Found product for Apple Carplay for 16-19 Models

So I have been shopping for a Tacoma for a couple months, been in a terrible 1st world problem. I currently have Apple Carplay in my current car, and do not want to lose it if I were to get a Tacoma. I realize that off the lot I need a 2020. I’m not trying to break the budget with a new 2020... I’ve tried to think of everything from software update to using a 2020 radio in an older model. I think I found something, and just curious if anyone has heard of or even got this product:

2016-2020 Toyota Tacoma Entune 3.0 Radio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

https://www.infotainment.com/products/2016-2020-toyota-tacoma-entune-3-0-radio-with-apple-carplay-and-android-auto

 

Essentially they take a 2020 radio and provide adapters to the original cables into, and then you plug those in the back of the 2020 radio and you get a “stock” radio with CarPlay in an older model. There is a YouTube video showing a fairly simple explanation, but the product looks newer.

 

It’s cool but you can get a much better radio that has carplay on it with a bigger screen than OEM. That’s my plan if/when my radio takes a crap (or if I get too impatient waiting for it to break )

 

Just out of curiosity, what does Apple car play have other than the bigger screen to justify spending $2k when you can just use your phone on a mount?

 

Spend some time on Crutchfield. There are a lot of options for wireless apple CarPlay, HD radio, 7+ inch screens and all of the factory radios’s settings/pages (via $175 add-on). All will have more power output than stock and cost at about half to 2/3 as much...

 

I went a fairly inexpensive route, $300 plus tax
Pioneer - 7" - Android Auto/Apple® CarPlay™ - Built-in Bluetooth - In-Dash Digital Media Receiver - Black
Model: DMH-1500NEX

Plus a dashboard adaptor, wiring harness adapter, USB adapter, antenna adapter. I guess the whole thing was around $500 after taxes.

I don’t like the huge screens, 7 inches is good for me. Working good so far.

 

Does this unit allow you to use the vehicle customization settings?

 

From the research Ive been doing, I don’t think they transfer with Pioneer, but I’m not sure. Call Crutchfield or another savvy company’s customer service....

You have to also buy one of these @ $150 to keep your steering wheel controls and a few other features.

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-m4AdQLeTSZt/p_794ADSMRR/iDatalink-Maestro-RR-Interface-Module.html