This video took some time to put together, so I hope the wait was worth it and I hope it helps anyone looking for one decide which wireless CarPlay adapter to buy. In this video, I narrowed my 15 review dongles down to 8, then a final 5. All the remaining 5 are good dongles in their own right, and when it comes down to it, many will behave differently in each CarPlay vehicle/system. So I recommend you buy from Amazon if you can so you have easy returns should it not work well with your car. Links to buy from the US stores are below, with other locations in the video's main description. 🇺🇸 Buy in US CarlinKit 3.0 Mini Wireless Adapter - amzn.to/3DGLyHe CarlinKit 3.0 Wireless Adapter - amzn.to/3DJJ772 CPLAY2air 2.1 Wireless Adapter - bit.ly/CPLAY2air BROxiongdi Wireless Adapter - a.aliexpress.com/_mOAaWjK Ottocast U2-Air - amzn.to/3TOcbzM ⭐ Honourable mentions DAYO Wireless Adapter - amzn.to/3zsckAB TNVTEC AutoBox V1 Adapter - amzn.to/3U82gEK ATOTO AC3 Wireless Adapter - amzn.to/3DEFlf1 As always, if you have any questions about any of these wireless adapters, please ask below. Please don't ask about 2-in-1 adapters, or Ai Boxes, this is for another video :)
I’m new to all this, do you have to wait in park for for everything to pair or does it pair when you start driving. Sorry for the silly question. I have a 2021 Prius and don’t even know if it would work. I’m so new to the technology, but I use Apple CarPlay in my car all the time. Thanks in advance and most excellent video! Thanks for all the work you put into it!
Great video, thanks very much for doing all this testing. I have the CPlay2Air and it works just fine for me. There are occasional glitches but nothing serious at all. Great work!
By far the best and most thorough review on wireless CarPlay adapters. Appreciate the in-depth dive on the tech specs. Would love to see you review the Magic Box 2.0 vs Elite Car Box 3.0
Great review. But what about making phone calls? My experience with the Carlinkit is quite bad. There’s a delay when speaking. I therefore use my earset instead and that just seems to stupid… So I really would like to know if that’s an issue to all the adapters.
Thanks for the comprehensive review! You had me on sold on the carlinkit mini white dongle until 7:31 when you said "and although it was 16 seconds slower into carplay..." Which of these devices gets me into carplay the fastest and how can this one be #1 with that long a startup?
There’s more to it than speed. The fastest is the U2-Air from ottocast and a few other less known brands. But they have poor config options for fixing or improving compatibility with vehicles. If it works out the box then this is less of a problem. Also the fast ones done have decent multi user support.
Thanks for this comprehensive and well put together evaluation. I have three vehicles and have a different Carplay adapter in each vehicle. The Carlinkit 4.0 is definitely my favorite for Carplay only. My least favorite is my CPLAY2air, as in my opinion; they are expensive, have long delivery lead time, and poor customer support . I also have an older model Carlinkit AI Box (cpc200-T box) and I have to admit I am not a fan of that unit, lots of dropped connections and lag when using it, particularly in marginal cell signal areas. I am definitely looking forward to your evaluation of AI Box alternatives.
Thanks. The 4.0 is a good dongle too, yet for AA it can have issues so it’s not a good all rounder for use with both platforms. I’ll have to see how it competes in my 2-in-1 round up. I’m going to have to do a poll soon asking what main key areas should I be scoring on the ai box round up, as it could get very deep
CPLAY2Air is probably the worst adapter I’ve ever used. It failed within weeks, had connection issues, and when I contacted support, they refused to replace the device. Amazon was kind enough to second a replacement, but the same thing happened. Was stuck with a very expensive brick.
Hi. Bought the Carlinkit 3.0 after watching this. Just set it up and it seems pretty nifty for the money. Quick question - I assume it’s safe to leave it plugged in when away from the car? It’s not going to continue drawing power and flatten the battery, or anything? Cheers
Congrats on your purchase 👏🏻 Unless your usb port continues to draw power on anything it’s connected to when the ignition is off then it’s fine. It should not draw power from the battery unless it’s been made to do that. Some cars have a timeout and power the usb for a few minutes or seconds before turning off. if you think it does this you can face the dongle power light towards a window, get out and lock the car and look inside to see if the power light goes off after some time.
@@CarPlayLife Great, thanks. Out of interest, is it important to remove the iPhone’s original Bluetooth connection to the car in order for this to operate smoothly? If so, will the head unit still operate in the usual way, in respect of phone calls and Bluetooth music if I choose not to be using CarPlay at the time?
Good review but you skipped the most important part of the delay on Waze app because everything else can be controlled via Bluetooth. Any chance to update your review?
I also am keen before I commit to Carlinkit. Mostly as quadlock support will be infinitely more accessible if it’s a good unit. Also it’s competitively priced.
I have this unit and can confirm it doesn’t work well with my VW Tiguan sadly. I had to get a refund from quad lock. Not sure if its a VW infotainment thing or not but tried everything with support and still no good.
Very interesting. I am installing an aftermarket head unit in my truck. After watching his,, I will go with one with native wireless carplay. All of the dongles have severe downsides.
I have a radio that has CarPlay but needs to be wired, is there a different device that takes advantage of making it wireless or is it only standalone CarPlay like these?
I want to use Google maps or Waze from my iPhone 12. But while Apple play is on, how can I play just FM stations on the regular radio of my 2023 Toyota Camry while running Google maps?
That should be possible. Play back radio station first then launch CarPlay and launch maps app. The radio should continue whilst maps displays. If this doesn’t then it’s a compatibility issue with the adapter and your car system. Try using a cable and see if it repeats the same issue. If it doesn’t it’s the adapter not allowing it. You can try looking at switching turn commands to be sent over your system via BT or calling audio in maps options area.
what adapter do i need to make an already existing carplay in my car to wireless rather than plugging the cable. is it the same products as shown in this video?
My car came with an aftermarket carplay installed. does the car need to come with carplay for this to work, or could i plug it in to my box i use now ya think?
Hi great video as usual. When I have Apple carplay up and running on my mazda screen (with a dongle plugged in) and the radio is playing ok. If I go to a you tube video on my phone when in the car the youtube video audio plays through the cars speakers, but then when the video finish's the cars radio is off, and I have to go back to the mazda screen and turn the radio on again? Any thoughts please?
