There’s no denying that the Apple iPhone is one of the world’s most popular smartphone brands. If you’re someone that’s always on the move, you will doubtless use your handset in your car.
For example, you might make handsfree calls on it, or you could stream music to your stereo system.
The truth is not all cars feature integration with smartphones, let alone the iPhone. Is your car one such vehicle? If so, today’s handy guide will show you how you can hook up your device to your car in a variety of different ways! Here is what you need to know:
Bluetooth head unit
Although most of today’s cars have Bluetooth as standard, it’s likely your car doesn’t. Should that be the case, the good news is that you can upgrade your car’s stereo with a Bluetooth-enabled head unit.
Does your car have climate controls built into your factory stereo system? That’s no problem, as there are plenty of aftermarket options which take that into account! If you’re not too familiar with the electrical wiring in a car, replacing the head unit is perhaps a job best left to the pros.
Bluetooth FM transmitter
One of the simplest DIY methods you can employ for your car is to purchase a Bluetooth FM transmitter. The way that work is simple! You plug in the gadget into your car’s 12-volt accessory socket (i.e. the cigar lighter socket).
You then select an FM radio station for it to transmit on, and then you “pair” your iPhone to the device. It will then transmit any audio output from your handset to the car’s speakers. Of course, you need to make sure that your car stereo is tuned into the frequency that the FM transmitter is broadcasting on.
The only downside to that approach is that if you select a frequency a local radio station uses, there will be interference.
XCarlink
If you want a more professional “factory finish” solution that doesn’t involve changing your stereo, one option is to use XCarlink. Put simply, it’s a “box” that plugs into the CD changer port of your car’s stereo.
You can then connect your iPhone to it via a dock cable or wirelessly using Bluetooth with the optional cable. I use one of these devices in my car, and it works flawlessly!
You just need to make sure that you’ve got some suitable dashboard trim removal tools. Otherwise, you could end up scratching it.
Bluetooth headset
If none of those options are for you, one thing you could do is stick with a Bluetooth headset for your iPhone. Mark from Inchcape Toyota reckons that people prefer to use them in their cars as it means they don’t have to unplug anything.
The one downside to using a Bluetooth headset is that you won’t be able to channel any audio from your iPhone to the car’s speakers. Still, if streaming music isn’t a priority for you, this could be the best solution for your needs.
I hope you’ve found today’s guide useful. Thanks for reading it!