There's no doubt the transition from Lightning to USB-C is the biggest change on the iPhone 15. Apple's new-generation smartphones no longer use the proprietary Lightning connector, switching to the universal USB-C port available on most Android devices.
If you believe Apple is just trying to be the good guy here, you're wrong. The USB-C port on the iPhone 15 is a requirement from Europe, as the EU has adopted new regulations requiring device makers to equip their phones and tablets with this connector.
Apple, therefore, had to dump the Lightning port and move to Lightning, as otherwise, the company wouldn’t be allowed to sell iPhones on the Old Continent.
Giving up on Lightning and moving to USB-C looks like an easy step for tech-savvy users, but the new port is wreaking havoc in the Apple user base. iPhone 15 buyers ended up struggling with one big dilemma, as they can't figure out if the USB-C cables they already own work properly with their brand-new smartphones.
The iPhone 15 debut and the migration to USB-C also spawned an avalanche of CarPlay problems, most of which are related to the new port. I already described why USB-C is causing additional challenges for CarPlay users, but the number of people complaining of struggles behind the wheel is increasing at an alarming rate.
Photo: Apple
Android Auto users are certainly familiar with the madness happening as we speak in the CarPlay world. Connectivity problems have been around for as long as I can remember in the Android Auto community, and many of them were and still are caused by bad cables. Finding the best USB-C cable to run Android Auto isn't as easy as it sounds, and even following the official recommendations doesn't guarantee a smooth experience in the car.
However, the ruined CarPlay experience, which reminds me of Android Auto and the flood of bugs Google users typically deal with, doesn't come down to cables exclusively.
An iPhone 15 Pro Max owner explains on reddit that CarPlay launches correctly in their 2020 Dodge Charger, but in some cases, they need to plug and unplug the smartphone repeatedly to get it to run. The bug happens occasionally, and several others confirmed the same problem, claiming that simply reconnecting the phone multiple times fixes CarPlay.
Photo: Packix
Others claim they're using USB-C adapters specifically to run CarPlay. The USB-C adapter allows them to continue using a Lightning cable but still charge an iPhone 15 sporting the new port. Unsurprisingly, these adapters are sometimes loose and flimsy, leading to random disconnects and various other issues, such as dropping phone calls or lost audio during a conversation.
Someone reddit claims CarPlay launches and runs correctly with a USB-C cable but randomly disconnects in the middle of the drive. Reconnecting the mobile device to the head unit restores CarPlay temporarily until the bug triggers again, causing another disconnect.
One CarPlay user explains that their brand-new iPhone 15 Pro Max doesn't even charge when connected to the vehicle. They own a 2017 Honda Civic, and their USB-C cable doesn't launch CarPlay and doesn't allow the device to charge the battery. It seems to be a cable issue, though it's unclear if they're using a high-quality cord or maybe an adapter.
An iPhone 15 Pro buyer says the CarPlay experience exhibits a weird glitch that causes the audio to stop as the infotainment unit starts listening for voice commands. The bug pauses all sound, waiting for voice input, despite the user not triggering Siri. They use a USB-A to USB-C cable to run CarPlay.
Photo: autoevolution
All these problems have been very common in the Android Auto world, but compared to CarPlay, Google users at least have a series of workarounds to try out when something doesn't work as expected. For example, Android Auto users can downgrade to an earlier app version, clear the cache and the data, and install older builds of the Google app powering Google Assistant if voice commands don't work correctly.
Apple's users have limited options, so if CarPlay doesn't play nice with an iPhone 15, the only option is to change cables and hope for an update to resolve the problem.
However, in 99 percent of the cases, CarPlay misbehaves because of bad cables. With the Lightning port, Apple had more control over cables, and the Made for iPhone certification made a huge difference for people looking to buy a high-quality cord to run CarPlay. USB-C cables also come with dedicated certification, but choosing the right cord is much harder, especially because the WWW is full of cheap and poor-quality cables that don't cost more than $1 a piece.
Unfortunately, CarPlay is slowly but surely losing the stability and reliability factor that made it a more stable and reliable alternative to Android Auto. iPhones equipped with the Lightning port are still around, providing the solid CarPlay experience we're all used to, but once USB-C becomes the prevalent connector, CarPlay will turn into Android Auto 2.0.
Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones. Full profile
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