Whether you connect your phone via a USB connector or not, this head unit does have some basic Bluetooth support for actions like hands-free calling, wireless song search and audio streaming, and audio control. This is built-in to ensure driver safety in accordance with local driving laws. Works with your iPod When you power up the device (without turning on CarPlay), you are taken to the Pioneer Home screen, that features quite a lot of menus and navigation options and might feel like a complex maze, especially for users accustomed to iPhone’s sophisticated, simple interfaces. Connectivity Kit Required: USB to Lightning iPhone cable -CA-IU.52c (Sold separately) connected to USB 1 The AppRadio interface isn’t bad, but of course it seems cluttered compared to Apple’s clean interfaces. So yes, even though we have been ranting about the system’s CarPlay support, it doesn’t take away from the fact that it also has Android support.

GPS antenna to ensure accurate positioning whilst the phone is inside the car. (External GPS Antenna included) A push notification will appear on the device asking to launch AppRadio. Select 'Yes' and AppRadio will now launch. You have to make copious use of Siri to use these apps, since touch-functionality is limited for safety. There is no keyboard input, everything is done through voice. You can have Siri compose messages, or read out unread messages from your iPhone (it only “reads” out, and no text is displayed, again for safety – to avoid your visual focus shifting from driving.) Pioneer’s AppRadio® 4 revolutionizes the driver’s experience by bringing compatible phone apps to the dash for the ultimate in-vehicle smartphone experience. With AppRadio, you can access your phone's Calendar, Maps, Photos and other compatible apps directly on the Pioneer touchscreen right in your dashboard.I will not report on CarPlay itself on the Pioneer because, what is written today can change or could be improved upon next month with software updates, so be sure to read our other articles for opinions on Apple CarPlay OS, its app updates and changes to Apple’s CarPlay platform with each new iOS update. The AppRadio 4 features Apple CarPlay, the smarter, safer and more fun way to use your iPhone® in the car. Apple CarPlay gives iPhone users an incredibly intuitive way to make calls, use Maps, listen to music, and access messages with just a word or a touch.

My instant reaction, when turning on the Pioneer, was that the screen felt lower in quality. The pixels on CarPlay icons looked more pixelated than on the Alpine, even though both displays share the same resolution of 800×480, and the Alpine’s display is bigger.Connect the phone using a CD-MU200 Mirrorlink cable, connected to USB port 2 (bottom) on the rear of the unit. For audiophiles, the AppRadio 4 offers a number of features and modes to cater for your critical ears. Pre-set and customisable equalisers allow you achieve the type of sound you want, however if you’re on the lazy side, you can plug in a microphone and let the Auto EQ measure your vehicle’s acoustics and adjust the receiver’s audio levels automatically to suit your car’s interior. A: Please see the Connectivity Cables section above and follow the diagrams to see what cables are required for connecting a phone.

Pioneer has made it easier to create new Pandora stations while the app is in use with the Pandora Station Creation feature. Both iPhone and select Android users can simply press and hold a button on the receiver to create a new Pandora station dynamically from the currently playing song or artist. You mainly want to be able to perform voice-controlled commands with Siri, like making/receiving calls, composing/listening to text messages, playing music from your phone, and searching for places on Maps.Great music discovery is effortless and free with Pandora. Just start with the name of one of your favorite artists, songs, genres or composers and Pandora will do the rest.