I could be wrong but I think you need RUclips premium subscription to play RUclips in the background and with that it will transition to the next track in a playlist. It there is no playlist it might just stop and that’s your stereo dealing with no output source to the stereo
Is there a car play dongle that has a QI / MagSafe charger pad? I would seem that would be a logical add since you are no longer plugging into anything and you're running down your battery. Thanks!
Someone had done one on indiegogo but the issue is the CarPlay ports are mostly 5v so to power the wireless adapter AND power the charging pad from the same port, it would mean the charging from the pad wouldn’t be significant enough to charge your phone with. Also the heat from this might impact the performance of the wireless adapter and charging pad inside.
@@htrumbull I use a powered phone cradle mount, i send power to it from the ciga socket with a usb A to USB C cable so when I mount the phone, it automatically charges while in the cradle. And the wireless charging happens and it’s mounted to the air con air vents with a nice latching setup. It’s a quality unit, and it auto latches once it detects the phone is in the cradle and it’s got a button either side of the cradle and it opens once pressed. It’s great that it automatically latches to the phone once it detects the phone is in the cradle so it’s less things I have to do once I get in the car. I just plonk it in the wireless charging cradle, it auto latches and hooks up to airplay seemlessly. I can’t remember the brand but it’s costly to buy but worth it, it’s called something with MOK as the first 3 letters, I can’t remember the rest of the letters. I don’t have to worry about cables for charging phone or cables for airplay now and it’s summer here in Australia so the air conditioning vents cool the phone while charging and transmitting to airplay so I’m happy and the cool phone from the air conditioning is happy and it hasn’t over heated at all.
Sony can be a bit hit and miss with these adapters. I never had hands on one from Sony to test so I can not say what ones work with it. Your best bet is to look on some Sony forums for this topic and see which are successful. Or take a punt on one on Amazon for easy returns if it doesn’t work.
@carplaylife i'm still trying to figure out which adapter would work best. The main issue I'm finding is not also being able to cast from my phone. Do you have a higher priced option with the bells and whistles that can also cast?
@@CarPlayLife that would be great. Do you happen to know if there is a free casting app on the play store or side loaded app that works well for casting through that app on one of these carplay adaptors?
Can one of this will work with an old radio head unit from a Honda CRV 2013 or if you can recommend something else? I have this old car and have this old radio unit with satnav on it and I was thinking how to screen cast somehow and have android auto on it?
You need a wired CarPlay system for these adapters. You best easiest solution is a portable display ruclips.net/p/PLysOHeJ5BkMjtEOXRVeCE3fruLXqmPr9B&si=rHjuGa4WWdWNDP9V
I love your reviews! Just activated Carplay on my 2016 Audi TT and looking for a compatible wireless adapter with fast startup and reliable connectivity. I recall that you have an Audi TT, so which of the many wireless dongles you have reviewed would you recommend for the Audi TT? Thanks in Advance!
I did have a TT yes. I had an alpine ILX107 installed in it at the time. This was pre adapter days so I can say really. I would try the ottocast u2-air pro or speed or CarlinKit 4.0 or 5.0 if you want to mess around with its config settings.
Question, I have a 2019 Honda Odyssey Elite with CarPlay and I have i-11…. what is the best dongle I could get to play RUclips on my front seat media screen???
I guess you would still need a physical connection to the lightning port so it wouldn’t be much different to a car phone mount that has a cable connection at the bottom. Like the Brodit cradles.
Only just seen. Thanks. After buying CPlay2air, discovered that, when it’s activated, it automatically disconnects the car’s WiFi network. Do all such adapters do this? Much prefer to have wired CarPlay and operative in car wifi, if that’s the only option. (Currently struggling to uninstall fully the CPlay2air.)
@@CarPlayLife Thanks. CPlay2 etc have just confirmed to me that use of their adapter automatically cuts off the car’s WiFi. If I’d known that, I’d never have got it in the first place, and stuck with Wired CarPlay. Now trying to return it and obtain a refund. Presumably other adapters work in the same way, including your no 1 recommendation?
Thank you very much for your work and reviews. I would like to ask one thing about the video resolution of the Dongle OTTOCAST U2-AIR. Is there a specific setting or is a larger resolution by default? Thanks again for the videos you make are always very exhaustive. I hope for your reply
Thanks for watching. I’m not sure how the air works with its resolution. You can’t set this. It just happens on certain displays that it thinks it can push a higher resolution to
Hi, I have carlinkit 4.0 and vw golf 8k. However, my dongle connects the carplay in 4-5 minutes that is the main problem I have. It was not that long for ny previous car but it took more time to connext with golf. What might be the main reasons?
If it’s the same adapter that was in your older car, it can’t be your iPhone to adapter connection, it Sounds like the system is taking longer to detect the adapter. Maybe try resetting the adapter back to factory and start playing with its options. Remove all CarPlay profiles on your iPhone and also BT connections to the adapter and try again fresh.
Thanks for this - really helpful. Could a table be included at the end showing how well each competitor performed during each test so we could choose one based on our priorities?
Kinda still valid. The mini still is best bang for your buck and has still one of the most deep config options thanks to its Autokit platform. I’ll do another one of these in around October once iOS 17 and iPhone 15 is finally out.
I can’t say for wireless only systems. They all work by plugging them into a wired CarPlay port. So if you don’t have one of those none of these will work. If you have wireless carplay already you don’t have much of a need for these really.
That’s very simple but I could do a guide on that sometime in the future. Only a few adapters support this natively. And they have tips on screen to guide you how to do it. Basically connect to the adapters WiFi network, then launch the screen mirror app, go to screen mirroring on the iPhone control panel and select the adapter network from the list. Once paired your phone screen should show up on the display.
If multi-user connectivity isn't of any importance, which your #1 pick excels at, would the Ottocast be best with it's fastest boot timing of the bunch?
Yes it has a better menu, options and there is that sharper display for high res screens. but it’s not as fast as the ApplePie Lite. But the lite is basic both in menu and config options.
Hi, I’m on Apple and have a 19 plate wired CarPlay transit. Basically I want to be able to watch anything that’s on my phone via the CarPlay, specifically Sky Go. I can see there is the ottocast mx offering screen mirror but will it actually work for that app? What would you suggest is the best option for me please.
