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11.6 inch Touch Screen Worth The Upgrade?

Discussion in 'Prime Audio, Electronics, and Infotainment' started by Joe Cowie, May 2, 2022.

  1. Joe Cowie

    Joe Cowie Junior Member

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    I'm torn between the 7 inch and 11.6 inch touch screen. I love tech, but I hate poor quality tech.

    Anyone try apple car play/ google maps on both of these screens, which looks better?

    If anyone has experience between these two screens I'd love your real life feedback.

    Cheers!
     
  2. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    I have had both 7-inch HU (2020 LE) and 11.6-inch HU (2021 Ltd). If I can find a 2022 LE with 7-inch HU, I would be trading my current 2021 Ltd PP in a heartbeat. When I purchased the Ltd with 11.6-inch HU, that was the last PP the dealer had in stock and they were not getting any more. Now, with a shortage of all models, I can't find any PP to replace my current PP. The large screen with the onboard navigation shows the larger map, but its interface is so bad, I have had the screen turned off most of the time. The Toyota App that controls the infotainment system is also so bad, that I did not even install it on my phone after purchasing the 2021 Ltd. I don' own iPhone, so no apple car play experience. But I know it only uses the top half of the screen for mirroring, so the effective area you see on the large 11.6" HU is not much bigger than the 7" HU screen.
     
    #2 Salamander_King, May 2, 2022
    Last edited: May 2, 2022
    Joe Cowie likes this.
  3. MalachyNG

    MalachyNG Active Member

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    Unfortunately you don't really get a choice with the Prime and you may want to consider the options on the different trims if you have any choice. The 7" head unit is only on the LE trim: the base model. XLE and Limited both only come with the 11" head unit.

    It seems the consensus is that the 11" screen is a downgrade in a number of ways: it loses Android Auto, physical buttons as well as puts the HVAC onto the touch screen. It looks cool like a tesla and for some people that's a selling point. The onboard map system is stuck in early 00s satnav territory and is only updated by expensive encrypted SD card from Toyota. You can find work arounds to make it better - dongles and boxes that add wireless carplay and Android auto. Funny enough, carplay can only utilize half the screen so the extra real estate feels wasted. I bet you get the same experience using carplay on both screens.

    That being said, it's perfectly usable and will still play your AM/FM, XM and Bluetooth content just fine. The Limited trim comes with upgraded speakers if that's something important to you. Sadly there is no CD player.
     
  4. Joe Cowie

    Joe Cowie Junior Member

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    Thanks for your feedback, I've just pre-ordered a 2020 PP w/base trim and aside from the larger screen don't see any other feature worth upgrading for. I've done a fair bit of reading on this topic too, Prius Chat is so helpful.

    Between needing buttons for winter driving/gloves, better quality screen, no glare and easier functionality it looks like the smaller screen wins which is a shocker to me.
    Google/Apple maps is a must, so if that looks good/better on the 7'' then it's all the same at the end of the day.

    I also see that 7'' infotainment is an industry standard size which means for upgrading to new tech such as 2k,4k,native os interface and or wireless apple play down the road means the smaller option is also future proof and gives me more options.

    The 11.6" vertical screen which isn't a standard size at all seems to be rather impossible to swap out.
     
    bisco and Salamander_King like this.
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    good choice. the only thing youget with the big screen is the big screen. and about as poorly done as any auto mfg., and worse than most.
     
  6. Joe Cowie

    Joe Cowie Junior Member

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    thanks for sharing, it would seem they took a big shortcut and just positioned the existing 7” interface screen near the top of the 11” screen and filled in the button section of the 11” with an older nav and Hvac controls to justify the larger screen and unused real estate.
     
  7. MalachyNG

    MalachyNG Active Member

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    Yeah on the LE the 7" display fits like a usual double DIN head unit so I can imagine it is easier to replace with something else if you want to. The big screen is part of this whole dash assembly thing it seems, with it's own special AC vents, plus it has the temperature controls in it...I don't think I've seen anyone on Priuschat who replaced the 11" screen with an aftermarket head unit. There are also some car ECUs that rely on the head unit that may not be replaceable by aftermarket. or difficult and expensive to replace.
     
    Joe Cowie likes this.
  8. Darien Day

    Darien Day Member

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  9. Louis19

    Louis19 Active Member

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    Hi Joe
    I chose the upgrade model basicaly for some goodies i needed like ,power driver seat, rear hatch lock/unlock sensor ,blind spot monitor with RCTA ,softex and navigation not having always my cell phone with me.
    ...so with my needs i was forced to have the 11.6 touch screen...with like you said is rather poor quality tech
    tried apple car play , it works ok but the map fills only top half of the screen
     
    #9 Louis19, Jun 6, 2022
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2022