buying guide and recommended models

Although the “universal” way to connect your phone to your car and thus use Android Auto is via cable, more and more cars are compatible with wireless Android Auto. If this is not the case in your car and you want to enjoy this wireless infotainment system, there are alternatives: USB adapters or dongles. If you are not very sure which one to buy, in this buying guide we help you choose the best wireless android auto adapter for your needs and we propose some recommended models.

How to choose a wireless Android Auto adapter

What do you need to use a wireless Android Auto adapter? The first thing is that your car (or its car radio) is compatible with Android Auto and has a USB socket. The following is a phone running Android Auto 8.0 0 later. Then make sure that Android Auto is up to date in your car and that the radio firmware is up to date. Finally, to be able to launch Android Auto wirelessly you will need a stable connection between the adapter and your car’s console.

He How Wireless Android Auto Adapters Work is similar to Bluetooth FM transmitters, in the sense that they take advantage of an existing socket in your car (in this case, USB, in the case of transmitters, the cigarette lighter) to connect to the vehicle and your phone connects to them via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Once these points have been clarified, to choose a good wireless adapter for Android Auto, you should look at:

• Design. It is better to opt for those that are more compact and discreet, since you will have to find a place for it in your car so that it does not bother you while driving.
• connectivity. Although the essence is the same, not all cars support the same connectivity. Ideally, bet on a dongle that offers multiple options, for example with Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands. Keep in mind that the newer versions are usually more stable and faster.
• extra functions. Apart from allowing us to connect to Android Auto wirelessly, some devices offer other utilities that can improve your user experience.
• Compatibility. Before you buy an adapter, check that you can use it with both your phone and your car.
• easy to install. Although in general the set-up is not very complex, it is better that the configuration process be simple, clear and immediate.
• usb type. It is important to make sure that the wireless adapter is compatible with the USB port of your car. When in doubt, there are models that offer two types of cables
• How is the cable. In addition to quality construction, the cable that connects the adapter core to the car should be long enough so that you can leave the dongle in a good place, and at the same time, as short as possible so that it doesn’t bother you. Ideally, it should be extensible, to be able to collect what you do not use.

Best wireless Android Auto adapters: recommended models

If you don’t play it and you want the official accessory, then the one you are interested in is the Motorola MA1 (89 euros). This device has a compact and stylized aesthetic whose only drawback in the design section is that its cable is fixed.

It stands out for its ease of setup and is suitable for phones running Android 11 or later. It’s so popular that it’s sometimes hard to find.

Just as sometimes there is no stock of the official accessory (on the official website it is sold out), another alternative that is usually available are adapters from Carlinkit. The latest version is this CarlinKit 5.0 (95 euros with coupon), a model that although it does not stand out for its design (somewhat crude), yes it wins in versatility compared to the previous one, since it allows you to have Android Auto and CarPlay (Apple’s counterpart), so that you can also connect an iPhone.

Plug and Play, so you don’t need much more than connecting it, one of its advantages is that it has the most modern connectivity standards, specifically with Bluetooth 5.0 and 5GHz Wi-Fiwhich allows you to enjoy more stable connections with better performance and speed (if your devices are compatible).

If you are out of price, you can always go for the previous version, the Carlinkit 4.0 (90 euros with a coupon), a model that will work for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay if you have a compatible radio and a phone with iOS 10 or later or Android 11 or later. It includes two cables, one USB-A to C and the other USB-C to C so you have everything you need to get going regardless of your car outlet. It is plug and play and easy to use and has 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connectivity and a Bluetooth module.

This Ottocast model (80 euros with coupon) is plug and play and has a very simple initial configuration, connecting your car and your mobile via Bluetooth. With a futuristic-looking design in the shape of a 5.5 cm square, stands out for its performance thanks to its ARM Cortex A7 dual-core processor with Bluetooth5.0 connectivity and 5GHz Wi-Fi.

Relatively compact and light is this Carsify (83 euro), which has a most curious feature: a button in its central area that allows you to switch the connection between different mobileswhich is interesting if you share the car with other people.

Cover Image | Motorola | Brian Erickson in Unsplash

In Xataka Android | The best accessories for Android Auto: dongles, mounts, cables and more