ever looked into aftermarket head units, it is much less money than an actual aftermarket head unit. I think that the fact that it has the. When I went looking for what would work here, I always looked for AUX output. I do not like the idea of routing sound via Bluetooth or FM transmitter in particular or using the Built in speaker but having that aux output so you can at least plug it into your car and get some of the functionality that works with your vehicle is great. Essentially what happens is you, you turn it on, it makes its own little wifi network. You connect to that and then that is what tells your phone, hey, this is a CarPlay unit. I'm able to use this. You pop this thing up on your dash and have it plugged in and now Suddenly you have CarPlay whoops in your car with all of the functionality that you would get from CarPlay. It does have a microphone so you can use the built in microphone for it to make calls to access Siri to do all of that stuff right there from the dev. And if you happen to have Android Auto or needed to use Android Auto, it also has that as well. So this is my first choice. My second choice is a little less expensive. It is the EON on 10.26-inch wireless Apple CarPlay unit and it works similarly to the other one. You also get that same experience of CarPlay or Android Auto. It does have the ability to connect to a built in backup camera so you can connect that and get backup camera functionality where it will do the, it'll show it, it'll, you know, let you see it on the screen to the right of your CarPlay experience or completely taking up the whole screen. And so having that as an addition I think is quite nice. But with this I really think that. Oh, and it also has a, I should mention a built in front cam so that you can use it for kind of keeping track of what's going on in your car. Those are apparently more needed these days with insurance claims so it can be great to have that as well. So you plug this in as well. You've got the, the, the camera experience that's included and the ability to connect and you know, use touch to access your CarPlay controls. Personally, I like a unit that has a brand I'm familiar with, even if this is kind of, you know, a white label product versus something that is a little bit more random and may not have as much behind it just because what you're doing is connecting wirelessly to this device and having it broadcast carplay. So in doing so I really feel, I really feel that the best thing that you could do is save up some money and get a real in dash head unit. That functionality, that interconnectivity is so sort of, it is central to the experience that is CarPlay and having that really makes a difference. So yes, sure, you can go with one of these units and you may even like one of these units. But I think if you want to give your wife the best possible experience, it is going to be that aftermarket head unit install. And again, it's very easy to go to a site like crutchfield.com, type in or, you know, select your car, your specific car, and it will surface all sorts of options for you that you can then install in the vehicle. So that is my ultimate suggestion. My last and final suggestion I'll make is in looking for these, if you decide not to go with the links that we include in the show notes, if you just type in wireless carplay or wired carplay or whatever display, you're going to see options that are $20, $40, maybe even up to like 50 bucks. I highly recommend avoiding those because the experience, the lag, the screen that does not get anywhere near bright enough for a car that's moving through areas where there's a lot of sunlight, all of that is going to hamper your ability to be able to use this CarPlay system. And ultimately that's what you want, is to be able to use the CarPlay system. So those are my suggestions. The car and driver, Intellidash Pro X10 and Eonon's 10.26-inch CarPlay head unit. Folks, that is going to bring us to the end of this episode of Hands On Apple. Thank you all so much for tuning in. Thank you, listener Dustin, for a being a member of club twit&b writing in with your question. I'll be back next week with another episode. Until then, you can get in touch with me HOA TV or micahwit tv. Thanks and we'll see you next time on Hands on Apple. Bye. Bye.

[Steve Gibson]

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[Micah Sargent]

Sam.