5 Best Portable Apple CarPlay Units For Your Vehicle

In today’s tech-driven world, staying connected while on the road is more important than ever. Although Apple CarPlay offers a seamless way to do just this, not every car comes fitted with it. While you can shop for aftermarket Apple CarPlay head units, it’s important to know that all vehicles don’t support it. That’s where a portable Apple CarPlay unit comes into play. These units can be mounted on top of your dashboard or to the windshield while providing you easy access to Apple CarPlay features. But with so many options, what are the best portable Apple CarPlay units out there?

Portable Apple CarPlay

That’s what this article is all about. In this post, we’ll look at some of the best portable Apple CarPlay units for your vehicle. These handy devices offer a seamless and safe way to access your favorite iPhone apps, music, and navigation features directly from your car’s dashboard. Whether you’re driving a classic car without a built-in infotainment system or simply looking for a more versatile option, a portable Apple CarPlay unit is a fantastic investment. So let’s take a look at the best options out there.

But first, you may want to check out the following:

1. Schmidt Spiele Portable 7-Inch CarPlay Screen

Schmidt Spiele Portable 7 Inch Carplay Screen Best Portable Apple CarPlay Units For Your Vehicle

If you’re on a tight budget or simply prefer a compact and portable solution, the Schmidt Spiele 7-inch CarPlay screen is a compelling option. This budget-friendly unit boasts a bright and clear 7-inch touchscreen display, offering a user-friendly interface for accessing your favorite iOS apps.

The 7-inch touchscreen interface is the perfect size for most vehicles out there, as it allows you to interact with all the elements on screen, without taking up much space in the physical world. It effortlessly integrates with your Apple devices, ensuring a smooth and responsive interface. Its standout feature lies in its user-friendly design, making it easy for anyone to navigate through apps, messages, and music.

Apart from supporting both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, the unit also comes with support for screen casting. Add to that, the Schmidt Spiele CarPlay screen can connect seamlessly to your car’s speakers via Bluetooth or wired AUX. However, in case your car doesn’t have a sound system, the screen comes outfitted with its speakers too. While they won’t be great for listening to music or entertainment, they’ll suffice for navigation purposes.

What We Like

  • Affordable
  • Compact and portable design
  • Easy to set up and use

What We Don’t Like

  • Relatively small display
  • No warranty

2. Westods Portable 10.26-inch Wireless Carplay Screen

Westods Portable 10.26 Wireless Carplay Screen Best Portable Apple CarPlay Units For Your Vehicle

For those who crave the ultimate in-car tech upgrade, the Westods Portable 10.26-inch Wireless CarPlay Screen takes center stage. This unit boasts a generous screen size, delivering a cinematic feel to your in-car entertainment.

Its massive 10.26-inch display provides ample space for navigation, entertainment, and other CarPlay features, while its sleek and modern design adds a touch of sophistication to your vehicle. With a high resolution of 1600 x 600 pixels, you get clear visuals that are great for GPS navigation and even watching movies. The unit also supports video playback, and there’s a 64GB microSD card included in the package too.

Apart from that, one of the most unique features of this unit is that it also functions as a dash cam. The unit comes with a built-in 2.5K forward-facing dash camera along with an included rear-facing 1080p unit, which also doubles as a backup camera. Just connect the red wire of the backup camera cable to the reverse light anode, and you’re good to go. This Westods unit is one of the best aftermarket Apple CarPlay screens for its versatile feature set.

What We Like

  • Large 10.26-inch touchscreen display
  • Supports both front and rear cameras for dashcam
  • Includes 64GB microSD card

What We Don’t Like

  • No warranty

3. Jensen JC7DM

Jensen JC7DM Best Portable Apple CarPlay Units For Your Vehicle

As good as the previous products on this list are, if you encounter any issues with them, you’d be pretty much out of luck. If you’re looking for a reliable portable Apple CarPlay screen, then the Jensen JC7DM is easily one of the best options on the market.

Crutchfield is known for offering premium and reliable products for your vehicles, and the Jensen JC7DM is no different. Feature-wise, the Jensen JC7DM checks all the major boxes. It comes with support for both wired and wireless Apple CarPlay, along with a USB input for playing back video files. The 7-inch touchscreen display is easy to interact with, even if it’s smaller than the other options on this list.

