We have tested eight devices, and the experience with each was similar. What they all share is that once you have your phone connected, you’ll appreciate the ease of wireless CarPlay or Android Auto. But you'll also notice a slight lag from hitting a button on the screen to when it responds (for example, when pausing a song) compared with using the direct wired connection.

The first CarPlay adapter I tried, the Cplay2Air, is straightforward: You plug the Cplay2Air directly into the car’s USB-A smart port via the integrated cable. A few caveats before you get started: Your phone can't be connected to other Bluetooth devices, not even the hands-free option for your car’s infotainment system—I had to delete my phone’s existing entry. It also can't be connected to another Wi-Fi network, which is difficult if you've got a strong signal from the house that reaches your driveway. The Cplay2Air works with the iPhone 6 and up, and you can plug it into a USB-C port if you buy your own converter cable. What about when there are two devices being used with the same car? Well, it works, but it’s not particularly intuitive. The button on the side of the dongle doesn’t really have much to do with connecting a second device beyond the initial pairing process. In testing with my Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Pixel 6 Pro, I found that both devices needed to be paired with both the dongle itself and my car. To go from one to the other, I needed to place the device I did not want to use Android Auto with on airplane mode, as that was the only way I found to kill an established connection. After about a minute, the other device will automatically take over. This is far from a reliable or intuitive solution – Redditors reported mixed results using similar tactics – but it’s better than nothing. At least you can use this device with two different phones. MA1’s setup process is as dead simple as you could possibly want Performance & Battery Drain The Binize Wireless Android Auto Adapter supports most of the Android Auto enabled wired Media systems. It connects with your Android smartphones via Bluetooth and Wifi. The dual channel WiFi sees to it that no latency issues ever take place. This Android Auto Wireless Dongle comes with an inbuilt GPS. Their is also an option to switch to the 4G cellular network if you’re having a 4G SIM. Ottocast says the U2-Air works with 600+ car models from 2016 on, except for some Sony aftermarket head units. Its boot time is rated at 18 seconds, and it defaults to 5GHz Wi-Fi. This model only works with iPhones running IOS 10 and up. Unlike some of the other vendors in this roundup, Ottocast has actual offices in the US, but that doesn’t mean the device arrives in the mail any faster.

Carsifi key features

Then I found out about wireless CarPlay dongles/adapters. They plug into the smart adapter port of your car (usually a USB-A port, but USB-C on some newer models). Whatever smartphone plugs into it will display on the screen. The dongle is a go-between, connecting to your smartphone to the dash using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. So you can get in the car and start rolling, no need to plug in.

I say most, because I was told by the vendor upon requesting the device that “Magic Box doesn’t have 100% compatibility with Honda.” That could be a problem since I’m testing with a 2018 Honda CR-V. “But most of the time, it works,” they said. So why not try it? The app is also used to send OTA updates to the dongle, report issues, and tweaking the USB mode. Most vehicles should work fine on the default settings, but some may need to be tweaked to work properly. AAWireless also told us that a new list of tested vehicles is coming soon. The AI Box is one of the best Android Auto car dongles you can find right now. Its stylish, sleek, quite durable and has exceptional connectivity. The AI box gives wireless capabilities to your outdated car media system. But over time, the biggest problem I’ve had with the Motorola MA1 has been degraded performance. Lately, each session using the MA1 with my Pixel 6 Pro is laggy to an unusable degree. When using Google Maps, I’ve seen turn-by-turn directions lag behind by up to a full minute, which often means the display is still showing the street I already turned off of. That’s fine when I’m just driving around my local city, but it’d be a nightmare in an unfamiliar area with complex junctions. The lag issues also mean that music is often heavily delayed, with the steering wheel controls often not resulting in a new song for over 30 seconds. One end has a USB-C port, and the other end has a USB-A port—but the latter is only for offline upgrades, so ignore it. The box contains two cables, one C-to-C and another C-to-A; to get started, plug the USB-C end into the Carlinkit 3.0 and the other end into whatever port you have on your dash or head unit.And then there’s XEITIN’s Wireless Android Auto Adapter. It’s a budget-friendly gem that promises to effectively turn wired setups into wireless paradises, though one may encounter sporadic connectivity hiccups. Like the above devices, using The Magic Link starts out just fine: Plug it in, watch the intermediary interface appear on screen, look for the Bluetooth connection on the iPhone, connect to it, and CarPlay is up and running. The usual lag applies. It includes a 12-inch USB-A to USB-C cable.

That’s also a big negative if the MA1 just doesn’t seem to like your phone, as some Samsung Galaxy owners have found – I only used MA1 briefly with my Galaxy Z Fold 3, but it worked without issue. Related: 10 Best Android Auto Head Units and Apple CarPlay Stereo Binize Wireless Android Auto Adapter We’ve undertaken the arduous task of wading through numerous products to bring you a comprehensive overview of the best wireless Android Auto adapters available today. Here’s what we found: Product To use Android Auto, for once, you don’t need an app, but it does require phones to run Android 11 or higher. The Wireless Android Auto feature must be activated in the Android Auto app. Then when the interface for the U2-X appears on the dash, you must double-tap an icon on the lower left. That is not at all clear on the interface and I wouldn’t have copped to it had I not found it in the manual.

And, that really shines a light on what I think is the biggest problem with MA1. Let’s say that this is a software issue on the MA1 and not just an experience limited to me — which is possible! —there’s no way the manufacturer can fix software problems on existing units. Could it have been because I was connecting to an aftermarket Pioneer AVH-2300NEX head unit instead of a factory one from an automaker? It's hard to tell, given the variance in timing, but you may or may not experience something similar once you start your car.

For those who prioritize swift connections, the Ottocast A2Air’s impressive 15-second auto-connect stands out, while its dual-core chip ensures smooth streaming.These handy devices let you connect your Android phone to your vehicle’s infotainment system without the need for a physical cable. Once plugged into the car’s USB port, the adapter pairs with your phone via Bluetooth and WiFi, enabling you to access apps, navigation, and music wirelessly. Key Features: Wireless connectivity | WiFi and Bluetooth | Works on 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi | USB A and Type C input | Supports Android 11/iOS11 and above | USB port charging Related: 10 Best Android Auto Navigation Apps to Get Directions While Driving CarPlay AI Box Android Auto There’s almost nothing to love about the interface for your infotainment center created by the car manufacturers. Detroit probably spent millions to perfect those on-screen buttons and almost all of them whiffed it, big time. Even trying to hang up a phone without hitting the wrong button using a car manufacturer’s screen design is an exercise in hair-pulling frustration.