Harry Howitt/ShutterstockCarPlay has become a must-have for many drivers. It's no surprise, since it makes life so much easier when it comes to accessing your iPhone apps in the car. Navigation, music, messages — all right there on the dashboard. And while there are more than 800 CarPlay-compatible vehicles, you might have one that isn't on the list. But no, you don't need to trade in your car. Some portable screens can give you CarPlay for much less. They aren't quite as good as built-in systems, but they get the job done.Despite all the convenience CarPlay offers, some automakers have been getting rid of it. GM, for example, has decided to phase out CarPlay and Android Auto from its EVs. Yes, many people love CarPlay. But they want you to use their own systems. It's an understandable business move, considering that some even charge you to unlock extra features in their cars. Getting a portable CarPlay screen ends up being a good way to get around this.Read more: Are remote car starters still worth it in 2026?What to look for when buying a portable CarPlay screenEvgenia Parajanian/Getty ImagesUnlike buying a new car, getting one of these portable CarPlay screens won't cost you much. You can find many of them for under $50. Even if you pay $150 for one of these, it's still much cheaper than a new car. Some have larger displays and will cost more, and some really cheap ones might be best to avoid — those usually have really bad touchscreens. Start by choosing the right size. Most of these range from 6 to 11 inches. Some users find large screens too distracting, so it might be worth going with a smaller one. Smaller screens are easier to fit in your car, too.AdvertisementAdvertisementBut size isn't the only thing that matters here. There are other specs you should consider, like screen resolution. Some portable screens have very low resolution. It's not as if any of these screens were designed for watching 4K video — they weren't. But going with a low-resolution screen will make everything look terrible, from text to icons. Look for screens with a resolution of at least 1280x720 pixels. The audio output is also a big plus. Most of these screens have awful speakers, so be sure to choose one that supports AUX, Bluetooth or FM for playing audio. Also, make sure you're getting wireless CarPlay instead of wired CarPlay. Not every portable screen lets you use CarPlay without a cable.Extra features they can offer youBowonpat Sakaew/ShutterstockEven though these portable screens are designed for CarPlay, some of them offer interesting extra features. Many models include integrated dash cameras with microSD loop recording. Others might come with a rear camera, which is nice for adding parking assistance to your old car. Also, keep an eye on how the display attaches to your dash. Some of them have very unstable mounts, and you don't want your screen flying off as you turn a corner. And keep an eye out for screens that come with Android built in. That doesn't matter for running CarPlay, but it lets you install apps that can run without your iPhone.As you can see, buying one of these portable screens is an easy way to get around the lack of CarPlay. They work and are cheaper than a retrofit to your car's built-in system. Sure, they won't look like a factory system, but that's fine. For the price, you're still getting a great deal.Found this useful? Sign up for Engadget's free newsletter for more tech news and guides delivered straight to your inbox. You can also follow us or add Engadget as a preferred search source on Google.Read the original article on Engadget.
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