I Tried a $60 CarPlay Screen — And I’m Shocked It Works This Well
I’ll be honest: I didn’t expect much from a $60 CarPlay screen.
I drive an older car — no fancy head unit, no touch screen, no backup cam. I’ve looked into upgrading before, but everything I found was either expensive, complicated to install, or full of sketchy reviews. This one popped up with a ton of buyers and decent ratings, so I figured I’d take the gamble.
Here’s what surprised me: it works. Like, actually works.
Setup took maybe ten minutes. Plug in power, run the backup camera wire (if you want it), and you’re good. CarPlay connected wirelessly to my phone almost instantly — no lag, no weird pairing steps. The touchscreen isn’t iPad-level smooth, but it’s responsive enough that I never felt frustrated tapping around for music or maps.
The screen itself is surprisingly bright and easy to see in daylight. It’s a 7-inch panel, and while it’s not super high-res, the UI elements from CarPlay are clean and readable. I could clearly see album art, turn-by-turn directions, and even video when testing out the mirror link feature (which supports YouTube and TikTok — though I won’t admit how long I played with that parked in a driveway).
🎧 Audio Setup Options
This is where it depends how you route it. The screen has Bluetooth output, AUX, FM transmission, and a built-in speaker — and I tried all four just to see:
- Bluetooth to car stereo: Best sound quality by far. Low latency, solid volume.
- AUX cable: Worked well too, though I had to manually switch inputs.
- FM transmission: Noisy unless you're on a clean station.
- Built-in speaker: Honestly not great — sounds like a tablet in a tin can. It’s there in a pinch, but not ideal for music or calls.
📷 Backup Camera = Legit
The backup cam was another surprise. It's waterproof, supports night vision, and auto-switches when you reverse (if you wire it properly). The field of view is wide — maybe too wide — but it’s clear enough to be useful. I mounted it near my license plate and it made parallel parking feel like cheating.
One minor gripe: the interface outside of CarPlay (volume, settings, boot menu) feels clunky. It’s functional, just not pretty. But once CarPlay boots up, you don’t really see it again.
For $59.99, this is easily one of the best value upgrades I’ve made to my car. It turned an older beater into something that feels almost modern. And if it holds up over time, I might even wire one into my dad’s truck.
If you’re on the fence: yes, it's real. No, it’s not perfect. But if you’ve got a cigarette lighter and a free dashboard, this thing delivers.
Want the same one I used?
👉 Product #1 – Wireless CarPlay
You’ll also find it listed on my landing page at thefinnlist.com.
Thanks for reading — more weirdly good finds soon.
— Finn