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These Are the Best Cables for Android Auto

As many of us learned the hard way, the experience with Android Auto is quite a rollercoaster ride because everything could break down all of a sudden with absolutely no change on our side.
Android Auto should always be used with a high-speed cable 3 photos
Photo: Google
Android Auto should always be used with a high-speed cableUSB Type-C versus micro USB connectors
This is why some people aren’t necessarily eager to install the latest Android Auto updates, though not even this approach is a guarantee they’d manage to avoid all issues.

But more often than not, everything comes down to the cable that we use to power Android Auto in the car, and Google itself says it’s critical to always, but always, choose a high-speed cord for the whole thing.

In other words, if you bought a $1 no-name cable from the likes of eBay and AliExpress, there’s a good chance you’d eventually come across various issues with Android Auto, including random disconnects, app crashes, and the head unit no longer recognizing the smartphone.

While the best USB cable is the one that comes with your phone, there are obviously several others that you can purchase to be sure everything is running properly.

How to choose the best USB cable for Android Auto

But before anything else, let’s see what makes a cable a good choice for Android Auto.

First and foremost, it must be a high-speed cable. For beginners, it’s rather difficult to figure out if this is the case for a generic cable, this is why I said earlier it’s always a good idea to stick with the cord that shipped with the phone.

Samsung, for example, ships its phone with high-speed cables, as these can help not only run Android Auto but also offer fast charging, which today has become quite a must-have for everybody.

And then, make sure the cable you choose isn’t longer than 6 feet (that’s approximately 1.8 meters for our European readers). In other words, the shorter the cable, the better the connection, so you should stay away from those 5- or 10-meter-long cords that you can find online.

Last but not least, you shouldn’t use any cable extensions. These only affect the data transfer and eventually cause Android Auto to randomly disconnect.

These are the best Android Auto cables

Google itself has published a list of the best Android Auto cables, and you can find it at the end of the article. The first thing you need to do, however, is to figure out what type of port your phone comes with. The photo below should help you with this.

USB Type\-C versus micro USB connectors
Photo: autoevolution
Now that you know if your Android phone comes with micro USB or with USB Type-C keep in mind the other end of the cable must have a USB Type-A connector. All cars and head units come with standard USB input for Android Auto, which means the cords shipping with some new-generation phones and using USB-C at both ends can’t be used (unless you drive a new-generation vehicle, as carmakers have started installing USB-C ports on their models as well).

As a general rule, the cables manufactured by Anker are among the best on the market, and they should work with Android Auto just fine. Also, the ones sold by Samsung should allow for a smooth experience behind the wheel, especially if they come with a USB-C connector.

Micro USB
  • AmazonBasics Micro USB Cable (6ft, 1.8m)
  • Anker Micro USB Cable (6ft, 1.8m)
  • Cablex Nylon Braided Micro USB Cable (6ft, 1.8m)
  • iOrange-E Micro USB Cable (6.6ft, 2m)
  • iSeeker Micro USB Cable (6ft, 1.8m)
  • Monoprice Micro USB Cable (3ft, 1m)

Type C
  • Anker USB Type C to USB 3.0 Cable (3.3ft, 1m)
  • Cable Matters USB Type C to Type A Cable (6.6ft, 2m)
  • CHOETECH USB Type C Cable USB Type C to USB Type A (3.3ft, 1m)
  • FRiEQ USB 3.1 Type C Cable (3.3ft, 1m)
  • Inateck USB C Cable (3.3ft, 1m)
  • iOrange-E USB C Cable (6.6ft, 2m)
  • LTNLab USB Type C to USB 2.0 Cable (3.3ft, 1m)
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Editor's note: The article was updated to correctly state that some cars now come with USB-C connectors as well.

About the author: Bogdan Popa
Bogdan Popa profile photo

Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones.
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