Very like CarPlay, Google’s Android Auto gives a solution to give your automotive an Android-inspired interface that is powered by your smartphone. You may get widgets and entry to Android apps (together with Google’s personal software program, like Google Maps) and all you want is a automotive that helps it. However simply because your automotive helps Android Auto does not imply will probably be in a position to hook up with your cellphone wirelessly.
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In these circumstances, the most suitable choice is to get an adapter or dongle to plug into your automotive that acts as an middleman between your smartphone and your car. When it comes to options, there is not a lot selection in what these adapters do, however there’s a ton of selection in how they give the impression of being and the way they work along with your automotive, in addition to whether or not they help CarPlay. We have collected a choice of Android Auto adapters within the record beneath, so proceed studying if you happen to need assistance discovering one which works along with your car.
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AAWireless Wi-fi Android Auto Dongle
Greatest total
The AAWireless Wi-fi Android Auto Dongle is our total favorite choose due to its compact, sq. physique, and comparatively easy setup over USB-C, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. AAWireless’ complete technique is constructed round its companion app, which you employ throughout preliminary setup and may later be used to theoretically replace the firmware of the dongle over time to take care of compatibility.
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Ottocast U2-X Professional Android Auto & CarPlay Adapter
Greatest premium adapter
$150 $179 Save $29
If your loved ones makes use of each Android and iPhone, paying a bit of bit extra for the Ottocast U2-X Professional is perhaps value it. It is one other rectangle (this time with warmth sinks and a button for resetting and switching telephones) that may hook up with your automotive over USB, however this time it helps Android Auto and CarPlay so you may select which in-car working system you employ.
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AACPLAY Android Auto Wi-fi Adapter
Greatest finances adapter
One of the reasonably priced choices for connecting your Android cellphone to your automotive that we discovered, the AACPLAY Android Auto Wi-fi Adapter would not do something totally different from our high two picks. It could possibly plug into your automotive over USB-C or USB-A, helps the mandatory Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections to your cellphone, and features a sticky gel pad so you may preserve it from sliding round in your automotive.
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Motorola MA1
Google-approved adapter
$78 $90 Save $12
Motorola’s MA1 Wi-fi Android Auto Automobile Adapter was the primary of those dongles to get Google’s official help. It’s formed a bit like a Google Chromecast and meets the fundamental necessities for connecting to your cellphone wirelessly and automotive bodily, although solely makes use of a USB-A cable, which could restrict which automobiles it may hook up with.
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CarlinKit 5.0
Greatest compact adapter
The CarlinKit 5.0 Adapter is able to the identical two-in-one trick because the Ottocast, successfully letting you employ the dongle for wi-fi CarPlay or wi-fi Android Auto, however in a barely smaller package deal with choices for USB-C and USB-A connections to your automotive.
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HEI LANG Android Auto Adapter
Greatest puck-shaped possibility
HEI LANG’s Android Auto Adapter is almost an identical to the opposite dongles on this record in its puck-shaped design, capability to plug in with USB-C or USB-A, and use Bluetooth and 5 GHz Wi-Fi to wi-fi stream Android Auto content material out of your cellphone to your automotive’s show. You possibly can even use your automotive’s current buttons, knobs, and touchscreens to navigate the Android Auto interface.
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Carsifi Wi-fi Android Auto Adapter
Greatest with a button for switching telephones
In case you share your automotive and plan on connecting it to a number of totally different Android telephones, Carsifi’s Wi-fi Android Auto Adapter has a devoted button for switching Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections between telephones. It plugs in to supported automobiles over USB-C or A, and can work along with your automotive’s current controls.
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Teeran Android Auto Wi-fi Adapter
Ships with a separate USB-A adapter
The Teeran Android Auto Wi-fi Adapter is ceaselessly discounted, and simply as succesful as the opposite adapters on this record. It could possibly plug into your automotive over USB-C, but in addition ships with a USB-A adapter if it’s worthwhile to join it to an older port in an older automotive. Like our different picks, if you happen to use wi-fi Android Auto with the Teeran adapter, throughout automotive controls will nonetheless work.
How do I do know if my cellphone and automotive are appropriate with Android Auto?
Google has published a list of all of the automotive manufacturers and particular automotive fashions that help Android Auto. These cowl autos from Acura, BMW, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Volkswagen, and extra. When it comes to telephones that help wi-fi Android Auto, Google’s standards is a bit more difficult.
Your cellphone has to have an energetic information plan (as in, cell service) and help 5 GHz Wi-Fi for wi-fi Android Auto to be a chance in any respect. From there Google breaks down compatibility like this:
- Any Android cellphone working Android 11.0 or later helps wi-fi Android Auto.
- Google or Samsung telephones working Android 10.0 help wi-fi Android Auto.
- A Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+, or Word 9 working Android 9.0 helps wi-fi Android Auto.
In case your cellphone would not match a kind of descriptions it will not work with Android Auto, wi-fi or not.
What ought to I search for in a wi-fi Android Auto adapter?
The largest issues to contemplate when buying a wi-fi Android Auto adapter are the connector it makes use of to plug into your automotive (newer fashions are likely to favor USB-C, whereas older fashions use USB-A) and the strategy you may have to reset or replace the dongle if one thing goes incorrect. A number of the fashions we selected use companion apps to permit for future updates, guaranteeing your adapters stay appropriate along with your automotive and Android basically. Others embrace devoted buttons for resetting the dongles. You can even merely unplug them and restart your automotive. Whichever technique you select, having a solution to repair points in case one thing goes incorrect is necessary.
