CarPlay box or CarPlay screen: which one should you choose for your car?
CarPlay Auto
You want Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in your car, but one question arises: CarPlay box or CarPlay screen? In use, the result is the same: your phone is displayed on the car's screen, wirelessly. What changes is what you keep of the original equipment, the price, and the type of installation. The catalog includes 464 CarPlay screens and 377 CarPlay boxes, for more than 800 vehicles from 45 brands.
CarPlay box or CarPlay screen: the difference in one sentence
The box adds CarPlay to the screen you already have. The screen replaces your car radio with a new touchscreen. If your vehicle has a recent original screen, the box is generally the right choice. If it has a car radio with buttons or a small screen, the screen is the logical solution.
What a CarPlay box does
The CarPlay box plugs in behind the original screen, into the manufacturer's connectors. Once in place, it is invisible. Your screen, your navigation, your radio, and your settings remain exactly as they were before. The box adds an additional source: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wirelessly.
Each box is specific to a precise multimedia system. A box designed for a BMW NBT system is not the one for a CIC system. This is why each product page in the CarPlay box collection indicates the make, model, years, and system.
What a CarPlay screen does
The CarPlay screen is an Android touchscreen that takes the place of the original car radio. It is specific to your vehicle: the front panel, dimensions, and connectors match your dashboard. It provides wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and generally keeps the backup camera, steering wheel controls, radio, and Bluetooth. On some models, the air conditioning is also displayed on the screen.
The CarPlay screen collection is intended for vehicles that do not have an original screen, or whose screen is too small or too old to justify a box.
Comparison table: CarPlay box vs. CarPlay screen
| Criterion | CarPlay Box | CarPlay Screen |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From €179 to €579 depending on the vehicle and multimedia system | From €109 to €469 depending on the vehicle |
| What is kept | Everything: screen, navigation, radio, original settings and functions | Generally backup camera, steering wheel controls, radio, Bluetooth; air conditioning on screen depending on model |
| What is added | Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | A new touchscreen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto |
| Installation | 30 to 45 min, behind the screen, original connectors | 30 to 45 min, in place of the car radio, original connectors |
| Original appearance | Unchanged, the box is not visible | New front panel, designed for the vehicle's dashboard |
| For whom | Vehicle with a recent original screen | Vehicle with button-operated car radio, small screen, or older vehicle |
In both cases, compatibility is checked before shipping, the warranty is 2 years, and you have 14 days to change your mind.
Three concrete cases for choosing
Case 1: your car has a recent original screen, choose the box
For example, a 2018 BMW 3 Series with the NBT EVO system, a 2019 Peugeot 308 with the NAC system, or a 2016 Mercedes C-Class with the NTG 5.0 system: these vehicles have a good-sized screen and an interface you know. Replacing it is pointless. The box adds CarPlay and Android Auto without touching the rest.
Two examples: the CarPlay box for BMW 3 Series EVO 2017-2020 at €249 and the CarPlay box for Peugeot 308 NAC 2017-2021 at €379. The exact system depends on the model and year: the benchmarks below help you locate it.
Case 2: your car has a button-operated car radio or a small screen, choose the screen
A Renault Clio 4 or a Volkswagen Golf 7 with the original car radio: for these vehicles, the suggested solution is the CarPlay screen. It replaces the whole unit and gives you a modern touch interface, with steering wheel controls generally kept.
Two examples: the CarPlay screen for Renault Clio 4 2012-2016 (type B) at €229 and the CarPlay screen for Volkswagen Golf 7 2013-2017 at €199.
Case 3: your vehicle is old, choose the screen
On a vehicle over ten years old, the original car radio is often limited to the radio and CD player. The CarPlay screen is the solution that changes daily usage the most: navigation, music, calls, and messages arrive all at once, wirelessly. The front panel is designed for the dashboard, and installation is done using the original connectors.
An example: the CarPlay screen for Peugeot 308 2007-2015 at €219. An exception: some BMW (CCC system) and Mercedes (NTG 4.0 system) models from that era already had an original screen. A box therefore exists for them. The selector will tell you.
Which original functions are kept?
The answer depends on the solution.
- With a box: everything stays in place. Screen, manufacturer navigation, radio, Bluetooth, backup camera, steering wheel controls. The box adds a source; it removes nothing.
