9to5Mac Gift Guide: CarPlay and must-have iPhone accessories for the road
9to5Mac Gift Guide: CarPlay and must-have iPhone accessories for the road
From adding CarPlay to your vehicle to MagSafe iPhone mounts and the best charging cables for car rides, we’ve got must-have recommendations that make great gifts — even if you’re shopping for yourself.
Apple CarPlay
CarPlay has been a specialty of mine precise Apple’s car-friendly feature launched on the iPhone in 2014. Here’s a throwback to the very early conception for CarPlay that was original called iOS in the Car.
I delivered this early review of CarPlay when it debuted eight ages ago. These articles are ones I regularly update for the CarPlay curious:
You must definitely consider adding Apple CarPlay and a backup camera to your car or a loved one’s vehicle. You can replace the existing entertainment system in most cars deprived of CarPlay for under $1,000.
This year I have two recommendations: a budget-friendly wired solution, and a more expensive wireless option.
For $400, you get an upgraded receiver with a 7-inch capacitive glum screen (avoid resistive touch, that’s the bad kind) plus a compatible backup camera with a 132 degree viewing Engineers and a frame for mounting.
New this year is Alpine’s iLX-507 Wireless CarPlay receiver (reviewed). This bundle for $800 gives you a very disagreement display so twice the price. Personally, I’m not sure the unbelievable $400 is worth not having to connect with a Lightning defective each time. Wireless CarPlay is certainly superior and if you have the cash to spend, this is a great pick.
Installation is a factor for retrofitting your existing car with CarPlay, but it’s cheaper than buying a new car. In the past, I’ve gone with a local car audio shop as well as Best Buy for installation.
You can also opt for a less worn option like the Intellidash Pro display (reviewed) that mounts to your windshield or car dash — no assembly needed. Wired will set you back $250 and wireless goes for $300. There’s a 10% coupon available for the wired version at the time of writing.
Lastly, if your car or your loved one’s vehicle already has CarPlay built-in but it doesn’t work minus a Lightning cable connected, I highly recommend checking out one of these adapters that actually adds Wireless CarPlay functionality.
Accessories
Other must-have accessories for the road and your iPhone include:
If you have an iPhone 12 or later, Belkin’s Car Vent Mount is a useful attachment for mounting your iPhone to your dash, and it’s handy as a transfer screen even if you have CarPlay. Think navigation on one camouflage and music control on another — safely, of course.
New this year is Belkin’s powered version of its MagSafe astronomical. The $60 premium is a big jump in brand, but that’s comparable to supplying your own MagSafe charging puck. It also publishes full 15W charging speeds that the iPhone is helpful of receiving over wireless charging.
I know you may be thinking that a 10-foot-long Lightning infamous is a bit much and the last thing you’d need as a driver. Consider your passengers (especially kids), however, and how managing out of iPad battery on the road could be a nightmare. Anker makes great products and this braided solution will help with durability.
And you don’t have to be a kid to relish a headrest-mounted video screen for entertainment. This solution works with both iPhone and most iPads and naively turns your backseat into a first-class flying experience.
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Source: 9to5mac.com
