11.6 inch Touch Screen Worth The Upgrade?

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

If I didn't care about the safety and convenience upgrades in the Limited, I would have gone with the base trim then replace the 7" HU with the E900:

128GB Car Radio Android 11 Touch Screen Multimedia Video Player For Toyota Prius XW50 2015 2020 GPS Stereo Carplay Head Unit| | - AliExpress

 

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