One unique feature of the JC7DM is that it comes with its GPS antenna. As a result, you get more accurate results while navigating. Though, easily the best selling part of this unit is how reliable it is. Crutchfield offers a 60-day returns policy coupled with an excellent 3-year warranty. On top of that, the company also offers lifetime tech support for free. If you want a hassle-free portable Apple CarPlay device, the Jensen JC7DM is a solid recommendation.

What We Like

  • Compact and portable design
  • USB input
  • Built-in GPS antenna
  • 3-year warranty

What We Don’t Like

  • Relatively small display
  • Slightly expensive
  • No camera support

4. Road Top 8.9-inch Portable Car Stereo

Road Top 8.9 inch Portable Car Stereo Best Portable Apple CarPlay Units For Your Vehicle

If you crave a larger display with excellent clarity, the Road Top 8.9-inch Portable Car Stereo might be your go-to choice. Its HD display coupled with a longer cable allows for easy interaction while ensuring your vehicle is free from cable clutter.

Road Top is another reputable car accessory maker, and their 8.9-inch Portable Car Stereo brings Apple CarPlay with wireless connectivity to your vehicle. Easily one of the best aspects of this unit is its display, which is amongst the best in the market. The display comes with a resolution of 1920 x 720 pixels coupled with a 2D glass material. On top of that, the display is also equipped with an automatic brightness feature. Effectively, the display will automatically adjust its brightness based on light or dark surroundings.

Apart from that, the unit also comes with plenty of other features. The unit can be connected to your car stereo by using a wired AUX, FM transmission, or simple Bluetooth. While there’s no front camera, it does come with support for a rear backup camera. The power cable, as well as the rear camera cable, are quite long, so you can easily conceal it for a neat and clean setup. It also comes with a powerful suction mount that supports both dashboard and windshield mounting.

What We Like

  • 8.9-inch 720p display
  • Automatic brightness
  • Backup camera support
  • Long cables for a neat installation

What We Don’t Like

  • Slightly expensive
  • No dash camera support

5. Carpuride W901 Pro

Carpuride W901 Pro Best Portable Apple CarPlay Units For Your Vehicle

For the ultimate in-car entertainment and connectivity, the Carpuride W901 Pro reigns supreme. This powerhouse unit features a massive 9-inch touchscreen display, offering an unparalleled viewing experience for navigation, movies, and other entertainment options.

On the face of it, the 1024 x 600 pixel resolution display is slightly less sharp as compared to the Road Top 8.9-inch display. However, Carpuride makes up for it with its extensive set of features. The display comes with support for automatic brightness and has an IPS panel for easy use. The unit is also equipped with Mirror Link for both Android and Apple iPhones to easily cast on the screen.

Adding on to the entertainment part, the unit features four 5W speakers of its own for clear sound with powerful bass. There’s also a built-in mic and hands-free function that allows for smoother phone calls and voice assistant usage. Additionally, you can easily connect it to your car’s stereo setup for a bigger soundstage. To tune it, the Carpuride W901 Pro comes with a built-in preset EQ along with a customizable 16-band HD EQ.

What’s more, is that the Carpuride W901 Pro also features steering wheel controls that work flawlessly. Add to that, there’s support for a camera input too, so you can add a rear camera too. And if that’s not all, customers rave about the excellent customer service and quick resolution to their problems by Carpuride. If you don’t mind spending the big bucks, the Carpuride W901 Pro is easily one of the best portable Apple CarPlay displays.

What We Like

  • Large 9-inch touchscreen display
  • Powerful built-in sound system
  • Steering wheel controls
  • Excellent customer service

What We Don’t Like

  • Expensive

Enjoy Apple CarPlay With These Portable Units

Well, that was our list of the best portable Apple CarPlay Units on the market. Whether you prioritize a compact design, a large and immersive display, or budget-friendly options, these portable Apple CarPlay units offer a range of choices to enhance your driving experience. Consider factors such as budget, desired features, screen size, and portability before making your decision. With the right portable Apple CarPlay unit, you can easily revolutionize your in-car experience.

Last updated on 14 December, 2023

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