As GM does every part it could to nix Apple CarPlay from its future autos, Honda goes in the wrong way, increasing CarPlay capabilities to even older fashions.
Though Honda has already provided assist for CarPlay in lots of its autos since 2016, for essentially the most half, it’s been the plug-in type — wired CarPlay. Nonetheless, now it appears the automaker needs to provide homeowners of at the least a few of its older autos the untethered expertise.
As reported by Autoblog, Honda will probably be providing a wi-fi CarPlay retrofit for Accord fashions going again so far as 2018. The announcement was made throughout Honda’s media briefing for brand spanking new 2025 fashions, the place the corporate stated that homeowners of eligible Honda autos will be capable to go to an internet portal by the tip of January to schedule the service at a neighborhood supplier.
One of many greatest obstacles to providing wi-fi CarPlay in most autos is the dearth of built-in Wi-Fi. Bluetooth doesn’t have the bandwidth to assist the quantity of information that must be modified between your iPhone and your automobile’s infotainment system, which signifies that these vehicles that don’t sport a Wi-Fi system can’t play.
Nonetheless, in keeping with Autoblog, this explicit retrofit solely requires a software program replace. If correct, meaning that it’ll solely be out there for these Accord fashions that already assist Wi-Fi as a part of the HondaLink function.
That would clarify why the retrofit solely goes again to 2018 Accord fashions, regardless of wired CarPlay being out there within the 2016 and 2017 12 months fashions. There’s additionally no phrase on whether or not Honda will provide the replace for different Honda or Acura fashions, however presumably, any HondaLink-equipped car with Wi-Fi Hotspot ought to be capable to assist wi-fi CarPlay.
Regardless that HondaLink has lengthy supported over-the-air updates, it appears the CarPlay retrofit would require a go to to a neighborhood Honda supplier so it may be accomplished by a service technician. There’s additionally no phrase on what the improve will price, however it received’t probably be a freebie. Autoblog notes {that a} 2018 Mazda replace so as to add wired CarPlay went for $199 when it was launched, and BMW as soon as toyed with the concept of an $80/12 months CarPlay subscription, though it rapidly deserted these plans after critical pushback from BMW homeowners.
Wi-fi CarPlay makes a major distinction within the person expertise because it helps you to hit the street with out even taking your iPhone out of your pocket, a lot much less needing to fret about plugging it in. When you’ll nonetheless probably wish to try this to maintain your iPhone charged on longer journeys, it’s a game-changer for many who are likely to hop out and in of their automobile lots, as CarPlay successfully turns into your car’s infotainment system, arising virtually as quickly as you begin your engine.
Nonetheless, the comparatively restricted availability of wi-fi CarPlay in autos has given rise to a market of third-party adapters that act as bridges, plugging into your automobile’s USB port and connecting to your iPhone wirelessly. Nonetheless, these will be fiddly to get working and infrequently operate almost in addition to native wi-fi CarPlay integration, so this retrofit ought to be welcome information to many Honda Accord homeowners.