The MX will not work with the sky go app because it will likely be like Netflix and Disney plus in that it has a copyright block on the stream feed. All you’ll hear is the audio and the video will be black. You’ll need an Ai box to carry that kind of content then install the sky go Android app to view this content. I don’t have a subscription so I can can’t say how well it works between boxes. But something with a Qualcomm 6225 chip inside would do the trick. Like the MMB 5.0 ruclips.net/video/5MUvbjDcA1w/видео.htmlsi=Mv-qYAolaI-XtIqE
@@CarPlayLife Thanks, I’ve had a look at the one you mention and I’m not wanting anything to do with Google store (Android) and just really want it for the Apple CarPlay side of it. Am I right in thinking the online streaming side of things I want it for and the screen mirroring is all on the Android side rather than the Apple CarPlay side? Apologies if it’s a bit confusing, I’ve never had anything to do with Android or the google store.
Yes, without jailbreaking your phone, Apple has copyright restrictions when using Airplay (the only way to cast from your iPhone). So certain copyright-restricted apps (Netflix, Disney, amazon, Hulu, Sky go etc.) will not be able to cast the video stream and all you will get is audio coming from your car speakers and a black screen on your CarPlay screen. The way around this is using an Android OS-based adapter (aka AI Box), this basically runs an Android tablet OS on your CarPlay display, meaning you can run these copyrighted apps with full video and audio on your CarPlay display as it just thinks you're watching the content from a tablet app, which is less restricted. All you would need is a Google account, such as a gmail, youtube account etc., the AI Box adapter, an internet connection (wifi,hotspot from phone, or SIM card if the adapter supports it), and the app (which likely comes preinstalled).
Most AI boxes come with both cables. If you’re didn’t you can just get a cable that does both power and data. That should be sufficient. Or just get a usb A to C adapter to plug it on the end. Again make sure it passes data also.
Great video, I have the mini and even though it comes on top I keep finding when using it for navigation, Google maps or Waze, there eventually ends up being a huge delay. The unit thinks I’m 5mins behind in my journey. Pointless. Hopefully they fix it
If your system has navigation (as in gps is built into your car) you could try flicking the GPS switch in the config menu and see if that improves things for you.
Caution, you run into the most difficulties using aftermarket head unit, strange as it seems. OEM head unit stand the highest chance of success as those are the ones that were predominantly tested against.
Thanks, great video. Question for you… I got the Carlinkit 4.0 connected to my Porsche 718 system. I had been experiencing momentary (very quick) audio interruptions (like skipping or buffering issues) since I got the dongle. It has been less frequent. Previously I was experiencing the issue at least once per song. Now is apparent about once every 30 minutes or so. I then got a Schmidt Spiele 5.0 dongle for testing, and although I’m not experiencing the skipping issue, the audio quality wasn’t as good and it was freezing when I turn car off and then back on, so returned it and went back to Carlinkit 4.0. Then, got the Carlinkit 5.0 thinking the skipping/buffering issues would had been solved, but not solved, probably even worse. So, got back to the Carlinkit 4.0. My question is, do you know if there is a setting in Carlinkit 4.0 or 5.0 that could reduce of eliminate the skipping issues? It is really annoying. Again, thanks for your videos.
Yes there is something you can try. Go into the IP config menu and in there will be a setting like media delay. Change this between the 500-1000 range. It will likely create a little extra delay but it will be more stable and cut out less.
@@CarPlayLife Thanks. I already modified that setting to 1000ms and it helped to reduce frequency but I still hear it. I also updated firmware and that also helped, but it still happens about every 30 minutes or so. I was wondering if other settings like WiFi Band or Transfer Mode, Sync Mode would help with the issue. I’m gonna play more with this today, but wanted to hear your insights.
I’ve used the Carlinkit 4.0 and had issues when taking phone calls. The sound quality of the call wad just bad and when automatically going back to Spotify after the call ended, the quality of the music also dropped to just as bad . Only fix was to pause it and then resume the playback again. That was really annoying and made me return the device. Is this an issue with any of the other devices?
@@CarPlayLife wait so why would you buy Carplay dongle, if your car already has carplay that works 10 times better then these. I thought this is for cars that dont have carplay so you can have them.
@@CarPlayLife I’m waiting for my hybrid to arrive, but it has Apple CarPlay and the Android play on its nav system. Do I need the wireless if it already has the CarPlay? In the meantime I have my Tundra that has an aftermarket radio with screen. Can I use that as it has no CarPlay?
You need Carplay for these adapters to work. Wireless CarPlay is a nicer experience over wired Carplay, ideal for short trips, otherwise you will need a charging source for longer journeys as your battery or drain quicker when using wireless CarPlay
Thanks for the review. I bought a applepie max dongle not long ago but i have not yet use it. Do u know does applepie max work on the carpuride carplay display?
Do you have any Bluetooth CarPlay dongle for cars with factory screen but no factory wired carplay? Such as 2013~2014 Honda Accord (iMID screen only). Thanks!
A seller wrote that it works for the iPhone 6 all the way up to the 13 pro max. Didn’t mention the iPhone 14 Pro Max, so I’m not sure how to take that. I’m assuming it would work, but you know the old saying of assuming.
Great video as always…have you experienced a dongle not connecting due to cold weather? I have the Cplay2Air. Had connection issues sporadically last winter, none during the spring/summer, and now they’re back in the fall. Leads me to believe the dongle doesn’t like temps under 60 degrees.
It doesn’t get cold enough here in the U.K. so unless I pop them in the fridge I can’t test them for extreme cold. Yet 60F is 15C and that’s normal here in the UK and they run just fine for me at this temperature. I would have thought chips would run better in the cold, less overheating etc.
Brilliant, thank you for the unbiased comparison! With technological developments happening so rapidly on devices like these, I wonder if you’re planning on releasing an update anytime soon. I just ordered a 2023 Corolla Cross (Thai specs) that has Apple CarPlay, albeit wired. Thanks again for the helpful video!
Nothing soon. But I hope to do something similar in the next few months as I turn my VW back to a stock system and using these adapters in the car once again.
So I have a 22' GMC Sierra ...what is your recommendation for this particular vehicle? The Carlink 3.0 apparently does NOT work with the new new vehicles. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
One thing I have noticed with a couple different wireless dongles that I don’t see tested but was a deal breaker for me is the phone call connection. Others have issues hearing me, say I sound quiet muffled at times, and their voices seem slightly distorted on my side when listening to what they’re saying.
