By James Chevrette
With wireless CarPlay now only a $100 step above wired versions, retailers are adopting different strategies for selling the popular Apple/Google features.
It turns out that wired CarPlay/Android Auto is not retreating into the shadows as quickly as one might expect in car audio receivers.
Sony issued a firmware update to add back wired CarPlay/Android Auto to its wireless models about six weeks ago. It said that outside interference with wireless transmission can cause connectivity issues with wireless CarPlay/Android Auto. This can be caused by WiFi hotspots, cellphone battery saver settings and other wireless devices in the car. It wants consumers to have a choice of both options.
The firmware update applies to models:
- XAV-AX4000
- XAV-AX5000
- XAV-AX6000
- XAV-AX8500
- XAV-9000ES
- XAV-9500ES
Additionally, some industry members say that stress in the economy is causing some retailers to keep the less expensive wired CarPlay models in the demo boards for the more cost-conscious consumer.
Manufacturer’s rep Rob Sutton of Crossover Marketing Group said, “Dealers were very confident at the end of the year about putting wired CarPlay in the back room…Now, with the economy as it is, I’m seeing dealers drag their feet a little.”
Bill Dolsen of Specialty Marketing, an East Coast distributor said, “The majority of customers are leaning towards wireless, but a lot would prefer to have wired so the phone is charging the whole time they are in the vehicle. Even if there’s a charging pad in the vehicle, a lot of the time, it’s covered up with junk. That’s why we still sell a fair amount of wired CarPlay.”
But for many retailers, it looks like only one out of every ten CarPlay/Android Auto sales are wired.
“Nine tenths [of our deck sales] are wireless CarPlay, the 1/10 comes from people who spend a lot of time in one sitting in their vehicle (professional drivers) for the charging aspect,” said Andrew Cline of Andre’s Electronics Experts, Kelowna, BC
Michael Bischoff of Traffic Jams, Buford, GA said “Customers want zero wires showing in their car nowadays, 9/10 of the units we install are wireless CarPlay.”
But Charlie Lillies a sales representative for Kenwood said, “We are seeing a healthy mix of wired and wireless CarPlay units, I truly think there are pros and cons to both. There are a lot of features that can only be utilized by using wired CarPlay.”
Ideally, dealers might sell a wireless charger along with a wireless CarPlay/Android Auto deck, but Aspen Sound said “the phone cases are the biggest issue with this. If the case is too thick or utilizes a magnetic backing plate, they must remove their phone cases to wirelessly charge. No customer wants to do this.”
Here are some pros and cons of wireless and wired CarPlay/Android Auto:
Wireless
Pros:
- Convenience of connecting without cables
- Cleaner appearance with no cords
- Less wear and tear on your phone’s charging port
- Freedom to move your phone around the car
- Instant connection when entering the vehicle (after initial setup)
Cons:
- Higher battery drain on your phone
- Occasional connection delays or reliability issues
- Potential audio quality loss due to wireless compression
- More expensive in aftermarket units compared to wired options
- Might experience more lag in some applications
Wired
Pros:
- More reliable and stable connection
- Charges your phone while in use
- Generally better performance with less lag
- Higher quality bit rate for better sound
- Less expensive in aftermarket units
Cons:
- Requires a physical cable connection each time
- Cable clutter in your vehicle
- Limited movement of your phone while connected
- Cable wear and tear over time
- Need to manually connect/disconnect when entering/exiting the car
- Potential strain on your phone’s charging port with frequent use
