Android Auto is Google’s alternative on your automotive’s infotainment system. If you wish to use it wirelessly, you want one in every of these adapters.
Very similar to CarPlay, Android Auto provides a method to give your automotive’s infotainment system a mobile-inspired makeover. 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 is Android Auto-compatible does not imply it will likely be in a position to hook up with your cellphone wirelessly.
By no means lose your automotive in a parking zone once more due to this Android Auto characteristic
No have to wander round hitting the panic button in your automotive fob.
In these circumstances, the most suitable choice is to purchase an adapter or dongle to plug into your automotive that acts as an middleman between your smartphone and your automobile. By way of 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 collection of Android Auto adapters within the checklist under, so proceed studying in case you need assistance discovering one which works along with your automobile.
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AAWireless Wi-fi Android Auto Dongle
Greatest total
The AAWireless Wi-fi Android Auto Dongle is our favorite choose due to its compact design, and easy setup over USB-C, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. AAWireless’ technique is constructed round its companion app, which you utilize throughout preliminary setup and might later be used to theoretically replace the firmware of the dongle over time to keep up compatibility.
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Ottocast U2-X Professional Android Auto & CarPlay Adapter
Greatest premium adapter
If your loved ones makes use of each Android and iPhone, paying slightly bit extra for the Ottocast U2-X Professional is likely to be value it. It is one other rectangle (this time with 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 utilize.
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AACPlay Android Auto Wi-fi Adapter
Greatest finances adapter
The AACPLAY Android Auto Wi-fi Adapter is without doubt one of the most reasonably priced choices we discovered for connecting your Android cellphone to your automotive. It will probably 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 hold it from sliding round in your automotive.
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Motorola MA1 Wi-fi Android Auto Automotive Adapter
Google-approved adapter
Motorola’s MA1 Wi-fi Android Auto Automotive 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 vehicles it might probably hook up with.
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Carlinkit 5.0 Wi-fi Adapter
Greatest compact adapter
The CarlinKit 5.0 Adapter is able to the identical two-in-one trick because the Ottocast, successfully letting you utilize 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 choice
Functionally, HEI LANG’s adapter is sort of similar to the opposite dongles on this checklist, providing each Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, but it surely’s formed like a puck and means that you can use your automotive’s present buttons, knobs, and touchscreens to navigate Android Auto.
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Carsifi Wi-fi Android Auto Adapter
Greatest with a button for switching telephones
For those who share your automotive and intend to attach it to a number of totally different Android gadgets, Carsifi’s Wi-fi Android Auto Adapter has a devoted button for switching between telephones. It plugs in to supported vehicles over USB-C or A, and can work along with your automotive’s present 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 regularly discounted, and simply as succesful as the opposite adapters on this checklist. It will probably plug into your automotive over USB-C, but additionally ships with a USB-A adapter in case you personal an older automotive. Like our different picks, all automotive controls will nonetheless work.
How do I do know if my cellphone and automotive are suitable with Android Auto?
Google has revealed a listing of all of the automotive manufacturers and particular automotive fashions that help Android Auto. These cowl automobiles from Acura, BMW, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Volkswagen, and extra. By way of telephones that help wi-fi Android Auto, Google’s standards is a bit more difficult.
Your cellphone has to have an lively knowledge 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 operating Android 11.0 or later helps wi-fi Android Auto
- Google or Samsung telephones operating Android 10.0 help wi-fi Android Auto
- A Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+, or Notice 9 operating 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 think about when buying a wi-fi Android Auto adapter are the connector it makes use of to plug into your automotive (newer fashions are inclined 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 mistaken. A number of the fashions we selected use companion apps to permit for future updates, guaranteeing your adapters stay suitable along with your automotive and Android typically. Others embody devoted buttons for resetting the dongles. It’s also possible to merely unplug them and restart your automotive. Whichever methodology you select, having a method to repair points in case one thing goes mistaken is necessary.