12 inch vs 15 inch screen (Sync 4 vs Sync 4A)

[wannabeMtb]

What are your thoughts on the pros and cons ?

I just ordered the 2022 expedition max with 12 inch screen. I didn't choose the 15 inch screen since I prefer the 12 inch screens. My reasoning is that

1. I prefer the physical dials and buttons for climate control etc. I don't want to fiddle with the menu navigation while driving down the highway. A physical dial that I can adjust without even looking at it is more convenient and I don't need to take my eyes off the road.
2. I don't see a value for large screen since this is not a TV . I just need occasional glances to check the map etc.

Curious to know what are the other pros and cons.

I still have time to change my expedition order.

 

[Lawrence T-D]

Totally with you on the need for physical dials! I don’t want to lose them to an iPad/Tesla style screen. So unsafe

 

[USKflt]

I ordered a Limited Max 303A with the 12” screen. Love the setup in the F-150 and want HVAC buttons/knobs. I’ve had vehicles without them before and hated it. The digital speedo wasn’t worth the trade off for me.

 

[rd618]

I agree with everything said above. The only real reason I went with the 15.5 was that it gives you the digital instrument cluster, which from the f150 I think is much nicer than the analog one. It was well implemented.

 

[dlcorbett]

4A has natural speech integration, but I dnt know if that would make a difference to anyone. I personally want that in my next vehicle. Also, by looking through the owner manual, the 15in screen has more options available to some of the features. Lastly, the digital speedo was rele nice in an f150 I drove and would want that over the analog.

 

[carnevallemarcelo]

I tried the 15 inch screen in the Mach E and love it, very responsive and in my opinion easier than dials.

My suggestion is….try that out before refusing. You might like it.

 

[balthisar]

I ordered the Platinum, so I don't have an option for the smaller screen. However… I have a Mach E, and am totally on board with the big screen. It's fantastic, and the only downsides are the lack of buttons for certain features.

Compared to previous Sync versions, the screen is quick and responsive, with very little lag most of the time. It's still frustrating that it's not "ready to go" as soon as I start the car, and I have to sit there for 20 seconds or so until I can program the GPS destination (live traffic, not because I don't know where to go). After booting up, though, it's almost as responsive as a later model iPhone.

The buttons… I like having quick access to the camera, but I don't get that with the big screen. Since I tend not to fiddle with the HVAC all that much, the non-tactile versions work surprisingly well. I wish I had physical buttons for the heated seats and steering wheel, though.

I hate to say "you'll get used to it" as a solution to a problem that shouldn't exist, but honestly, in this case, "you'll get used to it, and you'll love it."

 

[Deadman]

If they didn't offer the small screen, and I was looking to trade, I'd keep mine. I hate that crap.

 

[dwmarks]

Had same decision for my recent order and ultimately went with large screen. Wish I could have seen it in real-life first but that goes for the rest of the truck too. Never ordered a vehicle without seeing it in on the lot or at auto shows. Have owned Expys for 25yrs so the truck’s not foreign to me but still…strange times.

 

[chuck s]

Looks like I'll be nursing my 2017 for several more years! First the 2018 came out with some sort of dial gizmo rather than a lever on the console for the transmission -- which is why I bought a "late 2017" -- and now the 2022 has this giant video game or entertainment center in the center of the dash board. I've never used the HVAC controls in Sync 3 since there are controls I can use without looking at them.

-- Chuck

 

[1970Maverick]

Why, why, why would anyone want MORE electronics? I have a 2017 XLT (bought new Dec 2016) with minimal electronics and the only thing that's failed since I bought it is the APIM which is now on global backorder.

 

[wannabeMtb]

Had same decision for my recent order and ultimately went with large screen. Wish I could have seen it in real-life first but that goes for the rest of the truck too. Never ordered a vehicle without seeing it in on the lot or at auto shows. Have owned Expys for 25yrs so the truck’s not foreign to me but still…strange times.

Not sure I understood you correctly. But I assume you don't like the large screen ?