Inigo Montoya

Dear late model 718 Cayman and Boxster owners, every single instruction from Porsche, video ALL say to connect your iphone in the center console USB connector under the armrest lid BUT that is not standard in 20/21 Caymans. That is the Smartphone tray option at $560 that adds that and/or possibly NAV option. Without the smartphone option, you get a cigarrete lighter outlet in this location. The standard features list TWO USB ports and SD Card ports. I have been able to see that there is a door on the radio for SD cards and someone mentioned that there is a USB port in the glove box. But again, the Porsche site says this USB port is only for Ipod and USB flash drive and does not mention connecting iPhone to it nor does it say if it has current to keep your phone charged.

So those of you with 20/21 Caymans and Boxsters with the cigarrete lighter port in under the armrest cover, WHERE DO YOU PLUG YOUR IPHONE FOR CARPLAY?

Also, do you know where the second USB port is that is mentioned in the standard features?
If you plug it into the glovebox, will that keep your phone charged?
Can you confirm that Carplay works for you with these USB connections?

Man, I sure hope Porsche can build better cars than documentation!

Thank you.

SpyderLegend

I have NAV but I don't have "smartphone option", and I have USBs in the armrest lid.

winter.zed

One would have to order Carplay to get the USB port in the armrest. That is the only port where carplay "officially" works from. The smartphone tray option has nothing to do with Carplay. It's just a charger/signal booster.
The second USB port is in the passenger footwell.
If you did not specifically order an option - chances are you don't have it. This is how it works with "higher-end" cars. Porsche is notorious for this, but Cadillac or BMW are equally "good" at it.
User manual covers cars with all options. Some (or a lot...) of what you see/read in the manual may not apply to your particular configuration.

OttawaSteve

Nope. Wired Carplay is now standard. The "port" in the passenger footwell is a 12 V socket, not a USB. There is a USB port is in the glovebox. The OP's dilemma is what is in the console. As I pointed out in another thread, there is only a USB port in my console (no 12v as implied in the Porsche literature). That is the port used for Carplay and to charge the phone.

OttawaSteve

You do not need to order the smartphone compartment to get the USB port in the console. I don't have the smartphone compartment or NAV and I have the port. However, I am confused about the reference to the 12 V outlet in the console. I there anyone that has this?

TXshaggy

Think Apple CarPlay is standard on 718s except for the GT cars…well that’s how it was in 2021 for my Spyder anyway

Inigo Montoya

According to the configurator, adding the smartphone compartment, it changes the lighter port to a USB. So my dilemma is that everything I read says that if you don't order the smartphone compartment you get a lighter port and would have to connect the wired carplay somewhere else but no one says were. The videos on Porsche site say that the glovebox USB is only for Ipod and flash drive. It makes no mention of iphone. So was hoping someone with a current model could chime in if they didn't order the smartphone compartment or nav. So maybe, the configurator is wrong and you get a USB port for carplay in glovebox? I called Porsche and they didn't know either. They said they would call me back. No one knows. I don't want to throw $560 away just because no one knows how to connect. There are no new Caymans around to check.

Thank you everyone for your help. OttawaSteve, what year is your car? Also I worry because sometimes Canada gets different options than USA. For example my 1M Coupe was Canadian and it came standard with heated seats and bluetooth and no TPMS sensors in the wheels. The base 1M in the US came with TPMS standard but bluetooth and heated seats were add-on options so that is why it would be helpful to know what year your car is and if USA or Canadian Model.

Inigo Montoya

Yes, it is standard but no one says where to connect the wire to. Everything says to connect to the USB in the center armrest BUT in the configurator in the US, that is an add on option. So if you don't get the smartphone compartment, where do you definitively plug in the cable for carplay?

TXshaggy

I optioned it on my Spyder and plug it in in the center console.

I didn’t option the cell phone compartment or nav.

winter.zed

You're right. My mistake. I had a low-profile USB charger plugged in there since day one. That's why I forgot that it is just a power source Keep thinking of it as "USB port".

BrettPorsche

I will echo that I have a 2021 Cayman GTS, no nav, no smartphone compartment. Still has a USB plug inside the center armrest. I plug my phone there for CarPlay. The phone fits nicely (iPhone 12 Pro)

winter.zed

I do have it. I ordered the "Smoker's package" exactly for this power outlet. Use in the winter for the trickle charger while the car is in storage

Inigo Montoya

Thank you. Congrats on the GTS, amazing machine. I wonder if maybe when they added carplay, they added the USB port in the console and didn't update the configurator?

WJT718

ok not sure if this helps or not. I have a 2020 base, no nav, no phone compartment, no smoker's pkg (which it sounds like you have), with carplay and I have the USB in the center console.

Inigo Montoya

yes it helps. That's exactly what I wanted to know. So it sounds like now it has port in center console. Thank you