FAQs

Q1: Is it a real full lamination screen? 

A: Yes. All models in our Carpod T3 series feature automotive-grade fully laminated screens, which present a sleek, unified black appearance for a sense of quality. Full lamination reduces light reflection, making the screen display clearer and more vivid. Additionally, the screen resolution is as high as 1920*720, with a true brightness of 700 nits and a color range of 16.7 million colors. The cost of this screen module alone is much higher than the retail price of ordinary portable CarPlay products in the market. The automotive-grade full lamination process is also much more expensive than the lamination process used for smartphones or digital tablets. As a product developed for digital tech enthusiasts, the full lamination screen technology is essential.

 

Q2: Does it support Bluetooth stereo playback in the car?

A: Yes, it does. In the 'Settings - Sound Output - Dual BT (Display only)' mode on the device, the screen only receives interconnected imagery from the phone and does not participate in sound output. In this mode, the phone's sound is independent; when playing music, the sound comes from the phone's speaker, and when the phone is connected to the car's Bluetooth, the car plays the sound, just as it would with regular phone use. The phone can normally connect to the car's Bluetooth to play stereo sound, supporting maps, music, and phone call audio through the car's sound system. Calls are handled using the car's original microphone, and the system also supports the car's multifunction steering wheel controls. The phone can connect to multiple Bluetooth devices simultaneously, and the advantage of this mode is that Bluetooth audio output from the phone has less latency in sound transmission compared to wireless CarPlay for music. The device is set to 'Display only' mode by default. If this mode is turned off, sound will be emitted through the device, and the microphone will use the screen's integrated microphone for audio pickup. 

Q3: Does it support changing songs via the steering wheel buttons? 

A: Yes. This feature is available provided that the phone is connected to the car's Bluetooth. The steering wheel control buttons can manage the phone's music, including track navigation and volume control, even in the 'Dual BT (Display only)' mode. In this mode, the screen only receives the interconnected visual feed and does not interfere with the phone's sound logic. The phone maintains its previous connection method with the car and can simultaneously connect to CarPlay. The phone supports connections to multiple Bluetooth devices at once. In this mode, the car's multifunction steering wheel buttons are compatible for controlling volume and track navigation, and it supports the original car microphone for making calls, using Siri, etc. Both the sound quality and microphone clarity are exceptional.

 

Q4: What does the mounting bracket look like? 

A: For the universal model, two types of brackets are provided: a small bracket with a dual-ball head for center console placement, and a suction cup bracket for glass mounting. Users can also seek out other 17mm universal ball head brackets that are more suitable for their specific car and setting. Please ensure that you have an ideal location for mounting inside your car before purchasing the product.

 

Q5: Does the startup screen include built-in car model logos? 

A: Yes, we have incorporated logos for over 95% of popular car models, and these are also synchronized with the CarPlay page logo icons.

 

Q6: How is the device powered?

A: The T3 Pro supports power supply through a universal Type-C cable, requiring a power output of either 5V; 2A or a 9V; 1A under PD protocol. Included in the package is a 3.5-meter USB cable with a cigarette lighter plug, outputting 9V; 1.5A. The device will turn off automatically when the car is turned off and the cigarette lighter socket is powered down. In some car models where the cigarette lighter socket is powered 24 hours a day, you will need to manually switch off the power to turn off the device.

⚠️ Important Notes:

【1】Third-party cigarette lighter USB cables can be used for power supply as long as they meet the power standard (above 5V2A or 9V1A). Insufficient power supply may cause screen glitches or the device to restart when connecting to CarPlay. In such cases, switch to the original cigarette lighter cable provided.

【2】Some third-party cigarette lighters switch to fast charging mode a few seconds after power supply starts, which can lead to insufficient power and restart the device. These types of cigarette lighters are not recommended.

【3】Do not use the car's original USB port for power supply, as most of these are 5V1A, which is insufficient for fast charging. This can cause screen glitches or restarts when connecting to CarPlay.

【4】When installing a reverse camera, be sure to use the power cable provided by us, as ordinary USB cables do not supply enough power and may lead to a white screen on the reverse camera.

【5】Do not supply power with 12V sources, as it can damage the device.

 

Q7: What are Carpodgo's advantages in the mid-to-high-end market?

A: I am Felix, the CEO of CarpodGo. Since we started developing the T2 in 2020, a key question has been about our advantages in the mid-to-high-end market. I believe that focus and excellence are our greatest strengths. Even today, our products primarily offer just two features: wireless CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, along with a reverse camera functionality. We practice a philosophy of reduction, removing non-essential features like MP3 and MP4 playback and screen mirroring. However, we've significantly enhanced our core features. For instance, the connection speed for wireless CarPlay has been improved to just 10-12 seconds, a 100% increase. We've enhanced the smoothness of the 60fps wireless CarPlay, upgraded the dual Bluetooth audio output to Dual BT (Display only), adopted fully laminated screen technology, strong magnetic mounting solutions, streamlined UI design, and ultra-thin exterior design. These enhancements required us to use more powerful chips, employ more skilled software developers, engage more renowned designers, and utilize higher-end production lines. We continuously innovate and iterate in performance, appearance, interaction, design, and tactile experience to meet the demands of our users.

 

Q8: How to play audio in cars without Bluetooth? 