- With a screen: the backup camera, steering wheel controls, radio, and Bluetooth are generally kept. On some models, the air conditioning is displayed on the screen. The product page is the final authority for your vehicle.
If your car does not have a backup camera, you can add one: the universal backup camera is available for €39.
iPhone and Android: wireless CarPlay and Android Auto
Box or screen, both solutions support wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You do not need to plug in any cables. The phone stays in your pocket or on its mount, and its interface is displayed on the car's screen.
A single solution covers both systems: if you change your phone or share the car, nothing changes on the hardware side. For call quality, a wired microphone is available for €18.90.
How to check compatibility before ordering
Both the box and the screen are specific to a vehicle and, for the box, to a precise multimedia system. Three steps are enough.
- Use the make / year / model selector. It displays the products intended for your vehicle, whether box or screen.
- In case of doubt, send a photo of your screen or car radio on WhatsApp to +33 7 80 96 56 50, 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. We confirm the right product before you order.
- Compatibility is verified before shipping. If the product does not match your vehicle, it is taken back and fully refunded.
For boxes, the multimedia system depends on the model and year. Some indicative benchmarks:
- BMW: CCC (approx. 2003-2008), CIC (2008-2012), NBT (2012-2016), NBT EVO ID4, ID5, or ID6 (2016-2020), MGU or ID7 (2018 and later).
- Peugeot 308: RNEG (2007-2013), SMEG and SMEG+ (2013-2016), MRN (2013-2021 depending on trim), NAC (2017-2021).
- Mercedes: NTG 4.0 (2008-2012), NTG 4.5 (2011-2015), NTG 5.0 and 5.1 (2014-2018), NTG 5.5 and 6 (2018 and later).
These ranges overlap: the system depends on the model and year, sometimes on the trim. The product page and the selector are the final authority.
Price, payment in 3 installments, and delivery
CarPlay screens range from €109 to €469, CarPlay boxes from €179 to €579. The price depends on the vehicle and, for boxes, on the multimedia system. Payment in 3 installments with Klarna is offered.
Shipping takes place within 24 to 48 hours from France. Delivery is tracked and takes 4 to 5 business days in total. It is free for purchases of €199 or more in France, Belgium, and Switzerland. Each product has a 2-year warranty, and you have 14 days to change your mind. CarPlay Auto is a French store, with after-sales service in Martigues: about us.
Regarding installation, expect 30 to 45 minutes with the provided manual and WhatsApp assistance during installation. The dismantling kit is offered for €12.90. If you prefer to delegate, installation by a partner installer is offered for €69. The installation page details the steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you add CarPlay to an old car?
Yes. On a vehicle without an original screen, the CarPlay screen replaces the car radio and provides wireless CarPlay and Android Auto. The catalog covers more than 800 vehicles from 45 brands. The selector will tell you if a screen exists for yours.
Does the CarPlay box work wirelessly with an iPhone and an Android?
Yes. The box supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, without any cables. This is also the case for CarPlay screens.
Do I keep my backup camera?
With a box, yes: the screen and all original functions stay in place. With a CarPlay screen, the backup camera is generally kept; the product page is the final authority for your vehicle. If your car does not have one, a universal camera is offered for €39.
Can I install the box or screen myself?
Yes. Installation takes 30 to 45 minutes, "plug and play" on the original connectors. A manual is provided and WhatsApp assistance remains available during installation. A dismantling kit is offered for €12.90, and installation by a partner installer for €69.
What happens if the product does not match my car?
Compatibility is verified before shipping. If, despite this, the product does not match your vehicle, it is taken back and fully refunded. You also have 14 days to change your mind and a 2-year warranty.
How do I know which multimedia system is in my car?
The system depends on the model and year, with overlaps. The simplest way is to send a photo of your screen on WhatsApp: we will identify the system and the corresponding box. You will find other answers in the FAQ and on the contact page.
You now know whether a CarPlay box or a CarPlay screen is suitable for your car. To move to the next step, enter your make, year, and model in the selector: you will see the product intended for your vehicle. Doubt about your screen or system? Send us a photo on WhatsApp at +33 7 80 96 56 50, 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and we will confirm compatibility before you order.
