We have tested eight devices, and the experience with each was similar. What they all share is that once you have your phone connected, you’ll appreciate the ease of wireless CarPlay or Android Auto. But you'll also notice a slight lag from hitting a button on the screen to when it responds (for example, when pausing a song) compared with using the direct wired connection. That said, MA1 does the job it sets out to do. It turns a wired Android Auto connection wireless, and I hope it’s just the beginning of products like this hitting the market. Where to (try to) buy Motorola MA1: In general, a high-quality wireless adapter should offer audio and video quality comparable to a wired connection. However, this can depend on factors like the transmission rate, the adapter’s chipset, and the strength of the Bluetooth and WiFi connection. Always choose a reputable adapter to ensure optimal performance. Like the above devices, using The Magic Link starts out just fine: Plug it in, watch the intermediary interface appear on screen, look for the Bluetooth connection on the iPhone, connect to it, and CarPlay is up and running. The usual lag applies. It includes a 12-inch USB-A to USB-C cable.

Then I found out about wireless CarPlay dongles/adapters. They plug into the smart adapter port of your car (usually a USB-A port, but USB-C on some newer models). Whatever smartphone plugs into it will display on the screen. The dongle is a go-between, connecting to your smartphone to the dash using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. So you can get in the car and start rolling, no need to plug in. When Motorola MA1 launched, it left a great first impression on me when it came to performance. The connection felt indistinguishable from a wired connection, both on general UI performance and streaming audio. Battery drain, too, was negligible, with a 30-minute drive generally only sipping a few percentage points from my Pixel 6 Pro. There’s almost nothing to love about the interface for your infotainment center created by the car manufacturers. Detroit probably spent millions to perfect those on-screen buttons and almost all of them whiffed it, big time. Even trying to hang up a phone without hitting the wrong button using a car manufacturer’s screen design is an exercise in hair-pulling frustration. To use Android Auto, for once, you don’t need an app, but it does require phones to run Android 11 or higher. The Wireless Android Auto feature must be activated in the Android Auto app. Then when the interface for the U2-X appears on the dash, you must double-tap an icon on the lower left. That is not at all clear on the interface and I wouldn’t have copped to it had I not found it in the manual. Then I found out about wireless CarPlay dongles. They plug into your car's smart USB-A or USB-C port. Normally, whichever smartphone plugs into it will then display on the screen. The wireless dongle is a go-between; it connects your smartphone to the dashboard via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. So you can get in the car and start rolling—no need to plug in.The Android Auto dongles induced hairpulling during setup, starting with the Carsifi. Admittedly, I was somewhat hampered by testing with an Android device (a Google Pixel 4) with no cellular data plan—that would have made the firmware updates and accessing the help files via the Carsifi app a lot easier. But even after the updates, I still had to experiment with settings, finally turning off Carsifi’s “Intercept AA protocol,” before it would work in my 2018 Honda. When considering the MA1, it’s essential to understand its nuances, especially if you plan to switch between multiple paired phones. It tends to favor the first paired phone, requiring a bit of manual management when swapping devices. But once this learning curve is conquered, the wireless freedom offered makes it an invaluable tool for Android Auto enthusiasts. Wireless Android Auto Adapter FAQs Could it have been because I was connecting to an aftermarket Pioneer AVH-2300NEX head unit instead of a factory one from an automaker? It's hard to tell, given the variance in timing, but you may or may not experience something similar once you start your car. Our carefully curated selection represents a spectrum of needs and preferences for today’s drivers.

Key Features: Wireless connectivity | WiFi and Bluetooth | Works on 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi | USB A and Type C input | Supports Android 11/iOS11 and above | USB port charging At this point, we’re still early in wireless dongles for Android Auto. Motorola MA1 is the “easy” option, but in my experience, it’s not been the best one. When it works, it works brilliantly, but the initial shine has worn off. AAWireless, the crowdfunded dongle that debuted this form factor, has remained stable for longer and has a brighter future in my book since the developers behind it actually have the ability to update the software over time. I say most, because I was told by the vendor upon requesting the device that “Magic Box doesn’t have 100% compatibility with Honda.” That could be a problem since I’m testing with a 2018 Honda CR-V. “But most of the time, it works,” they said. So why not try it? Cleverly, the app also allows for changing the DPI of Android Auto on the screen. This allows a bit more information to be on screen at once, and potentially even opens Android Auto’s new widescreen mode to more cars, though the touch targets may become a bit too small at that point.The downside is that in most vehicles, to use CarPlay and Android Auto you have to physically plug your phone in every time. That means charging the phone when you may not want to. It means more wear and tear on the power port. If you’re limping along with an older iPhone, you probably know the Lightning port is not up to that much stress. I was at a point where it was entirely hit or miss if my phone would connect, no matter how much I changed lighting cables. Trying to find a reliable, well-made wireless Android Auto adapter can be nothing short of a challenge. There are a lot of options out there, and they’re not all made equal. Whether you’re an avid traveler, a tech enthusiast, or someone who simply wants a clutter-free car environment, selecting the right adapter to complement your driving experience is vital. The important part is that if you just want to leave it as is, the dongle just works. When Android Auto appeared, I could use apps, talk to Google Assistant, and search for points of interest exactly like I would if I were plugged in to do all that. Latency isn't an issue when doing all those things, either, which is why this setup feels a lot like plugging the phone in always did. Even though wireless connectivity is growing in newer vehicles, so many out there simply don't have that option. Same with those using aftermarket head units, as I do. Setting up the AAWireless was a fairly easy process because the AAWireless app walked me through every step. If you're not sure how to enable wireless Android Auto on your phone, the app includes a handy tutorial to take care of that. Including an update to the firmware from the outset, I was up and running in less than 10 minutes.