A: We highly recommend using our product with cars that have Bluetooth. In the 'Dual BT (Display only)' mode, connecting the phone to the car's Bluetooth offers a very comfortable audio experience. If your car does not have Bluetooth, we recommend using an AUX Bluetooth receiver① to add Bluetooth functionality to your car. Alternatively, a third-party FM transmitter Bluetooth receiver② can also enable Bluetooth in your car. Our device supports AUX output③ and FM output④ as well, but these sound output methods are not highly recommended. The reason is that the sound is wirelessly transmitted from the phone to the CarPlay screen, and then from the screen to the car via AUX or FM, which makes the transmission path longer and increases latency. Since the phone connects wirelessly to CarPlay at the front end, even an AUX cable at the backend does not deliver lossless audio quality. Therefore, in 'Display only' mode, directly connecting the phone to the car's Bluetooth definitely results in lower latency and better sound quality. If you are particular about sound quality, you can also, in 'Display only' mode, directly connect your phone to the car's AUX with an AUX cable⑤. This supports lossless audio playback, but the downside is that you will need to disconnect the phone to answer calls.

 

Q9: Does the screen support multi-touch?

A: Our system does support multi-touch. However, Apple CarPlay does not support multi-touch, and this is the case even with factory-installed CarPlay systems. Therefore, in the context of using CarPlay, multi-touch functionality is not available. Android Auto also does not support multi-touch.

 

Q10: Can it play YouTube videos, and can apps be installed on it?

A: No, these features are not supported. Our device is a functional machine with a multi-core Linux real-time operating system (RTOS) and does not have the capability to install apps. The advantage of the Linux system is its stability and lack of lag. As long as the hardware remains undamaged, the user experience, including its smoothness, will not deteriorate over the years. The quick startup speed and absolute stability are key benefits of the Linux system. However, the downside is that its functionality cannot be expanded with the installation of apps. The display reaches its full potential when used in conjunction with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto for mobile connectivity.

 

Q11: What CPU is used and how does it perform?

A: The CPU model we use in our devices is the T113, a multi-core Linux chip. Additionally, we have incorporated EMMC to increase cache speed, allowing our devices to boot up and connect to CarPlay in just 10-12 seconds, which is 100% faster than the previous generation. To maximize hardware performance, we support 60fps wireless CarPlay by default. This is a significant improvement over the 30fps offered by our previous generation product, the T2, resulting in a much smoother experience during scrolling in the T3 series.

 

Q12: Does it have a light sensor, and how sensitive is it?

A: Yes, the Carpod T3 Pro not only supports light sensing but also features dual-mode light sensing technology. It differentiates between daytime and nighttime brightness adjustments. The transition between CarPlay's day and night modes is primarily governed by time, with light sensing serving as a supplementary control for brightness, optimizing brightness in underground garages and tunnels during the day. At night, it automatically switches to night mode based on time, allowing for custom brightness settings to better accommodate users sensitive to light. Compared to relying solely on light sensing to switch between day and night modes, our dual-mode light sensing provides more accurate and stable scene recognition.

 

Q13: How stable is the magnetic attachment?

A: The magnetic force can withstand a vertical pressure of up to 8KG, making it extremely stable. You don't need to worry about it falling off unless your car can accelerate to 100 km/h in under one second. Since its launch half a year ago, we have not received any feedback about issues with the magnetic force from thousands of users.

  

Q14: Why doesn’t the device power off after locking a Tesla model?

A: To comply with Tesla's warranty policy, the Carpod T3 requires only USB for power. In Tesla vehicles, both the USB and cigarette lighter ports feature a delayed power-off function after the car is locked, typically turning off after 60 minutes. If Sentry Mode or the climate control system is activated, both the USB and cigarette lighter ports will remain powered 24 hours a day.

For Tesla models, a separate purchase of a Tesla-specific mount and data cable is necessary. Our data cable is custom-designed with a physical switch, allowing users to manually turn off the device when exiting the vehicle.

 

Q15: Does it support AirPlay?

A: This is a feature that many users are concerned about. We have tested this functionality in the Beta version, but our product manager concluded that it did not meet our expectations. The T3's screen resolution of 1920x720 results in a 16:6 aspect ratio, which leads to significant blank space on either side of the content, preventing a full-screen effect. In fact, the actual display area is not much larger than a smartphone's screen. This issue is similar to the display problems found with the elongated screens in Mercedes and BMW vehicles. Additionally, there are challenges with the default logic for sound transmission. After evaluating the overall user experience, we regretfully decided to discontinue this feature.

 

Q16: About Carpodgo

A: Carpodgo is a company that specializes in creating innovative CarPlay mobile display devices. In 2020, they launched their first product, the T2, a portable CarPlay screen with dual Bluetooth functionality. It only requires a Type-C cable for power and supports audio playback through Tesla's Bluetooth, as well as steering wheel button control for apps. Demonstrations from two years ago can be found on YouTube. Initially, to address the stability issues of wireless CarPlay, we opted for a Linux system solution. To solve frame lag issues in wireless transmission, we upgraded our hardware from a 2.4G Wi-Fi antenna to a 5.8G Wi-Fi solution. To enable original car Bluetooth audio playback and car button controls, we introduced dual Bluetooth hardware in the T2, although it had some compatibility issues with certain car models. To address this, the T3 was developed using the more stable and lower latency Dual BT (Display only) technology, significantly enhancing the product experience. After two years of development, the T3, featuring a fully laminated screen and supporting 60fps wireless CarPlay, has become one of the most expensive and best-selling products in China.