If you are looking for a new car stereo, you may be wondering if an Android head unit will work with your iPhone or iPad.
The answer is yes – most Android head units will work with both Apple and Android devices. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when making your purchase.
In this blog post, we will discuss the different types of connections that are available on Android head units, as well as how to use them with your iPhone or iPad.
We will also give you some tips on choosing the right Android head unit for your needs!
How to Connect Android Head Unit to an iPhone?
One of the most common questions we get asked is whether or not an Android head unit will work with an iPhone or iPad.
The answer is yes, but there are a few things you need to know first. Here’s a quick guide on how to connect your Android head unit to an iPhone or iPad.
Using Apple CarPlay
The first thing you need to do is make sure that your head unit supports Apple CarPlay.
If it doesn’t, then you’re out of luck and will need to get a new head unit for a seamless experience.
Once you’ve confirmed that your head unit has either Apple CarPlay, the next step is to make sure that your iPhone or iPad is compatible.
Once you’ve confirmed that your devices are all compatible, the next step is to actually connect them together.
For this, you’ll need a Lightning to USB cable. If you don’t have one, you can get them from Apple or any electronics store.
Once you have the cable, simply connect your iPhone or iPad to the head unit via the USB port. In most cases, your head unit will automatically detect your device and switch to Apple CarPlay mode.
However, if it doesn’t, then you may need to select it manually from the settings menu.
Once you’re connected, you’ll be able to use all of your iPhone or iPad’s features on the head unit’s display.
This includes making phone calls, sending messages, navigating with maps, listening to music, and more.
Using Apple CarPlay Adapter
If your head unit doesn’t support Apple CarPlay, then you can still use your iPhone or iPad with it using an adapter.
There are a few different adapters on the market, but you need to make sure that the adapter is compatible with your head unit.
Once you have the adapter, simply connect it to your head unit’s USB port and then connect your iPhone or iPad to the adapter using a Lightning to USB cable.
While adapters are great for using your iPhone or iPad with an Android head unit, they do have some drawbacks.
For example, you won’t be able to use all of the features that are available on Apple CarPlay.
However, you will still be able to use your device for navigation, music, and other basic functions.
Plus, there are some adapters that work like Apple CarPlay but aren’t really the Apple CarPlay itself. In such cases, you may see significant performance drops. That’s why we don’t recommend using adapters unless you are bound to do that.
Using Bluetooth
The first thing you need to do is make sure that your Android head unit supports Bluetooth A Hands-Free Profile (HFP). Most newer units do, but if you’re not sure, check the manual or contact the manufacturer.
If yours doesn’t have Bluetooth, then you can always add a Bluetooth adapter to the head unit for this functionality as well.
Once you’ve confirmed that your head unit supports HFP, go ahead and pair it with your iPhone or iPad.
Once your devices are paired, you should be able to use all of the features of your Android head unit with your iPhone or iPad. This includes making phone calls, playing music, and using navigation apps.
One thing to keep in mind is that some features may not work as well as they do when connected to an Android phone. For example, Siri may not be able to understand you as well when you’re using it through your head unit’s microphone.
Basic Connectivity Features Android Head Unit Come with
When you are looking for an Android head unit, you will want to make sure that it has the right features for your needs.
One of the most important features to look for is Bluetooth compatibility.
Bluetooth allows you to connect your phone to the head unit without any wires, which is very convenient.
Most Android head units also come with a USB port. This can be used to connect your phone or other devices directly to the head unit.
Some higher-end models may also come with Wi-Fi and/or NFC (Near Field Communication) support. These features are not essential, but they can be handy if you want the unit to seamlessly connect with other external devices like mobile phones or speakers.
However, with these connectivities, you can’t use the full functionality of the external device in your head unit.
These can be used for streaming music from the phone and hands-free calling without any control in the head unit. The control will be in your phone and you can stream the sound through the car speakers using Bluetooth, Wifi, and USB.
To use the full functionality of an iPhone in the head unit, you’ll need to use the Apple CarPlay app.
With the CarPlay app, you’ll be able to control music, stream, and call right from the head unit without touching the ios device.
Do All Android Head Units Come with Apple CarPlay?
No, not all Android head units come with Apple CarPlay. In fact, many lower-end models do not support this feature.
If you want to use your iPhone with an Android head unit, you’ll need to make sure that the unit you purchase supports Apple CarPlay.
While most newer models do support this feature, there are still some older units on the market that do not.
You can see apple compatible head units to check whether it has a built-in Apple CarPlay feature or not. If you have a head unit already that doesn’t support Apple CarPlay, you can still use the feature by using an Apple CarPlay adapter.
Conclusion
To summarize, not all Android head units come with Apple CarPlay. If you want to use your iPhone with an Android head unit, you’ll need to make sure that the unit you purchase supports Apple CarPlay.
You can also use an adapter to use the feature if your head unit does not support it. Lastly, keep in mind that some features may not work as well when using an iPhone with an Android head unit due to compatibility issues.
We hope this article helped you understand a bit more about how Android head units work with iPhones and iPads. If you have any further questions, feel free to leave a comment below! Thanks for reading!