Do any of these actually work with my Acura RDX 2020? Carlinkit would connect but failed to reconnect and play and I gave up after multiple software updates directed by developers
![2024's BEST WIRELESS CARPLAY ADAPTERS [TOP 6 CarPlay Wireless Adapter]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dHhe5o_nH5U/mqdefault.jpg)
This video took some time to put together, so I hope the wait was worth it and I hope it helps anyone looking for one decide which wireless CarPlay adapter to buy. In this video, I narrowed my 15 review dongles down to 8, then a final 5.
All the remaining 5 are good dongles in their own right, and when it comes down to it, many will behave differently in each CarPlay vehicle/system. So I recommend you buy from Amazon if you can so you have easy returns should it not work well with your car.
Links to buy from the US stores are below, with other locations in the video's main description.
🇺🇸 Buy in US
CarlinKit 3.0 Mini Wireless Adapter - amzn.to/3DGLyHe
CarlinKit 3.0 Wireless Adapter - amzn.to/3DJJ772
CPLAY2air 2.1 Wireless Adapter - bit.ly/CPLAY2air
BROxiongdi Wireless Adapter - a.aliexpress.com/_mOAaWjK
Ottocast U2-Air - amzn.to/3TOcbzM
⭐ Honourable mentions
DAYO Wireless Adapter - amzn.to/3zsckAB
TNVTEC AutoBox V1 Adapter - amzn.to/3U82gEK
ATOTO AC3 Wireless Adapter - amzn.to/3DEFlf1
As always, if you have any questions about any of these wireless adapters, please ask below. Please don't ask about 2-in-1 adapters, or Ai Boxes, this is for another video :)
Thank you for all the work you done there! It helped me a lot in making my decision which i should buy.
Awesome! You’re very welcome. Thanks for watching.
I’m new to all this, do you have to wait in park for for everything to pair or does it pair when you start driving. Sorry for the silly question.
I have a 2021 Prius and don’t even know if it would work. I’m so new to the technology, but I use Apple CarPlay in my car all the time.
Thanks in advance and most excellent video! Thanks for all the work you put into it!
Greatly appreciate the effort in narrowing down the list by checking for the products beforehand. Thank you
@carplaylife does this work with after market Apple car play units pls?
This sounds like you did a lot of work and honestly much much much appreciated
You’re welcome. Yes it did take a while to put together. Thanks for watching.
That's a very good video. You were able to cover all the important topics without wasting time. Thank you!
Thank you and you’re welcome. Thanks for watching
Great video, thanks very much for doing all this testing. I have the CPlay2Air and it works just fine for me. There are occasional glitches but nothing serious at all. Great work!
Thanks and thanks for watching. It’s always good to read some positive comments on these adapters.
Great job on the comparison. Very detailed and hit all the right areas.
Thank you so much. Always good to read good feedback. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻😊
I have had 2 ottocast dongles and the problem is they work great then one day stop connecting and the firmware dates never seem to solve the problem
You're the best for this video.
Thank you and thanks for watching 😊
Thanks for your help. I ordered a car link model.
Awesome. Enjoy it
been waiting on this video
Cool. Thanks for watching
Which one would you recommend for Sienna Hybrid?
Sorry I can’t say without testing them in one.
By far the best and most thorough review on wireless CarPlay adapters. Appreciate the in-depth dive on the tech specs. Would love to see you review the Magic Box 2.0 vs Elite Car Box 3.0
The elite is better equipped than the magic box 2.0. That’s on paper though. I’ve never used them or had them reach out.
Thanks for this vid. I’ve the carlinkit 4.0, connection was a tad shaky but since putting it under my seat connection, for now, is spot on.
Thanks for watching. Is it shaky with AA or CP?
@@CarPlayLife it was with CP, my two fat legs were awesome signal interferers, i keep my phone in my left pant pocket
@@jackschrier3717 🥲 oh ok. How strange. The 4.0 does have a poorer WiFi specs than the 3.0 so that might add to it.
Great review. But what about making phone calls? My experience with the Carlinkit is quite bad. There’s a delay when speaking. I therefore use my earset instead and that just seems to stupid… So I really would like to know if that’s an issue to all the adapters.
Hi there do these work with aftermarket wired CarPlay stereos such as Kenwood ? Thanks
Yes they should do, as long as they have wired carplay.
@@CarPlayLife brilliant thank you
Were there any difference in sound quality using the dongles?
Personally I can’t tell much between them. If you have a good stereo it should be fine
would this work on a 2017 Mini Countryman?
Sorry I can’t say without a mini to test. Buy from Amazon and try it. You have easy returns then if it doesn’t work.
Do you have to pair the blue tooth every time you get into the car
No once your have paired once it’s automatic
Thanks for the comprehensive review! You had me on sold on the carlinkit mini white dongle until 7:31 when you said "and although it was 16 seconds slower into carplay..." Which of these devices gets me into carplay the fastest and how can this one be #1 with that long a startup?
There’s more to it than speed. The fastest is the U2-Air from ottocast and a few other less known brands. But they have poor config options for fixing or improving compatibility with vehicles. If it works out the box then this is less of a problem. Also the fast ones done have decent multi user support.
Avoid U2-Air just shocking..doesn’t work and near zero support..
Thank you for the best video on RUclips about all this !!
🥳 you’re welcome. And thanks for watching. I hope to update this in the near future.
Thanks for this comprehensive and well put together evaluation. I have three vehicles and have a different Carplay adapter in each vehicle. The Carlinkit 4.0 is definitely my favorite for Carplay only. My least favorite is my CPLAY2air, as in my opinion; they are expensive, have long delivery lead time, and poor customer support . I also have an older model Carlinkit AI Box (cpc200-T box) and I have to admit I am not a fan of that unit, lots of dropped connections and lag when using it, particularly in marginal cell signal areas. I am definitely looking forward to your evaluation of AI Box alternatives.
Thanks. The 4.0 is a good dongle too, yet for AA it can have issues so it’s not a good all rounder for use with both platforms. I’ll have to see how it competes in my 2-in-1 round up.
