When you’ve pushed a automobile made within the final decade, there is a good probability you have already used Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which mirrors the contents of your cellphone in your automobile’s infotainment show. Each options are a significant step up from Bluetooth audio, however there’s one potential draw back: More often than not, you will should plug your cellphone into your automobile with a USB cable. Wi-fi CarPlay and Android Auto choices exist on premium autos and pricier trim ranges, however they’re removed from commonplace.
So what to do should you’re caught with wired CarPlay or Android Auto? Behold, the wi-fi dongle. Plug one in all these containers into your automobile’s USB port, pair your cellphone, and voila, you have 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 probably the most half, it is delivering a stable wi-fi CarPlay expertise. It was simple 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 an area Wi-Fi connection between the units). Now at any time when I hop in my automobile, I by no means have to consider connecting a USB-C cable — CarPlay simply boots up routinely and begins enjoying no matter I am presently listening to.
Sound high quality is nice, and I have never seen any main lag whereas swiping across the CarPlay interface. Siri voice instructions, one thing I depend on rather a lot 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 monitor change controls on my steering wheel.
Whereas I am effectively conscious that plugging in a USB-C cable does not sound like an enormous annoyance, and in reality it might 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 once you’re making an attempt to cram them right into a automobile’s cramped accent compartments. Cellphone 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 instantly in opposition to my typical mantra for any kind of gadget: A wired connection is normally greatest. On this case, although, I simply have not needed to struggle with the CarLinkIt 5 a lot. It really works 90 p.c of the time, and it solely sometimes has connection points if I am tethering my cellphone to my child’s tablets (I might guess there’s some kind of Wi-Fi battle occurring there). In these cases, unplugging and re-plugging the CarlinKit fixes the problem.
My spouse was additionally in a position to 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 need to mirror as CarPlay kicks in. I used to be nervous about mirroring conflicts, however usually it hasn’t given us a lot hassle.
The one draw back to utilizing wi-fi CarPlay is that your cellphone is not routinely charging when it is related to your automobile. So you will both have to make use of a wi-fi charging pad constructed into your automobile, or get some kind 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 after I do have to juice up, I simply throw my cellphone up and depend on the magic of magnets and wi-fi charging.
The CarlinKit is a kind of units you simply by no means actually have to consider, save for the occasional unplug/replug reset. To deal with compatibility points, the corporate releases firmware updates you can 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 does not require a lot babysitting. And actually, isn’t that precisely what we would like with each single-purpose gadget?
