If you’ve got an iPhone and you’ve used Apple CarPlay, you’ll know just how good it is. However, the new 2017 BMW 5 Series is set to make it even better, and BMW is doing it by finally ditching CarPlay’s need for wires.
Simply put, CarPlay transports your iPhone’s home screen to your car’s infotainment screen, and gives you access to all the apps you’d need while driving – from Spotify and Phone to Maps. All you need to do is plug your iPhone, click through one or two screens and you’re ready to go.
But that’s the problem. Plugging in your phone feels clumsy in an another wise seamless experience, and although your iPhone could do probably do with a charge, it’s an extra bit of hassle you don’t need.
That’s why BMW has introduced wireless Apple CarPlay in the new 5 Series, making it the first carmaker to do so. Although that’s great, I can’t help but feel it’s a pretty obvious step, and one that should’ve been available since launch. It’s possible that Apple decided to rush CarPlay without the feature in order to compete with Android Auto, but it’s also likely Apple wanted to make sure the wireless interaction was perfect before rolling out a public release.
Either way, it’s going to be a welcome if somewhat overdue improvement to Apple’s in-car software, and it remains to be seen if the existing CarPlay systems can be upgraded to have wireless capability.
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