I’m going to have to do a poll soon asking what main key areas should I be scoring on the ai box round up, as it could get very deep
CPLAY2Air is probably the worst adapter I’ve ever used. It failed within weeks, had connection issues, and when I contacted support, they refused to replace the device. Amazon was kind enough to second a replacement, but the same thing happened. Was stuck with a very expensive brick.
Hi. Bought the Carlinkit 3.0 after watching this. Just set it up and it seems pretty nifty for the money. Quick question - I assume it’s safe to leave it plugged in when away from the car? It’s not going to continue drawing power and flatten the battery, or anything? Cheers
Congrats on your purchase 👏🏻
Unless your usb port continues to draw power on anything it’s connected to when the ignition is off then it’s fine. It should not draw power from the battery unless it’s been made to do that. Some cars have a timeout and power the usb for a few minutes or seconds before turning off. if you think it does this you can face the dongle power light towards a window, get out and lock the car and look inside to see if the power light goes off after some time.
@@CarPlayLife Great, thanks. Out of interest, is it important to remove the iPhone’s original Bluetooth connection to the car in order for this to operate smoothly? If so, will the head unit still operate in the usual way, in respect of phone calls and Bluetooth music if I choose not to be using CarPlay at the time?
Great review! Thank you so much! Did the winner allow you to watch RUclips videos on the cars screen?
No none of those ones would do that. Some 2in1s will do that ruclips.net/video/itXvz-y-ycI/видео.html
Good review but you skipped the most important part of the delay on Waze app because everything else can be controlled via Bluetooth. Any chance to update your review?
Oddly I’ve not experience this myself and Waze is my go-to for nav most of the time. 🤔
Have you seen that Quadlock have now entered this space. Came to RUclips looking for reviews, but none as yet.
I’ve reach out to them. No reply from them yet 😬
I also am keen before I commit to Carlinkit. Mostly as quadlock support will be infinitely more accessible if it’s a good unit. Also it’s competitively priced.
I have this unit and can confirm it doesn’t work well with my VW Tiguan sadly. I had to get a refund from quad lock. Not sure if its a VW infotainment thing or not but tried everything with support and still no good.
Hi, I have a Toyota RAV4 2020. What is your recommendation?
These are my recommendations. I can’t say for specific cars as they all act differently
Can you use ur phone while connected and does it show up on ur car screen?
Yes you can but it won’t show up like mirroring your screen.
What would be my best choice for a 2014 Audi A3 8V ?I have the MSTD system?
I wouldn’t want to suggest without having tried one in an Audi myself.
Very interesting. I am installing an aftermarket head unit in my truck. After watching his,, I will go with one with native wireless carplay. All of the dongles have severe downsides.
If you are up for the cost and time in doing that, then It’s recommended to go native, for sure.
Do any of the top 5 dongles work on the Haval Jolion model?
Sorry no idea on that one myself.
I have a radio that has CarPlay but needs to be wired, is there a different device that takes advantage of making it wireless or is it only standalone CarPlay like these?
All these need wired CarPlay to work. If you have an aftermarket CarPlay system these can work with them also.
I want to use Google maps or Waze from my iPhone 12. But while Apple play is on, how can I play just FM stations on the regular radio of my 2023 Toyota Camry while running Google maps?
That should be possible. Play back radio station first then launch CarPlay and launch maps app. The radio should continue whilst maps displays. If this doesn’t then it’s a compatibility issue with the adapter and your car system. Try using a cable and see if it repeats the same issue. If it doesn’t it’s the adapter not allowing it. You can try looking at switching turn commands to be sent over your system via BT or calling audio in maps options area.
what adapter do i need to make an already existing carplay in my car to wireless rather than plugging the cable. is it the same products as shown in this video?
Yea that’s correct
Hi I have a Citroen C4 2022 which has usb type c CarPlay, I assume these dongles support usb type c? Thanks, great review
Yup they all come with usb c connecting cables or adapter these days.
Do any of these work if the device does not have factory carplay?
No you need factory or aftermarket CarPlay system for these to work
Hello, the top 5 that you suggested, which one of those are compatible with BMW 2 series Active tourer ?
I can’t say,I don’t have a BMW to test them out on
What do you recommend to buy? Carlinkit 4.0 or 3.0? I have an iPhone and I am just looking for fast and reliable car play.
If just iPhone save your money and go with the 3.0
My car came with an aftermarket carplay installed. does the car need to come with carplay for this to work, or could i plug it in to my box i use now ya think?
They need a wired CarPlay port to work
Hi great video as usual. When I have Apple carplay up and running on my mazda screen (with a dongle plugged in) and the radio is playing ok. If I go to a you tube video on my phone when in the car the youtube video audio plays through the cars speakers, but then when the video finish's the cars radio is off, and I have to go back to the mazda screen and turn the radio on again? Any thoughts please?
I could be wrong but I think you need RUclips premium subscription to play RUclips in the background and with that it will transition to the next track in a playlist. It there is no playlist it might just stop and that’s your stereo dealing with no output source to the stereo
Is there a car play dongle that has a QI / MagSafe charger pad? I would seem that would be a logical add since you are no longer plugging into anything and you're running down your battery. Thanks!
Someone had done one on indiegogo but the issue is the CarPlay ports are mostly 5v so to power the wireless adapter AND power the charging pad from the same port, it would mean the charging from the pad wouldn’t be significant enough to charge your phone with. Also the heat from this might impact the performance of the wireless adapter and charging pad inside.
@@htrumbull I use a powered phone cradle mount, i send power to it from the ciga socket with a usb A to USB C cable so when I mount the phone, it automatically charges while in the cradle. And the wireless charging happens and it’s mounted to the air con air vents with a nice latching setup. It’s a quality unit, and it auto latches once it detects the phone is in the cradle and it’s got a button either side of the cradle and it opens once pressed. It’s great that it automatically latches to the phone once it detects the phone is in the cradle so it’s less things I have to do once I get in the car. I just plonk it in the wireless charging cradle, it auto latches and hooks up to airplay seemlessly. I can’t remember the brand but it’s costly to buy but worth it, it’s called something with MOK as the first 3 letters, I can’t remember the rest of the letters. I don’t have to worry about cables for charging phone or cables for airplay now and it’s summer here in Australia so the air conditioning vents cool the phone while charging and transmitting to airplay so I’m happy and the cool phone from the air conditioning is happy and it hasn’t over heated at all.
