Should you’ve pushed a automotive made within the final decade, there is a good likelihood you’ve got already used Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which mirrors the contents of your cellphone in your automotive’s infotainment show. Each options are a serious step up from Bluetooth audio, however there’s one potential draw back: More often than not, you may should plug your cellphone into your automotive with a USB cable. Wi-fi CarPlay and Android Auto choices exist on premium automobiles and pricier trim ranges, however they’re removed from commonplace.
So what to do in case you’re caught with wired CarPlay or Android Auto? Behold, the wi-fi dongle. Plug considered one of these bins into your automotive’s USB port, pair your cellphone, and voila, you’ve got received cellphone mirroring with none messy cables.
Whereas there are a slew of dongles available on the market, I lately picked up the CarlinKit 5 and, for essentially the most half, it is delivering a stable wi-fi CarPlay expertise. It was straightforward to arrange on my 2019 Volvo XC90: I simply needed to plug it in and pair my cellphone over Bluetooth (the entire mirroring work occurs over a neighborhood Wi-Fi connection between the units). Now every time I hop in my automotive, I by no means have to consider connecting a USB-C cable — CarPlay simply boots up robotically and begins taking part in no matter I am presently listening to.
Sound high quality is nice, and I have never observed any main lag whereas swiping across the CarPlay interface. Siri voice instructions, one thing I depend on lots whereas driving, additionally work about in addition to wired CarPlay (more often than not it is correct, however generally background noise results in wildly off-base replies). The CarLinkIt additionally works seamlessly with the quantity and observe change controls on my steering wheel.
Whereas I am properly conscious that plugging in a USB-C cable would not sound like an enormous annoyance, and actually it could be the epitome of First World issues, it is a difficulty that is plagued me throughout a number of vehicles. USB-C cables (and Apple’s Thunderbolt earlier than it) bend and break simply, particularly if you’re attempting to cram them right into a automotive’s cramped accent compartments. Telephone charging ports additionally accumulate particles that may make connections flaky. After having a number of cables fail throughout lengthy drives, I merely had sufficient.
I am truthfully stunned that my wi-fi CarPlay expertise has led to far fewer complications than utilizing a easy cable. That goes straight in opposition to my typical mantra for any type of gadget: A wired connection is often greatest. On this case, although, I simply have not needed to battle with the CarLinkIt 5 a lot. It really works 90 p.c of the time, and it solely often has connection points if I am tethering my cellphone to my child’s tablets (I would wager there’s some type of Wi-Fi battle occurring there). In these cases, unplugging and re-plugging the CarlinKit fixes the problem.
My spouse was additionally capable of pair with the CarlinKit and it has been simply as useful to her. If we’re each within the Volvo, we simply have to decide on the cellphone we wish to mirror as CarPlay kicks in. I used to be nervous about mirroring conflicts, however basically it hasn’t given us a lot bother.
The one draw back to utilizing wi-fi CarPlay is that your cellphone is not robotically charging when it is linked to your automotive. So you may both have to make use of a wi-fi charging pad constructed into your automotive, or get some type of accent to deal with that. I am utilizing iOttie’s MagSafe vent charger, and it really works like a dream. I do not use it for brief drives, however once I do must juice up, I simply throw my cellphone up and depend on the magic of magnets and wi-fi charging.
The CarlinKit is a type of units you simply by no means actually have to consider, save for the occasional unplug/replug reset. To handle compatibility points, the corporate releases firmware updates that you may set up wirelessly over your cellphone. (There’s additionally a extra advanced USB firmware replace methodology, however I have never needed to take care of that.) Past that, although, it would not require a lot babysitting. And actually, isn’t that precisely what we would like with each single-purpose gadget?
