Wireless Android Auto / Apple CarPlay Adapters

Cheap addition makes it so much better

The native navigation and “infotainment” capabilities embedded in almost every car manufacturer’s dashboards are generally horrendous, slow and painful to use. conversely, our phones and user experience just get better and better. I think google maps on my phone is the single most used application across any of my computing devices. Not only navigation but searching for just about anything you need to eat, buy, fuel or drive to.

Enter the now standard (unless a GM EV **eyeroll**) inclusion of Android Auto and Apple Carplay on most every vehicle. This allows you to plug your phone of choice into your vehicle and get the user interface of key apps, phone and entertainment from your phone, onto your car screen and controls.

Kind of a game changer because you can just continue whatever content you were listening to or driving directions and maps you were searching for on your phone….and enjoy Google maps, Waze or Apple Maps as a core navigation application.

Not to confuse, but your phone will regardless connect to your car for audio and phone calls wirelessly via bluetooth. That’s great but most cars with Carplay and Android Auto must be hard wired plugged in in order to give you the functionality the offer. This is also fine if you are on a long drive because the cable charges as well….which in most cases we want to be doing. But it means that for shorter drives you still have to go through the process of plugging in if you want those features. Newer year model vehicles are now offering wireless Auto and Carplay, but for those with older…..kind of frustrating in this wireless age to have to plug in.

Here is the find….there are now lots of manufacturers of relatively cheap “dongles” that enable wireless AA or CP on vehicles that don’t support it.

I’ve had mine for a few days and its fantastic….connects almost as fast and you can leave your phone in your pocket and not plug in on those short errands and drives.

First world problems but……if you really like using these features and have a wired only car, then this is a godsend!

The one I have for Android

An Apple equivalent