In-car infotainment systems often leave a lot to be desired. That frustration comes into play the moment you try to end a call without turning the wrong button. (That’s a pretty common experience, I think.) Once you get a car that supports Android Auto or Apple CarPlay—you know, that one you’ve been waiting for—that really does feel like a game-changer.
But there’s a catch. Even with those systems, you still have to plug your phone in every time you want to use them. And that can be a real pain. Digging your phone out of your pocket or bag every time you get in the car adds up—and it’s not great for your phone’s charging port either. If you’re one of those people still clinging to an older iPhone, you know exactly what I mean about the Lightning port wearing out. That spotty connection, no matter how many cables you replace—that’s just one of those things you learn to live with.
The Rise of Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto Adapters
Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto adapters are changing the way we use our phones in the car. These small devices plug into your car’s USB-A or USB-C port, letting you connect your phone without needing to plug it in each time you get in. The adapter uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to connect your phone to your car’s infotainment system, making it much easier to start driving without wires.
You’ll notice that many of these wireless adapters look very similar. This is because only a few companies actually make them. If you search on Amazon, you might see brand names like Drimfly, Zeteade, Teeran, Vrriis, Binize, and Loadkey. You might also spot ads for CarlinKit and Pairr on TikTok or Instagram. Many of these brands don’t sell on Amazon. Instead, they sell directly to customers and ship from overseas, which can mean longer delivery times.
After testing several of these adapters, we found the experience to be pretty much the same across all of them. Once your phone is connected, it’s easy to use wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. However, there is one small downside: you may notice a slight delay when you tap the screen, like when pausing a song, compared to a wired connection. Even with this small lag, the convenience of going wireless is hard to beat, and it makes driving much more comfortable.
OTTOCAST U2Air Pro
The OTTOCAST U2Air Pro makes driving easier. It connects Apple CarPlay without wires, so you don’t need any cables. It uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for fast and stable connections. You can enjoy music, get directions, and make hands-free calls. Its small design fits in your car, and it’s easy to set up. If you want to improve your car’s entertainment system or enjoy wireless convenience, the OTTOCAST U2Air Pro is the right choice.
CarlinKit – Mini 5 SE
The CarlinKit Mini 5 SE is an excellent choice for wireless CarPlay in 2024 and 2025. It has fast Wi-Fi (fifth generation), which helps keep the connection smooth. It also supports GPS passthrough, and the dual USB design makes it easy to set up.
While it takes a little longer to start (just a few seconds), this won’t affect how well it works once connected. The best part is the settings menu, which gives you many customization options.
For the price, it offers many good features. If you want a reliable and affordable CarPlay adapter, the Mini 5 SE is a smart choice.
$39.99
at amzon
MMB – Mini
MMB Mini – Make Your Car Smarter Without Wires
Do you use Apple CarPlay in your car? Every time, you need to plug in your iPhone with a cable. That can be annoying, right? Now, there is a smart solution – the MMB Mini Wireless CarPlay Adapter. This small device changes your wired CarPlay into a wireless system. Just plug it into your car’s USB port. Connect your iPhone one time through Bluetooth. After that, it connects automatically every time. You can use Maps, Music, Calls, Siri, and Messages without any cable. It works with most cars that have wired Apple CarPlay (2016 or newer) and supports iPhones with iOS 10 or higher. The adapter is very small and easy to use. No app is needed. No wires. Just a clean and smart dashboard. Whether you drive every day or go on long trips, MMB Mini makes your ride easier and safer.
MMB Mini – no wires, no stress. Just drive smart!
$59.99
at amzon
AA Wireless
AA Wireless
Setting up the AA Wireless dongle wasn’t very easy—it was about as tricky as the Carsifi one. It comes with a strong, braided 18-inch USB-C to USB-A cable, which feels good quality. To get started, you first connect the dongle using Bluetooth. It shows up with a name like “AndroidAuto-AAWCxxxxxx.”
After that, you’ll need to install an app to update the firmware. There’s a QR code for the app on the back of the manual, or you can get the link from the company’s website.
Usually, the dongle should take over your car’s screen and start Android Auto. But in our case, it didn’t work until we went into the app, tapped on Device Settings, and turned off “Passthrough.” The good news is that the app looks nice and works better than many others like it—though the settings can still be confusing.
After changing the setting, Android Auto finally showed up and worked well. It did take a few car restarts and re-plugging the device into the smart USB port. That’s important, especially since there’s no direct tech support. You can order from the website, and for U.S. customers, they say it ships within 7 days from their Dallas warehouse.
If you need help, there’s a FAQ and troubleshooting guide in the app. The company told PCMag: “The app has a troubleshooting section for common issues. If those don’t work, it creates a support ticket and we’ll follow up by email.” Also, if something goes wrong during setup, there’s a small reset button on the device.
There’s also a newer model called AAWireless Two, which has a multifunction button to make pairing easier. We haven’t tested this version yet, so we can’t say how well it works.
$59.99
at amzon
AAWireless TWO
