Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
Apple has almost finalized the testing stage of iOS 17.1, the next big operating system update for the iPhone XS and newer. The update is now in the RC stage, which means it's almost the same build everybody will receive next week.
Many people hoped that iOS 17.1 would include additional fixes for the CarPlay experience, which has been a huge mess since the debut of the latest big operating system version in September.
iOS 17 turned CarPlay into a battlefield, as users have been struggling to deal with bug after bug in cars where everything worked properly before the update. Most issues seem to be related to random disconnects, though I've also seen more users complaining that their iPhones no longer detect the connection to the head unit, so CarPlay fails to launch altogether.
iOS 17.1 won't change anything, as the release notes don't reveal any CarPlay fixes. The hope was that Apple would still include under-the-hood polishing for the CarPlay experience, but people on reddit who installed the release candidate say no such fix is available.
The debut of the iPhone 15 also caused a flood of connection issues in the CarPlay world.
Compared to its predecessors, the iPhone 15 no longer uses Lightning but a USB-C connector, so the wired connection with a head unit can be made with a USB-A (or USB-C) to USB-C cable. The transition from Lightning to USB-C made everything very confusing for users, who ended up using all kinds of cords, many of them purchased from generic Chinese brands for just $1, to run CarPlay.
The experience has since been horrible, as CarPlay can't run correctly with an incorrect cable. Apple has already started selling a high-speed third-party USB-A to USB-C cable to address these problems, but iPhone 15 owners continue to use the USB-C cords sitting around their house, expecting a flawless experience behind the wheel.
Similar problems have been around for many years in the Android Auto world, where USB-C cables are already widely used. Most Android phones come with USB-C cables, so users who tried to connect their devices to cars to run Android Auto hit the same connectivity problems that are now expanding to the CarPlay ecosystem.
The best way to use CarPlay with an iPhone 15 is a wireless connection if you don't want to struggle with cables, and the head unit supports a no-cord experience. Otherwise, you should stick with a high-speed USB-C cable. I use a cord from a Samsung phone to run CarPlay (the South Korean company has been using USB-C for several years already), but you can also try out Apple's cord currently available in the Apple Store.
Adapters to convert Lightning to USB-C typically offer mixed results, with occasional disconnects due to a loose connection.
iOS 17 turned CarPlay into a battlefield, as users have been struggling to deal with bug after bug in cars where everything worked properly before the update. Most issues seem to be related to random disconnects, though I've also seen more users complaining that their iPhones no longer detect the connection to the head unit, so CarPlay fails to launch altogether.
iOS 17.1 won't change anything, as the release notes don't reveal any CarPlay fixes. The hope was that Apple would still include under-the-hood polishing for the CarPlay experience, but people on reddit who installed the release candidate say no such fix is available.
The debut of the iPhone 15 also caused a flood of connection issues in the CarPlay world.
Compared to its predecessors, the iPhone 15 no longer uses Lightning but a USB-C connector, so the wired connection with a head unit can be made with a USB-A (or USB-C) to USB-C cable. The transition from Lightning to USB-C made everything very confusing for users, who ended up using all kinds of cords, many of them purchased from generic Chinese brands for just $1, to run CarPlay.
The experience has since been horrible, as CarPlay can't run correctly with an incorrect cable. Apple has already started selling a high-speed third-party USB-A to USB-C cable to address these problems, but iPhone 15 owners continue to use the USB-C cords sitting around their house, expecting a flawless experience behind the wheel.
Similar problems have been around for many years in the Android Auto world, where USB-C cables are already widely used. Most Android phones come with USB-C cables, so users who tried to connect their devices to cars to run Android Auto hit the same connectivity problems that are now expanding to the CarPlay ecosystem.
The best way to use CarPlay with an iPhone 15 is a wireless connection if you don't want to struggle with cables, and the head unit supports a no-cord experience. Otherwise, you should stick with a high-speed USB-C cable. I use a cord from a Samsung phone to run CarPlay (the South Korean company has been using USB-C for several years already), but you can also try out Apple's cord currently available in the Apple Store.
Adapters to convert Lightning to USB-C typically offer mixed results, with occasional disconnects due to a loose connection.
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