Cutting the cord on your car is an easy upgrade.
Every morning, you have the same routine: get in the car, dig out your phone, plug in the cable and wait for Android Auto to load. It works fine, but we live in a wireless world now. The good news is that a wireless adapter that fits in the palm of your hand can help cut the cord.
Most modern cars come with Android Auto (and often Apple’s CarPlay), but not all offer a wireless version. These small adapters will plug into your car and turn your car’s infotainment system into a wireless experience.
Can I turn my Android Auto wireless?
It’s easy to convert your car’s Android Auto connection to wireless. Yes, your car needs to already come with wired Android Auto support. Wireless adapters aren’t panaceas for cars that don’t have Android Auto support at all — they’re not upgrades, not 2005 crossovers.
They are small machines that act as mediums. They are smart hardware translators that turn your car’s wired Android system into a wireless one. You plug them into your car’s USB port, set them up, and enjoy an easy start on your commute.
Here’s what happens when you use the Android Auto adapter. When you get into the car, your phone detects the adapter via Bluetooth and authenticates your device, verifying the phone’s identity and sharing Wi-Fi connection details. The Bluetooth connection will eventually also handle hands-free calling. Then, the adapter creates a local 5GHz Wi-Fi Direct network that will handle the heavy lifting, including streaming navigation, audio and real-time screen data.
The result is a seamless automatic connection that happens every time you get into the car. No more fumbling around behind phones and cables.
Pros and cons of using an Android Auto adapter?
There are plenty of benefits to using an Android Auto adapter, obviously, but not everything is sunshine and roses. While using an adapter makes your drives easier because you no longer have to plug in your phone, there are potential downsides as well.
As big as the adapters are, the connection between the car, the adapter and the phone cannot be as fast as a direct connection between the car and the phone. It’s a small trade-off, but it’s better than looking at your phone.
When switching from a wired connection to a wireless Android Auto, you should be prepared for your phone’s battery to drain very quickly. Maintaining a direct 5GHz Wi-Fi connection while using GPS, streaming music, and more, will affect your battery. For long road trips, you’ll want to use a separate charging cable.
What is the best wireless Android Auto adapter?
There are several Android Auto wireless adapters available from Carlinkit, AAWireless, Ottocast, Motorola, etc. But, instead of focusing on specific companies, we would like you to understand what hardware features separate a quality adapter from a disappointing one.
You want to make sure the adapter you buy doesn’t rely on a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection because that will be slow and prone to lag. You want an adapter that can handle 5GHz to stream your map and audio at the same time.
You’ll also want an Android Auto adapter with a detachable USB cable. Models that come with built-in USB connectors may affect access to some of your ports or simply stick out at an odd angle due to the shape of your console or dashboard.
Getting a wireless Android Auto adapter is one of the best ways to upgrade your car as it will really change what you use day to day. The cost is low enough that you can’t complain, setup takes minutes, and your maps app will be ready to go before you even leave your parking spot.