Hey sorry if I missed it but I have a Sony aftermarket wired Apple car play unit in my Audi, will it work with this pls ?
Sony can be a bit hit and miss with these adapters. I never had hands on one from Sony to test so I can not say what ones work with it. Your best bet is to look on some Sony forums for this topic and see which are successful. Or take a punt on one on Amazon for easy returns if it doesn’t work.
@carplaylife i'm still trying to figure out which adapter would work best. The main issue I'm finding is not also being able to cast from my phone. Do you have a higher priced option with the bells and whistles that can also cast?
I need to do a video on this. There isn't many that allow casting and the ones that do, they don't really do it very well.
@@CarPlayLife that would be great. Do you happen to know if there is a free casting app on the play store or side loaded app that works well for casting through that app on one of these carplay adaptors?
I wish I knew. I probably should know. But I don’t 😂. I’m sure there’s something out there on the Play Store.
Can one of this will work with an old radio head unit from a Honda CRV 2013 or if you can recommend something else? I have this old car and have this old radio unit with satnav on it and I was thinking how to screen cast somehow and have android auto on it?
You need a wired CarPlay system for these adapters. You best easiest solution is a portable display ruclips.net/p/PLysOHeJ5BkMjtEOXRVeCE3fruLXqmPr9B&si=rHjuGa4WWdWNDP9V
@@CarPlayLife thanks mate 👍🏻
Does any of these adapters work on An Audi a5 2014 with MMI 3G Basic?
Sorry I can’t say without sitting in an audi with them.
I love your reviews! Just activated Carplay on my 2016 Audi TT and looking for a compatible wireless adapter with fast startup and reliable connectivity. I recall that you have an Audi TT, so which of the many wireless dongles you have reviewed would you recommend for the Audi TT? Thanks in Advance!
I did have a TT yes. I had an alpine ILX107 installed in it at the time. This was pre adapter days so I can say really. I would try the ottocast u2-air pro or speed or CarlinKit 4.0 or 5.0 if you want to mess around with its config settings.
Question, I have a 2019 Honda Odyssey Elite with CarPlay and I have i-11…. what is the best dongle I could get to play RUclips on my front seat media screen???
One that has hdmi out I presume if you want to send a display feed to seat screens
@@CarPlayLife it’s not for the rear entertainment system for hdmi input, this is for the front seat media screen with CarPlay input
Hi. Will my sat NAV Wi-Fi interrupt the carlinkit 3.0 mini CarPlay wireless adapters connection
Only if you connect your phone to it at the same time
Sorry CarPlay, life, I didn’t mean satnav I meant dash cam oops
Same thing really. Any Wi-Fi source you connect to will cancel out wireless CarPlay and vice versa
Which CarPlay adapter can I use if there are not any apple car play in my car system I have Mercedes c class 2017
You need wired CarPlay. You can’t magically add CarPlay to a car without it with any of these dongles
Is there any way you can have a wired charge ‘plate’ that when you place an iPhone 13 it then connects to CarPlay??
I guess you would still need a physical connection to the lightning port so it wouldn’t be much different to a car phone mount that has a cable connection at the bottom. Like the Brodit cradles.
whats the fastest carplay adapter at the moment according to your test? thanks
The DAYO and the U2-Air is the fastest. Links to them in the description.
I have a 2019 Toyota Corolla no CarPlay built in
Can I use one of those adapters?
No you need CarPlay for these to work.
Can you please compare the MSXTTLY Carplay Wireless Adapter and Auto Sky Pro Edition Carplay wireless Adapter? which one have faster connection?
I’ve been trying to work with autosky since June 2022! 😂 so right now I can’t compare until I get the pro edition.
Is it possible to use a TpLink 5.0 bluetooth to pair apple carplay wireless?
I don’t know what that is. The adapter needs to plug into an existing CarPlay USB port in the car.
Can you use these with Ford sync 2. My mondeo sync 3 connects but my kuga doesnt
I don’t think the sync 2 system has CarPlay?
Only just seen. Thanks. After buying CPlay2air, discovered that, when it’s activated, it automatically disconnects the car’s WiFi network. Do all such adapters do this? Much prefer to have wired CarPlay and operative in car wifi, if that’s the only option. (Currently struggling to uninstall fully the CPlay2air.)
Wireless CarPlay only operates over WiFi. It shouldn’t use your car WiFi though, unless your iPhone was connected to it somehow.
@@CarPlayLife Thanks. CPlay2 etc have just confirmed to me that use of their adapter automatically cuts off the car’s WiFi. If I’d known that, I’d never have got it in the first place, and stuck with Wired CarPlay. Now trying to return it and obtain a refund. Presumably other adapters work in the same way, including your no 1 recommendation?
Thank you very much for your work and reviews. I would like to ask one thing about the video resolution of the Dongle OTTOCAST U2-AIR.
Is there a specific setting or is a larger resolution by default?
Thanks again for the videos you make are always very exhaustive. I hope for your reply
Thanks for watching. I’m not sure how the air works with its resolution. You can’t set this. It just happens on certain displays that it thinks it can push a higher resolution to
@@CarPlayLife ❤
Hi, I have carlinkit 4.0 and vw golf 8k. However, my dongle connects the carplay in 4-5 minutes that is the main problem I have. It was not that long for ny previous car but it took more time to connext with golf. What might be the main reasons?
If it’s the same adapter that was in your older car, it can’t be your iPhone to adapter connection, it Sounds like the system is taking longer to detect the adapter. Maybe try resetting the adapter back to factory and start playing with its options. Remove all CarPlay profiles on your iPhone and also BT connections to the adapter and try again fresh.
If i dont need multi-users, which do you recommend for fastest boot time? i already have the carlinkit3 mini but id like something faster
Try the U2-Air from Ottocast
Thanks for this - really helpful. Could a table be included at the end showing how well each competitor performed during each test so we could choose one based on our priorities?
Sure I’ll do that next time. Thanks for watching.
Any of these carplay dongles work with no carplay radios?
No sorry. This isn’t how these work. If you don’t have CarPlay have a look at the standalone displays ruclips.net/p/PLysOHeJ5BkMjtEOXRVeCE3fruLXqmPr9B
Hi there, do you have an updated listed or is this still valid?
Kinda still valid. The mini still is best bang for your buck and has still one of the most deep config options thanks to its Autokit platform.
