Uconnect 5 with wi-fi CarPlay
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The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee makes use of the brand new Uconnect 5 working system for its in-car show. This is the way it works with wi-fi Apple CarPlay.
Uconnect 5 is an Android-based system present in numerous Jeep, Chrysler, Fiat, RAM, and Dodge autos, together with the 2023 Grand Cherokee we examined. In addition to being inbuilt Android, which makes updates and iteration a lot faster, it additionally helps wi-fi CarPlay and Android Auto.
Wi-fi CarPlay has been a unicorn up till the final yr or so. Apple launched the wi-fi model of CarPlay again with iOS 8 — as a reminder, we’re presently solely iOS 16 — but few autos ever had help.
FCA promised wi-fi CarPlay can be commonplace with the launch of Uconnect 5, and autos below its auspices have slowly begun adopting it within the final yr or two.
A greater CarPlay expertise
We have used the wired model of CarPlay virtually because it launched, which has been remarkably fantastic. CarPlay itself is nice, but it surely’s a ache to plug in our telephones every time we hop in, particularly for brief journeys.
Wired CarPlay additionally means we won’t use MagSafe automobile chargers or see our battery share on the automobile’s infotainment display screen. Wi-fi fixes all of this.
Our present most well-liked setup makes use of the primary — and solely — official MagSafe automobile charger from Belkin that may ship as much as 15W of wi-fi energy. We soar within the Jeep and place our cellphone on the vent mount the place it is simply seen, out of the way in which, and perpetually charging.
Battery standing on the CarPlay interface
In contrast to wired CarPlay, a battery indicator is displayed on the top-left nook of the display screen, so you know the way a lot juice you may have remaining. It additionally lets you recognize whether or not or not your cellphone is actively charging.
CarPlay boots immediately, leaping to the Apple working system as quickly as we begin the automobile. So the cellphone may even keep in our pocket, and CarPlay works.
The system may be very responsive, reacting as we contact the display screen and open CarPlay apps. It has the identical fluidity and performance as its wired counterpart.
Whereas taking part in music or audio, there’s a slight delay. For instance, it’s noticeable once you faucet play/pause out of your iPhone and CarPlay takes a half second to react.
MagSafe charging with wi-fi CarPlay
That lag is not on the wired model of CarPlay and should come from streaming the media over the Wi-Fi. Just like an AirPlay speaker.
Whereas navigating, the Jeep solely partially takes benefit of what CarPlay is able to. In iOS 10, Apple added the flexibility to show navigation inside the instrument cluster.
Our Jeep Grand Cherokee with Uconnect 5 does present the subsequent flip, but it surely would not appear like CarPlay graphics. As a substitute, they appear like the Jeep’s graphics and are barely disconnected from the CarPlay expertise.
Apple seems to take this even additional with the subsequent model of CarPlay, arriving in iOS 17, however to date, just a few automobile producers have dedicated to supporting it.
In any other case, the display screen is crisp and vibrant, with nice colour saturation. In comparison with prior generations of the Uconnect system, it’s a a lot better-looking show.
Uconnect 5 performance
The Uconnect 5 interface has rather more going for it than simply wi-fi CarPlay. It is functionally miles forward of the outdated Uconnect 4 system.
Something below FCA has the potential to get Uconnect 5, and every automobile could have barely completely different choices obtainable, however this is the way it works for our Grand Cherokee.
Uconnect 5 Break up View
Whether or not you utilize CarPlay or not, the display screen has a customizable dashboard. By default, it has a cut up side-by-side association with the native maps and the system-wide media participant.
CarPlay audio controls will present on the media participant facet, however solely the SUV’s TomTom navigation will present on the opposite facet. You are not caught with this interface, as Jeep permits you to customise it with further pages and widgets.
Second web page on the Uconnect dashboard
Whenever you add a second web page, you may select one in every of 4 structure choices that greatest give you the results you want. Views can show two, three, or 4 completely different widgets.
Customizing your Uconnect sprint
It walks you thru including your most well-liked widget to every obtainable spot. You may select between now taking part in, local weather, navigation, cellphone favorites, current calls, shortcuts, seats and wheel, and the pitch and roll controls.
Pages could be rearranged, deleted, et cetera. We by no means discovered ourselves utilizing these pages all that a lot, however they will nonetheless be useful to leap to fast automobile capabilities.
Uconnect 5 media interface
In addition to CarPlay, media sources are USB, SiriusXM, radio, or Bluetooth. As an apart, this 2023 Grand Cherokee has a ton of USB-C ports, making utilizing all of your new cables simple as could be.
Regardless of the place you’re within the interface, you may at all times swipe down from the highest to entry shortcut buttons.
Swipe down for shortcuts
These embody controls such because the Wi-Fi hotspot toggle, Alexa, driver profiles, temperatures, and encompass digital camera. You may transfer any of them into the standing bar or use them from this swipe-down menu.
In comparison with these dongles…
Many autos can improve to wi-fi CarPlay with an aftermarket adapter. We examined fairly a number of, and so they all work roughly the identical.
Plug them into the USB port, and they’ll allow you to hook up with CarPlay wirelessly. However they typically have minor, nagging points that get annoying.
A wi-fi CarPlay adapter
For instance, for those who use a wi-fi CarPlay adapter and depart the automobile working once you return, it would not reconnect. You need to unplug it and plug it again in to get it working once more or restart the automobile.
With a local interface, when we’ve the automobile working and get out, CarPlay will proceed to work for a number of moments if we’re inside vary of the automobile. If we go too far-off, it cuts off and pauses the media. However once we return to the automobile, it is going to mechanically reconnect and choose up the place it left off.
Relying on the dongle and automobile you may have, we have additionally seen our cellphone join whereas the automobile is off and we’re inside our home. Our automobile is shut sufficient that once we play music or get on the cellphone, it connects to the CarPlay adapter as a substitute.
There may be additionally much less lag with the native interface. That may be good for those who regularly skip songs or pause them and get aggravated with the slight delay.
Uconnect 5 is a giant step ahead
Now that FCA has rolled out Uconnect 5, we won’t regress to a wired CarPlay expertise. It is now far simpler to make use of, sooner, and extra seamless than earlier than.
Uconnect 5 – Execs
- Close to-seamless person expertise
- Far more reactive touchscreen
- Nice colours, measurement, and backbone
- Battery standing displayed on-screen
- Permits the usage of MagSafe chargers
Uconnect 5 – Cons
- Slight lag when controlling media
- Barebones use of instrument cluster
- Subsequent-generation CarPlay help unsure
The place to search out Uconnect 5
Uconnect 5 is on the market in a number of Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat, and RAM autos, together with the brand new 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee we reviewed.
