The best screens for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

If you don’t have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in your car yet, don’t worry: You don’t need to buy a new vehicle. Instead, you can spend less than $150 and easily add the feature using one of these touchscreens.

With a portable car touchscreen, you can safely enjoy navigation tools, streaming music or podcasts, hands-free calling, your smartphone’s digital assistant, and other apps and features that can make your trips easier and more fun.

Pro tip:Since these units are portable, you can also easily use them in a rental car, without having to pair your phone with a vehicle that doesn’t belong to you.

Are Portable Car Touchscreens Worth It?

The best portable touchscreens for cars, like our home models consumer technology experts have selected as part of this overview, facilitate the association of your smartphone with a vehicle that does not already have an integrated infotainment system.

Pro tip: All these portable car touch screens are compatible with Apple iPhone And Android SmartphonesThe option that’s best for you should be based on the screen size and mounting options included, depending on how you plan to use it.

Best portable touchscreen for car: Buonaldea 7″ Car Touchscreen with Rear View Camera

This seven-inch touchscreen mounts to a dashboard. It connects wirelessly to your smartphone to provide CarPlay or Android Auto functionality. It also mirrors the content on your smartphone’s screen, allowing this device to display movies, TV shows, or other videos streamed through your smartphone.

The operating voltage of this CarPlay display is 12V to 24V DC. This means it supports all vehicles and can be plugged into an auxiliary power port. Simply mount this display using the included, adjustable, self-adhesive dashboard mount. In addition to functioning as a CarPlay or Android Auto display, this touchscreen features a 180-degree view, a waterproof backup camera with night vision capabilities.

Bluetooth speakers and an AUX and FM transmitter are also integrated into the display. This means you can also stream music through your car’s original audio system. We selected the Buonaldea portable car touchscreen as our top pick because it works with almost all smartphones and vehicles, and it offers many features at a very competitive price.

Best value for money portable touchscreen for car: MRQ 9″ Wireless Portable Car Monitor & Backup Camera

Our top pick and this best value are very close in terms of price, but this portable touchscreen car monitor offers better overall value because it offers a larger color touchscreen (9 inches vs. 7 inches). Plus, it comes with an adjustable dashboard mount, a 64GB microSD memory card, and a 1080p resolution backup camera with a 140-degree field of view, all for $55 (when you use the Amazon instant coupon).

You can connect your smartphone to this display wirelessly or using a USB cable. It is easy to access the phone’s CarPlay or Android Auto functions for music, navigation, phone calls, etc. The screen is a good size, offers an anti-glare filter and will not obstruct your vision while driving.

The display is powered by a cable that plugs into any 120-volt auxiliary power port. Meanwhile, the included mount offers 180-degree rotation on the center axis, two extendable arms, and 360-degree rotation on the top. A suction cup uses a grip and clasp design to ensure a secure attachment to your vehicle’s dashboard or windshield.

Best Portable Touchscreen Car Dash Cam: Westods 9.3″ Portable Car Touchscreen Monitor

We like this Westods 9.3-inch portable touchscreen because it comes with a 1080p resolution backup camera and a 2.5K resolution dash cam. Once connected to your phone, this display gives you access to all the features of CarPlay (iPhone) or Android Auto.

You get easy-to-use tools to listen to music, navigate, make hands-free calls, send text messages and more. You also get access to your phone’s digital assistant using voice commands, without having to touch the screen or take your eyes off the road.

Both the front camera and rear camera support split-screen recording and loop playback. In addition, when your vehicle is in reverse, the front view and rear view images appear on the screen at the same time for easier navigation and better visibility. With the included 64GB memory card, the system automatically records the mode while you are driving.

The display connects to a car stereo system using the built-in FM transmitter, so any audio that accompanies the smartphone apps you use will be played through your car speakers or the display’s speaker. One notable feature of this display is that it offers an extra-wide 178-degree field of view with a resolution of 1,600 x 600 pixels. The unit mounts to a dashboard and is easily removable.

Best Portable Touchscreen for Car with Extra Large Screen:Intellidash Pro Car and Driver

Many car enthusiasts rely on Car and Driver The magazine also offers its own portable car touchscreen with a large, easy-to-view display. In addition to working with CarPlay (iPhone) and Android Auto, this model is also compatible with SiriusXM radio.

The Intellidash Pro easily mounts to your vehicle’s dashboard using a strong adhesive disk that prevents accidental tipping. Like most portable car touchscreens, it draws power from your car’s 12-volt auxiliary power port. It can then connect to your smartphone using a USB cable or Bluetooth.

You get voice access to Siri or Google Assistant, plus easy access to navigation, music, phone, messages, and other apps on your phone. You can also use the device to listen to podcasts or audiobooks from your phone. All audio is played through your car speakers.

When it comes to navigation, we like that the device isn’t limited to the Maps app that comes pre-installed on your phone. It also works perfectly with Apple Maps, Google Maps, Waze, and many other navigation apps.

Best Portable Touchscreen Car Monitor with Suction Cup Mount: Aumume 7″ Car Touch Screen

This 7-inch portable touchscreen car mount attaches to your vehicle’s front windshield. You also get an alternative cup holder mount. Either option gives you added flexibility to position the display at the perfect height and angle for you and your car.

You can connect your phone to this display via Bluetooth or a USB cable. The display can then rely on your vehicle’s built-in stereo system to play all the sounds and audio using a built-in FM transmitter or an AUX input cable. The display is powered via your car’s 12-volt auxiliary power port.

This 7-inch touchscreen also comes with a 720p resolution rearview camera that activates whenever you put it in reverse. Another useful feature is the screen’s memory card slot. You can preload an optional memory card. memory card with music, audio, or videos to listen to while you drive. (For safety reasons, we recommend that video playback is only used by passengers, not the driver.) You also have access to Siri or Google Assistant using voice commands.

Whatever you’re shopping for, CBS Essentials’ expert bargain hunters will always help you discover the best prices, while recommending the best products in consumer technology, as well as items for your home, kitchen or outdoor living.