Apple CarPlay™ is a piece of software that enables a car head unit to be a display and a controller for an iOS device starting with iPhone 5 running iOS 7.1 or later. It allows to view content from your iPhone on the car's head unit, in addition you can listen to music, phone someone, use satellite navigation and talk to send a text messages.

What apps work with Apple CarPlay?

Not all iPhone applications support Apple CarPlay. Apple's own applications that support CarPlay include the calling application, Music, Maps, Calendar, Messages, Audiobooks, Podcasts, News and Settings. Third-party application developers can also add CarPlay support, such as: Google Maps, Google Music, WhatsApp, Zoom, Telegram, Audible, Spotify and Amazon.

Which phones are compatible with Apple CarPlay?

It is compatible with any iPhone starting with iPhone 5, so also the 6, 7, 8, X, 11, 12 series.

How to install Apple CarPlay on your car?

As with Android Auto, CarPlay cannot be installed on the car. Your car's media drive must already have Apple CarPlay support. The cheapest solution, not to change the car, is to buy an aftermarket unit from manufacturers such as Alpine, Clarion, Kenwood, Pioneer, Sony, JVC that support this technology. All you have to do then is connect the iPhone via USB cable to the car unit and CarPlay starts automatically. Some units also support Wireless CarPlay, ie connection made via Bluetooth and WiFi, without cables. You need at least iOS version 9 installed on your phone.

What cars does Apple CarPlay support?

On the Apple website you can find a fairly long list of car models that offer optional access to CarPlay. Optional because this option has not yet become a standard (like ABS, ESP for example) but either comes pre-installed on a more expensive equipment level, or must be checked on the car's list of options.

Unlike Android Auto, which is a standalone application that you have to install on your phone Apple CarPlay is integrated into the iOS operating system and starts automatically the moment you connect the phone to the car. The configuration of the CarPlay application is done from the phone's settings menu.