Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/Honda
We've known for a while that something big was coming to Accord owners, and now Honda has taken the wraps off an upgrade that many owners will love.
The latest-generation Accord comes with a 12.3-inch display, making wireless CarPlay and Android Auto feel at home. However, certain versions of the 2018-2022 Accord fitted with the 8-inch unit only supported wired connections, despite the vehicle sporting the technical means to go wireless.
The carmaker has announced a software update to enable wireless Android Auto and CarPlay in these Accord models. Honda claims that approximately 631K vehicles on the road are eligible for the upgrade.
If you own an eligible Accord model whose trim was originally fitted with wired-only Android Auto and CarPlay, you should qualify for the upgrade. The only prerequisite is the model year, as the car must be produced between 2018 and 2022.
Unfortunately, Honda won't offer the upgrade free of charge. The upgrade costs $112, but customers must also pay the extra dealer labor charge. It's probably safe to estimate that unlocking wireless Android Auto and CarPlay in an Accord will cost approximately $150.
The carmaker says it'll also install the upgrade free of charge in vehicles enrolled in the Honda Certified Pre-Owned program.
Honda's upgrade is quite pricy considering the existing options to convert wired to wireless. Paying $150 to unlock wireless Android Auto and CarPlay doesn't make sense, considering adapters that offer similar functionality can be had for nearly half the price. Motorola's MA1 adapter, one of the most popular wireless Android Auto adapters, is now available for only $60 thanks to a massive 32% discount.
AAWireless, a wireless Android Auto dongle that recently got CarPlay support (for certain models), will soon receive an upgrade that will add Apple compatibility out of the box. The existing AAWireless can be had for $75.
Compared to a wireless dongle converting a wired connection to a no-cord experience, Honda's native upgrade should offer a more stable and reliable experience. However, as many Android Auto users learned the hard way, long-term reliability is a major challenge in the Google world. App updates could occasionally break down features or the connection profile.
The main benefit of wireless Android Auto and CarPlay over the wired variant is the lack of cables. Drivers can run the two systems without connecting their phones to the vehicle via a cable, though most still end up doing this to charge the battery. However, the phone can stay in the pocket or 3a bag, as the connection is established wirelessly when the driver turns on the engine. Theoretically, Android Auto and CarPlay wireless could also offer improved stability, as they eliminate cables, often known as culprits for connectivity problems behind the wheel.
The carmaker has announced a software update to enable wireless Android Auto and CarPlay in these Accord models. Honda claims that approximately 631K vehicles on the road are eligible for the upgrade.
If you own an eligible Accord model whose trim was originally fitted with wired-only Android Auto and CarPlay, you should qualify for the upgrade. The only prerequisite is the model year, as the car must be produced between 2018 and 2022.
Unfortunately, Honda won't offer the upgrade free of charge. The upgrade costs $112, but customers must also pay the extra dealer labor charge. It's probably safe to estimate that unlocking wireless Android Auto and CarPlay in an Accord will cost approximately $150.
The carmaker says it'll also install the upgrade free of charge in vehicles enrolled in the Honda Certified Pre-Owned program.
Honda's upgrade is quite pricy considering the existing options to convert wired to wireless. Paying $150 to unlock wireless Android Auto and CarPlay doesn't make sense, considering adapters that offer similar functionality can be had for nearly half the price. Motorola's MA1 adapter, one of the most popular wireless Android Auto adapters, is now available for only $60 thanks to a massive 32% discount.
AAWireless, a wireless Android Auto dongle that recently got CarPlay support (for certain models), will soon receive an upgrade that will add Apple compatibility out of the box. The existing AAWireless can be had for $75.
Compared to a wireless dongle converting a wired connection to a no-cord experience, Honda's native upgrade should offer a more stable and reliable experience. However, as many Android Auto users learned the hard way, long-term reliability is a major challenge in the Google world. App updates could occasionally break down features or the connection profile.
The main benefit of wireless Android Auto and CarPlay over the wired variant is the lack of cables. Drivers can run the two systems without connecting their phones to the vehicle via a cable, though most still end up doing this to charge the battery. However, the phone can stay in the pocket or 3a bag, as the connection is established wirelessly when the driver turns on the engine. Theoretically, Android Auto and CarPlay wireless could also offer improved stability, as they eliminate cables, often known as culprits for connectivity problems behind the wheel.
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