CarPlay Retrofit to Any Car | Upgrade with Universal Touch Screens

How would you feel if you could bring the latest CarPlay experience into your old car? for a budget-friendly rate? Today, we will explore the best universal CarPlay screens to retrofit your old car into a new version to upgrade your in-car experience. Here are our best CarPlay retrofit Hardware solutions.

1. 7-Inch Wireless CarPlay  Android Auto-Touch Screen

2. CarPlay Android Auto 7-inch Touch Screen for Any car

3. CarPlay Touchscreen 10.26  Wireless CarPlay Screen

4. Portable CarPaly Android Auto 7-inch Touch Screen

Additionally, we have listed solutions for users who don't have CarPlay and need to add CarPlay to their vehicle, and users who have CarPlay and need to upgrade it to the next level:

• Solutions to Add CarPlay in Older Cars
• Solutions to Upgrade Existing CarPlay

Can You Add Apple CarPlay to Older Car?

Yes, it is possible to add Apple CarPlay for old cars. You may have a vehicle before 2014 and it may not have Apple CarPlay, don't worry, you can use a portable CarPlay touchscreen or a head unit like Pioneer, Sony, or Alpine. For more information, you can find the Apple CarPlay compatibility for your vehicle here.

How to Install CarPlay on Your Car? - Step Guide

• Check your old CarPlay compatibility.
• Select a touch screen, head unit, or portable CarPlay screen to set up your old vehicle.
• Get other required accessories and tools like USB cable, wire stripper, panel removal tools, etc. (If needed only because it depends on the new CarPlay device you choose.)
• Disconnect the battery of your vehicle.
• Remove the existing car setup if you try to embed a head unit.
• Install your new head unit or touch screen (touchscreen is portable, so no complex installation process)
• Connect your iPhone to the new infotainment system
• Then test your new CarPlay system to see whether it works.
• Reset the car's dashboard settings.

Easy CarPlay Retrofit Solutions

So now let's see what affordable CarPlay solutions for older cars that you can go with.

7-Inch Wireless CarPlay Android Auto-Touch Screen

This is the first hardware product we recommend for retrofitting your car. It is the 7-Inch Universal CarPlay Android Auto Touch Screen.

Features

• High-quality display with 7 inches
• Compatible with iOS 10 to iOS 18.5, all subversions
• Easy to access your favorite mobile apps through the dashboard
• You can plug this touchscreen in with a simple setup process.
• IPS touch screen
• Compatible with various car models
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are available.

CarPlay Android Auto 7-inch Touch Screen for Any car

This is the second-best option to know how to install CarPlay in older cars with a universal screen. Wireless Android Auto Touch Screen 7-Inch can be used for watching YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix.

Features

• Easy to install
• Compatible with iOS 10 - iOS 18.5
• 7-inch touchscreen system
• It can connect wirelessly.
• This touchscreen supports multiple devices.
• With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, you can have seamless internet browsing.
• High quality
• It is compatible with all car models.
• Improved rear-view camera experience
• FM transmission

CarPlay Touchscreen 10.26 Wireless CarPlay Screen

The Universal 10.26-inch CarPlay Screen is a touch-screen car multimedia player designed to give the same experience as an in-car infotainment system.

Features

• It has a 10.26-inch touch-screen radio display.
• Compatible with iOS 10 to iOS 18.5
• You can use Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, AUX, or SD cards to connect this hardware.
• Wireless
• It integrates with both Apple and iOS products.
• It consists of an inbuilt radio system.
• Real-view camera available
• This touchscreen is compatible with any car model.
• Easy to install
• You can have the best car experience with modern technology.

Portable CarPaly Android Auto 7-inch Touch Screen

Would you like to stream YouTube or watch your favorite movie on a CarPlay, but you have only an old car? CarPlay Wireless Android Auto 7 Inch Radio is one of the best aftermarket CarPlay systems to retrofit your car.

Features

• Both iPhone and Android users can use this product as an alternative to CarPlay.
• Compatible with iOS 10 to iOS 18.5, all subversions.
• You can use your favorite apps to make calls, video streams, messages, access contacts, and much more.
• It is easy to connect through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
• It can connect more than two devices at once.
• The Rear View camera supports enhancing your parking and navigation experience.
• FM transmitter
• High quality.

How to Upgrade Existing CarPlay to Next level?

The following are the methods to enhance your existing CarPlay experience to the next level. Here I have listed the software and hardware solutions for your reference.

WheelPal App

WheelPal is a CarPlay upgrading software. It is an alternative to the CarBridge app. You can add any app to the CarPlay screen with this app. WheelPal needs a jailbroken iPhone to add non-official apps like YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video and etc on the CarPlay screen.

It also shows non-jailbreak solutions as well. No software is currently developed in the market for adding non-official apps to CarPlay without jailbreaking the iPhone. WheelPal is not compatible with iOS 18.5

Disclaimer: Jailbreaking an iPhone involves removing restrictions imposed by Apple. It may cause warranty void and security concerns. The recommended way is not to jailbreak your iPhone. If you wish to jailbreak your iPhone, please do it at your own risk.

Carlinkit AI Box

Carlinkit wireless AI box enables video streaming on CarPlay. You don’t need to jailbreak your iPhone to stream Netflix, YouTube on CarPlay with this smart adapter.

Features:

Ottocast AI Box

Enjoy your favorite Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, and Prime Video while in your car with Ottocast Car AI Box. It supports any app to add to Apple CarPlay.

Features:

Why Retrofitting the CarPlay is the Smartest Choice to Modernize Your Car?

Whether you are an iPhone user or an Android user, you can retrofit the Apple CarPlay system or Android Auto to access your favorite mobile apps for messaging, music, and many other applications through your car screen. Now let's have a close look at the CarPlay retrofit benefits.

Car-optimized app experience

There are different types of CarPlay apps that are designed for in-car use with large buttons and read the car interface. So, this is the easiest method to use your mobile while you are on a drive.

Safe Driving Experience

You can give commands, answer a call, or send voice texts through Siri voice controls through the Infotainment CarPlay system. Moreover, you can change the volume of your radio even without touching or taking your eyes off the road.

Easy access to your favorite apps

Android or Apple CarPlay supports a vast array of apps such as music, messages, phones, podcasts, audiobooks, some third-party navigation apps like Google Maps, and many more. You can install CarPlay in older cars to get this experience.

Personalized experience

No complex steps. So, you can customize your CarPlay experience by rearranging applications, installing new apps, and choosing your favorite apps that appear on your car dashboard,d like YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, and such.

Is it Worth Upgrading for CarPlay?

If you are a user with no CarPlay, it is the best choice for you to add CarPlay for old car, because you don’t need to look at your phone when you are driving. If you happen to look at your phone when you are driving, it may cause accidents. So it's the smartest decision to add CarPlay for any car. You can make calls, send messages, use Google Maps, Spotify, WhatsApp, etc, on your CarPlay screen.

If you are a user with CarPlay, you can upgrade it to the next level. You can add more apps to the CarPlay screen, you can turn your wired CarPlay to wireless, and you can play video on the CarPlay screen. Using above mentioned AI boxes, you can turn your CarPlay into a next-generation one.

Hardware Comparison

Conclusion

CarPlay modernization is not a complex process because now there are many hardware solutions introduced to retrofit CarPlay in 2024. In this guide, we will explain the top touch-screen systems with low rates to experience high-quality options. These retrofit screens are mostly compatible with any car model, so you can use your favorite apps on your dashboard with these solutions.

FAQs