I’ll do another one of these in around October once iOS 17 and iPhone 15 is finally out.
@@CarPlayLife Are you still planning on releasing an updated video? I want to make sure I buy the latest/best.
do they let you use netflix or youtube at all?
On these? No. You’ll need an AI box like one of these ruclips.net/p/PLysOHeJ5BkMh2B1Rn4O0nk1ZSbJ2ufr-Y&si=w3_ci_m5HNhzGHhy
Do any of these work with the new wireless carplay systems? Mine is wireless only
I can’t say for wireless only systems. They all work by plugging them into a wired CarPlay port. So if you don’t have one of those none of these will work. If you have wireless carplay already you don’t have much of a need for these really.
Is there a video that does the screen mirroring thing?
As in how to screen mirror from an iPhone to a CarPlay display?
@@CarPlayLife yes
That’s very simple but I could do a guide on that sometime in the future. Only a few adapters support this natively. And they have tips on screen to guide you how to do it. Basically connect to the adapters WiFi network, then launch the screen mirror app, go to screen mirroring on the iPhone control panel and select the adapter network from the list. Once paired your phone screen should show up on the display.
Which is best for Uconnect in my 2022 Grand Cherokee?
It already offers me wireless car play, however it doesn’t allow me to watch video.
Sorry I can’t say without testing it in that vehicle myself. For video you need an AI Box or Android OS based 2-in-1 adapter.
Hello need y have BMW f20 2014 ,witch Its the best kit ?
I’m not sure about BMW compatibility. It’s best you check each one for their compatibility list for BMW
If multi-user connectivity isn't of any importance, which your #1 pick excels at, would the Ottocast be best with it's fastest boot timing of the bunch?
Yes it has a better menu, options and there is that sharper display for high res screens. but it’s not as fast as the ApplePie Lite. But the lite is basic both in menu and config options.
can youtube and Netflix be used with the mini?
No the mini is just wireless CarPlay only
Thanks for the video!
You’re welcome. Thanks for watching.
If my car doesn’t support car play or Apple play. Can I purchase those and it will give me access to car play?
Sadly no. You need a wired CarPlay port for these to work
Hi, I’m on Apple and have a 19 plate wired CarPlay transit. Basically I want to be able to watch anything that’s on my phone via the CarPlay, specifically Sky Go. I can see there is the ottocast mx offering screen mirror but will it actually work for that app? What would you suggest is the best option for me please.
The MX will not work with the sky go app because it will likely be like Netflix and Disney plus in that it has a copyright block on the stream feed. All you’ll hear is the audio and the video will be black. You’ll need an Ai box to carry that kind of content then install the sky go Android app to view this content. I don’t have a subscription so I can can’t say how well it works between boxes. But something with a Qualcomm 6225 chip inside would do the trick. Like the MMB 5.0 ruclips.net/video/5MUvbjDcA1w/видео.htmlsi=Mv-qYAolaI-XtIqE
@@CarPlayLife Thanks, I’ve had a look at the one you mention and I’m not wanting anything to do with Google store (Android) and just really want it for the Apple CarPlay side of it. Am I right in thinking the online streaming side of things I want it for and the screen mirroring is all on the Android side rather than the Apple CarPlay side? Apologies if it’s a bit confusing, I’ve never had anything to do with Android or the google store.
Yes, without jailbreaking your phone, Apple has copyright restrictions when using Airplay (the only way to cast from your iPhone). So certain copyright-restricted apps (Netflix, Disney, amazon, Hulu, Sky go etc.) will not be able to cast the video stream and all you will get is audio coming from your car speakers and a black screen on your CarPlay screen. The way around this is using an Android OS-based adapter (aka AI Box), this basically runs an Android tablet OS on your CarPlay display, meaning you can run these copyrighted apps with full video and audio on your CarPlay display as it just thinks you're watching the content from a tablet app, which is less restricted.
All you would need is a Google account, such as a gmail, youtube account etc., the AI Box adapter, an internet connection (wifi,hotspot from phone, or SIM card if the adapter supports it), and the app (which likely comes preinstalled).
Hey what about the SuperiorTek 5.0??
I never had their dongles. But They look like an OEM of CarLinkit. So expect the same as the 3.0/4.0 dongles with just a different case on it.
It is very helpful review! Thank you
Thanks for watching. Glad it’s helped you.
Please help my Audi has a type c port where do I get a type c cable that’s works with my ai box and type c cable I need a stronger one
Most AI boxes come with both cables. If you’re didn’t you can just get a cable that does both power and data. That should be sufficient.
Or just get a usb A to C adapter to plug it on the end. Again make sure it passes data also.
does the carlink 4.0 adapter support bmws? i can't seem to find the answers anywhere.
I honestly don’t know. I don’t have the ability to test them in a BMW
Great video, I have the mini and even though it comes on top I keep finding when using it for navigation, Google maps or Waze, there eventually ends up being a huge delay. The unit thinks I’m 5mins behind in my journey. Pointless. Hopefully they fix it
If your system has navigation (as in gps is built into your car) you could try flicking the GPS switch in the config menu and see if that improves things for you.
Caution, you run into the most difficulties using aftermarket head unit, strange as it seems. OEM head unit stand the highest chance of success as those are the ones that were predominantly tested against.
Especially Sonys 😞
I can 100% disagree. I miss my Sony unit I had in my old car. Now I am constantly fighting with my OEM radio to get it to work right
Thanks, great video. Question for you… I got the Carlinkit 4.0 connected to my Porsche 718 system. I had been experiencing momentary (very quick) audio interruptions (like skipping or buffering issues) since I got the dongle. It has been less frequent. Previously I was experiencing the issue at least once per song. Now is apparent about once every 30 minutes or so. I then got a Schmidt Spiele 5.0 dongle for testing, and although I’m not experiencing the skipping issue, the audio quality wasn’t as good and it was freezing when I turn car off and then back on, so returned it and went back to Carlinkit 4.0. Then, got the Carlinkit 5.0 thinking the skipping/buffering issues would had been solved, but not solved, probably even worse. So, got back to the Carlinkit 4.0. My question is, do you know if there is a setting in Carlinkit 4.0 or 5.0 that could reduce of eliminate the skipping issues? It is really annoying. Again, thanks for your videos.
