Non-wireless Carplay solutions

Just got my first Tacoma and didn't realize until now that the Carplay support was wired only. I see via forum search that there's a USB-to-carplay-wireless adapter out there I can buy but it seems to have some really mixed reviews.

Anybody have a slick solution for Carplay phone docking? Like a lightning connector exposed in an inconspicuous way to jam my phone on when I get in (that also doesn't block part of the head unit screen?)

Or...I guess, is there any chance Toyota does some firmware update to enable wireless Carplay in the future? (is that even possible?)

Or if none of the above, what do you guys generally do with your phones? Do you plug them in every time you get in and just let the wire dangle somewhere? Or just use the default wireless over bluetooth and not even worry with Carplay?

 

I plug in every time.

There are adaptors but you are not alone, nearly 95% of all carplay is wired in all manufacturers. Only BMW currently has oem wireless carplay.

It's annoying because I use it for commute and my phone rarely needs charging, but the functionality is worth it to me.

 

Toyota won't issue a firmware update to enable wireless AA/ACP. Reason being is that the wireless connectivity portion is through a WiFi signal produced by the head unit, and I'd be willing to bet that there isn't any sort of SSID that can be produced by the unit as it is lacking the hardware needed to do so.

I have wireless AA but whenever I tend to plug my phone in for charging, I plug it in and rest the phone sideways to the right of the parking brake.

I haven't seen any phone docks for these trucks, nor would one really seem to fit properly anywhere since there isn't a lot of room. Your best bet would be to drill a small opening into the center console area and route the cable through there, and then use a phone dock to mount your phone onto it.

 

On my 2020 you can enable wifi in the head unit and it broadcasts an SSID. You can buy a WiFi plan from ATT to tether devices. I think the tech is there, dunno if it meets all the actual wireless AA specs from Google. Will be curious how it progresses in the future.

 

Plugging in stuff is hard ....

 

Interesting, I wasn't aware the 2020s had an option of broadcasting WiFi.
Since that's the case, the hardware is there; however the head units have to have the power necessary to operate AA/ACP wirelessly. They more than likely do, so then it'd just be an issue of having Toyota obtain the proper licensing and writing the code into the new software allowing the SSID to be broadcasted through AA/ACP. Toyota isn't really all that 'big' on implementing new and amazing tech into their vehicles, so I'd be really surprised if they wanted to take the additional steps to add wireless capabilities.

 

Yeah I'm not holding out for it anytime soon. Ive already purchased a wireless AA device myself.

 

I mean, of course it isn't hard but...it's more about leaving a cord dangling around all the time + adding short bursts of unnecessary charging (which per my understanding isn't great for the battery).