Shop Smart, Save Big – Unleash a World of Deals at SmartBuyersMart

Best wireless Android Auto adapters 2024

Android Auto is a Google’s replacement for your car’s infotainment system. If you want to use it wireless, you need one of these dongles or adapters.

Much like CarPlay, Google’s Android Auto offers a way to give your car a mobile-inspired interface that’s powered by your smartphone. You’ll get widgets and access to Android apps (including Google’s own software, like Google Maps) and all you need is a car that supports it. But just because your car is Android Auto-compatible doesn’t mean it will be able to connect to your phone wirelessly.


Related

Never lose your car in a parking lot again thanks to this Android Auto feature

No need to wander around hitting the panic button on your car fob.

In those cases, the best option is to buy an adapter or dongle to plug into your car that acts as an intermediary between your smartphone and your vehicle. In terms of features, there isn’t much variety in what these adapters do, but there is a ton of variety in how they look and how they work with your car, as well as whether they support CarPlay. We’ve collected a selection of Android Auto adapters in the list below, so continue reading if you need help finding one that works with your vehicle.

  • A black cube with rounded corners and a logo on the top.

    AAWireless Wireless Android Auto Dongle

    Best overall

    The AAWireless Wireless Android Auto Dongle is our favourite pick because of its compact design, and simple setup over USB-C, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. AAWireless’ strategy is built around its companion app, which you use during initial setup and can later be used to theoretically update the firmware of the dongle over time to maintain compatibility.

  • Two cables next to a black rectangle with vents along the side and a USB port and LED along the bottom.

    Ottocast U2-X Pro Android Auto & CarPlay Adapter

    Best premium adapter

    If your family uses both Android and iPhone, paying a little bit more for the Ottocast U2-X Pro might be worth it. It’s another rectangle (this time with a button for resetting and switching phones) that can connect to your car over USB, but this time it supports Android Auto and CarPlay so you can choose which in-car operating system you use.

  • A rounded black rectangle sitting next to two cables.

    AACPlay Android Auto Wireless Adapter

    Best budget adapter

    The AACPLAY Android Auto Wireless Adapter is one of the most affordable options we found for connecting your Android phone to your car. It can plug into your car over USB-C or USB-A, supports the necessary Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections to your phone, and includes a sticky gel pad so you can keep it from sliding around in your car.

  • A rounded puck with a USB cable coming out of the top.

    Motorola MA1 Wireless Android Auto Car Adapter

    Google-approved adapter

    Motorola’s MA1 Wireless Android Auto Car Adapter was the first of these dongles to get Google’s official support. It’s shaped a bit like a Google Chromecast and meets the basic requirements for connecting to your phone wirelessly and car physically, though only uses a USB-A cable, which might limit which cars it can connect to.

  • A rounded rectangle with a port at the bottom, vents n the side, and a yellow logo on the top.

    Carlinkit 5.0 Wireless Adapter

    Best compact adapter

    The CarlinKit 5.0 Adapter is capable of the same two-in-one trick as the Ottocast, effectively letting you use the dongle for wireless CarPlay or wireless Android Auto, but in a slightly smaller package with options for USB-C and USB-A connections to your car.

  • A rounded puck with a USB-C cable coming out of the top.

    HEI LANG Android Auto Adapter

    Best puck-shaped option

    Functionally, HEI LANG’s adapter is nearly identical to the other dongles on this list, offering both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, but it’s shaped like a puck and allows you to use your car’s existing buttons, knobs, and touchscreens to navigate Android Auto.

  • A slim, rounded rectangle with a button and green LED on the top.

    Carsifi Wireless Android Auto Adapter

    Best with a button for switching phones

    If you share your car and intend to connect it to multiple different Android devices, Carsifi’s Wireless Android Auto Adapter has a dedicated button for switching between phones. It plugs in to supported cars over USB-C or A, and will work with your car’s existing controls.

  • A black rectangle with a blue LED at the front and a USB coming out of the top.

    Teeran Android Auto Wireless Adapter

    Ships with a separate USB-A adapter

    The Teeran Android Auto Wireless Adapter is frequently discounted, and just as capable as the other adapters on this list. It can plug into your car over USB-C, but also ships with a USB-A adapter if you own an older car. Like our other picks, all car controls will still work.

How do I know if my phone and car are compatible with Android Auto?

Google has published a list of all the car brands and specific car models that support Android Auto. These cover vehicles from Acura, BMW, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Volkswagen, and more. In terms of phones that support wireless Android Auto, Google’s criteria is a little more complicated.


Your phone has to have an active data plan (as in, cell service) and support 5 GHz Wi-Fi for wireless Android Auto to be a possibility at all. From there Google breaks down compatibility like this:


  • Any Android phone running Android 11.0 or later supports wireless Android Auto
  • Google or Samsung phones running Android 10.0 support wireless Android Auto
  • A Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+, or Note 9 running Android 9.0 supports wireless Android Auto


If your phone doesn’t fit one of those descriptions it won’t work with Android Auto, wireless or not.

What should I look for in a wireless Android Auto adapter?

The biggest things to consider when purchasing a wireless Android Auto adapter are the connector it uses to plug into your car (newer models tend to favor USB-C, while older models use USB-A) and the method you’ll need to reset or update the dongle if something goes wrong. Some of the models we chose use companion apps to allow for future updates, ensuring your adapters remain compatible with your car and Android in general. Others include dedicated buttons for resetting the dongles. You can also simply unplug them and restart your car. Whichever method you choose, having a way to fix issues in case something goes wrong is important.


Trending Products

0
Add to compare
Corsair 5000D Airflow Tempered Glass Mid-Tower ATX PC Case – Black

Corsair 5000D Airflow Tempered Glass Mid-Tower ATX PC Case – Black

$168.05
0
Add to compare
CORSAIR 7000D AIRFLOW Full-Tower ATX PC Case, Black

CORSAIR 7000D AIRFLOW Full-Tower ATX PC Case, Black

$269.99
0
Add to compare
Corsair iCUE 4000X RGB Mid-Tower ATX PC Case – White (CC-9011205-WW)

Corsair iCUE 4000X RGB Mid-Tower ATX PC Case – White (CC-9011205-WW)

$144.99
.

We will be happy to hear your thoughts

Leave a reply

SmartBuyersMart
Logo
Register New Account
Compare items
  • Total (0)
Compare
0
Shopping cart