I have read this forum with some interest over the last month or so, mainly as I was thinking of upgrading my iPhone and was concerned that it would not work correctly with Apple Carplay, my situation was as follows:
- Mini Clubman Cooper S - September 2017 (2018 model with Apple Carplay fitted as part of the uprated Audio Pack)
- iPhone 6, iOS always at the latest level up to 12.4.4 (Highest level of iOS for an iPhone 6)
Carplay and my iPhone 6 worked very well wirelessly with the very occasional glitch requiring me to pair my phone with the car again. Apple Maps, my music on the iPhone and phone calls all worked well with the occasional issue with maps when phone reception was very weak, a general issue nothing to do with Carplay.
I planned to upgrade to an iPhone 11 Pro Max as it met my needs (as one device) for phone calls, email, messaging, hotography, videos amongst all the others that my 6 could no longer supply. In addition I would be back on track with iOS 13 onwards including new versions of Carplay.
It was, then, quite worrying that all the issues vis a vis iPhone 11Pro and Carplay both on this forum and others might require me to rethink and perhaps get an iPhone XS as there didn't seem to be the same issues with those (and other previous models) and Carplay. The 11Pro is not cheap and having it not working with Carplay would be a definite downer!
In the end I decided to bite the bullet and I did get an iPhone 11Pro Max. That was about a month ago and wanted to update this forum with my experiences, first:
- I reset all Bluetooth and Wireless settings in Carplay back to as delivered.
- I installed my iPhone 11 Pro as a new phone and did NOT ship settings across from my iPhone 6 or a backup on my PC.
- I connected my iPhone 11 Pro as an new device to Carplay as per Mini instructions.
The phone connected very easily and from then until now (fingers crossed) has worked flawlessly some points of interest are:
- The phone connects much quicker (always wirelessly) than my iPhone 6 and usually from the pocket of my trousers or jacket. Music picks up exactly from last point played.
- iOS 13 has an improved layout and function interface on Carplay.
- Mapping is much quicker, although this is probably down to the faster iPhone and not Carplay.
- The iPhone 11Pro Max is too big to fit in the wireless charger in the centre armrest in the Mini Clubman but it has such an improved battery life and it normally stays in my pocket. I have a very short USB to Lightening lead that can charge the phone on long journeys with it sitting in the small tray in front of the gearshift.
- Music (on the phone) works flawlessly and streaming from Spotify works well but prone to the odd glitch if the signal area is weak or disappears.
- Phone calls work very well no dropouts etc.
- WhatsApp and messaging works well with voice replies OK (Siri)
I hope this is of interest as my experience seems at odds with most of the posts on this forum and may help others bite the bullet and upgrade as they might have been planning to. I had planned to return the iPhone 11Pro Max to Apple if it had all gone the wrong way as others here unfortunately have experienced but thankfully I am very pleased with my new phone and having it work so well with Carplay, quite a bit better that the iPhone 6, is an absolute bonus.