Is the Apple Car Play finally wireless? And if not, can the curd be plugged into the front dash or must it stretch all the way back to the center console (like 4th gen setup)?

 

The AppleCarPlay is wireless in the 2023 RX 350

 

It is wireless but if you want to plug your phone for whatever reason, all the usb ports (3 usb-c and one usb-a) are in the front, nothing in the center console anymore.

 

Thoroughly enjoy it and it’s been working great so far!

 

The wireless ACP/AA uses the Wifi connection because the (also installed) Bluetooth
is not fast enough. While this uses the same hardware this is Not the 3 month trial that then needs to
be subscribed Wifi Hotspot that you might use to use iPad/computer downloads to stream movies and such.

 

Huh? Are you saying that to use Apple CarPlay you will have to pay for the WiFi subscription ongoing? And if so, does AppleCarPlay still work thru the cord, free of charge?

 

No, the opposite. The Wifi hotspot feature of the last couple of model years was a
subscribed service after the 90 day trial. That transceiver is utilized for free to connect
our devices to enable the ACP or AA connection.

 

Got it! Excellent 👍🏻

 

I never understood why anyone would make their car a hotspot, when your phone can be a hotspot. How do you make the car a hotspot, can you install a SIM chip (eSIM?) from your carrier, or does it only work through a Lexus proprietary cellular data subscription plan?

 

I agree and when (rarely) needed I just enable my phones Hotspot.
A couple of folks that I know pay for and use the cars hotspot feature.
One travels far and wide, often into fringe cell phone range. The cars
external antenna and stronger power stays connected further and they
then WiFi the phone to the car. A couple of families have children with
devices and they stream games or movies....what ever happened to
license plate games!?