Ford Updates Sync 4 with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Written by

CarParts.com Research Team

Automotive and Tech Writers

Updated on April 14th, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Part of the technological advancements in this generation is having the ability to stay connected no matter where you are—and that includes being inside your car. This is why most automakers are now integrating the latest technology on connectivity in  their cars.

Among these forward-thinking brands is Ford, which has recently released its Sync 4 set to include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, with twice the onboarding computing power of the Sync 3. This feature is not common in non-luxury car brands and totally ups the game for Ford models that will be installed with it.

Aside from the wireless connectivity, new Ford vehicles are also set to have over-the-air (OTA) updates that will give owners the ability to receive updates even without the need to go to a service center.

Select Ford vehicles will be equipped with the Sync 4 starting next year, while most redesigned models will also get the OTA update function.

According to the automaker, cloud-connected services will provide the seamless OTA updates. At the same time, these cloud service will juice Sync 4 to make it smarter than the previous versions. The cloud-based functions will enable simple voice recognition commands and call up internet search data to provide drivers and passengers with more relevant information. The new feature will also make traffic, construction, and parking information easily available for Ford vehicles.

Other than the upgraded Sync 4, Ford’s upcoming vehicles are also getting supersized touchscreens, particularly 12- and 15.5-inch touchscreens. Currently, Ford’s largest touchscreen is at 10.1 inches and is equipped on the 2020 Ford Explorer with a tablet-like design.

Depending on the infotainment screen size, owners of upcoming Ford vehicles may be able to split the screen into smaller sizes, which is ideal for multitasking. Larger screens will also get new “cards” that will float at the bottom of the unit to quickly launch a function instead of going back to a specific application.

Rounding up the new features of the Sync 4 are a digital owner’s manual, Sirius XM with 360L, and wireless mirroring for Waze or Amazon Alexa.

Ford said select vehicles will be equipped with the Sync 4 starting next year, while most redesigned models will also get the OTA update function.

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