Yes there is something you can try. Go into the IP config menu and in there will be a setting like media delay. Change this between the 500-1000 range. It will likely create a little extra delay but it will be more stable and cut out less.
@@CarPlayLife Thanks. I already modified that setting to 1000ms and it helped to reduce frequency but I still hear it. I also updated firmware and that also helped, but it still happens about every 30 minutes or so. I was wondering if other settings like WiFi Band or Transfer Mode, Sync Mode would help with the issue. I’m gonna play more with this today, but wanted to hear your insights.
I’ve used the Carlinkit 4.0 and had issues when taking phone calls. The sound quality of the call wad just bad and when automatically going back to Spotify after the call ended, the quality of the music also dropped to just as bad . Only fix was to pause it and then resume the playback again. That was really annoying and made me return the device.
Is this an issue with any of the other devices?
Is this when using an iPhone or Android with it?
What a great video, thank you so much
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching
My CarLinkit mini tends to overheat during the summer, which is a bit of a bummer.
They can run pretty toasty most of the time, especially when using navigation and music streaming at the same time.
Does all of them need a multimedia with CarPlay nativly ou can they allow me to have CarPlay on multimedias that doesn't have it?
They all need wired CarPlay to work
Great video! Thanks for sharing. Which product would suit for an Audi q3 2016? There is no factory CarPlay in it.
You need factory CarPlay for all wireless CarPlay dongles. 😞
@@CarPlayLife wait so why would you buy Carplay dongle, if your car already has carplay that works 10 times better then these. I thought this is for cars that dont have carplay so you can have them.
It just converts wired CarPlay into wireless CarPlay. Saving you time to plug your phone into a cable. It’s a quality of life adapter really.
Why should I use wireless in my Camry hybrid rather than the Bluetooth on their nav system? Is it worth it?
Only if you prefer the CarPlay interface and experience over your stock navigation
@@CarPlayLife I’m waiting for my hybrid to arrive, but it has Apple CarPlay and the Android play on its nav system. Do I need the wireless if it already has the CarPlay? In the meantime I have my Tundra that has an aftermarket radio with screen. Can I use that as it has no CarPlay?
You need Carplay for these adapters to work. Wireless CarPlay is a nicer experience over wired Carplay, ideal for short trips, otherwise you will need a charging source for longer journeys as your battery or drain quicker when using wireless CarPlay
Nice vedio, will these devices work with bmw series 1 2012 model it doesn’t has a touch screen
I assume it doesn’t have CarPlay either, being 2012? If so these won’t work with it. They all need wired CarPlay
Thanks for the review. I bought a applepie max dongle not long ago but i have not yet use it. Do u know does applepie max work on the carpuride carplay display?
Yea I think it did work on the portable display. Most do work ok on them.
I'm really looking for a good Android Auto option. Can't wait to see that roundup
Soon. Hopefully before the end of this month for my 2in1 round up.
Amazing work!!!
Thank you! Cheers!
Do you have any Bluetooth CarPlay dongle for cars with factory screen but no factory wired carplay? Such as 2013~2014 Honda Accord (iMID screen only). Thanks!
Sorry, all these wireless dongles need wired CarPlay to work
I would recommend buying an aftermarket head unit that comes with wireless CarPlay
A seller wrote that it works for the iPhone 6 all the way up to the 13 pro max. Didn’t mention the iPhone 14 Pro Max, so I’m not sure how to take that. I’m assuming it would work, but you know the old saying of assuming.
I’m guessing it’s likely they haven’t tried it to confirm it works 🤷🏻♂️ best to order from Amazon so if it doesn’t you can return it easy.
Just seen one on the Amazon - they updated it to say” up to 14 Pro Max “
Great video as always…have you experienced a dongle not connecting due to cold weather? I have the Cplay2Air. Had connection issues sporadically last winter, none during the spring/summer, and now they’re back in the fall. Leads me to believe the dongle doesn’t like temps under 60 degrees.
It doesn’t get cold enough here in the U.K. so unless I pop them in the fridge I can’t test them for extreme cold. Yet 60F is 15C and that’s normal here in the UK and they run just fine for me at this temperature. I would have thought chips would run better in the cold, less overheating etc.
You got any videos on the Digi- Dash it’s £260.00 though that’s what I fancied for my 2019 F-Pace
It you check out my Aurora video it should be identical to that ruclips.net/video/gxbs7tRqxmg/видео.html
Brilliant, thank you for the unbiased comparison!
With technological developments happening so rapidly on devices like these, I wonder if you’re planning on releasing an update anytime soon. I just ordered a 2023 Corolla Cross (Thai specs) that has Apple CarPlay, albeit wired.
Thanks again for the helpful video!
Nothing soon. But I hope to do something similar in the next few months as I turn my VW back to a stock system and using these adapters in the car once again.
Thanks for your work
Thanks for watching 😊
So I have a 22' GMC Sierra ...what is your recommendation for this particular vehicle? The Carlink 3.0 apparently does NOT work with the new new vehicles. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Without the vehicle I can really say. Avoid dongles that use similar software and you might find one that works.
@@CarPlayLife Thanks...
Thank you for doing this brother
No problem. Thanks for watching
One thing I have noticed with a couple different wireless dongles that I don’t see tested but was a deal breaker for me is the phone call connection. Others have issues hearing me, say I sound quiet muffled at times, and their voices seem slightly distorted on my side when listening to what they’re saying.
I assume you can’t replicate the issue when using a wire?
You are right, i had phone call problem, the mic not good!
So i got a Volkswagen 2018 with Apple car play but it is not wireless CarPlay. Is this a good solution?
A cheaper solution than doing a whole new install. So if you just want wireless carplay for your iPhone. Check out the mini
Do any of these actually work with my Acura RDX 2020? Carlinkit would connect but failed to reconnect and play and I gave up after multiple software updates directed by developers
Maybe try the config menu and add some start delay as well as other settings in there.
hi, is simple wirelesss android auto adaptor faster with less laggy than complex android AI box when only use AA function?
Yes. It keeps it simple, loads faster and can offer more compatibility with things like wheel controls
Thanks for all the good reviews! Which is the best wired AI CarPlay box atm do you think?
I hope to bring a similar video out soon for ai boxes too. End of dec or early Jan
@@CarPlayLife Nice!
@@CarPlayLife but if you had to pick one right now, which one comes to mind?