Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
As someone who only uses CarPlay wirelessly every time they get behind the wheel, let me tell you one thing: I will never go back to cables, and my next cars will certainly have to come with support for the cord-free experience. Otherwise, they're a no-go, and I will look for alternatives fitted with CarPlay wireless.
The benefits produced by CarPlay wireless start with the added convenience of not having to plug in your iPhone every time you get behind the wheel.
Start the engine, keep the iPhone somewhere around (in a backpack or a pocket), and CarPlay should load automatically on the infotainment screen.
If your car comes with wired CarPlay, you can always switch to a wireless connection thanks to dedicated adapters. These devices are more common in the Android Auto world, where products like AAWireless made the transition from wired to wireless in a matter of seconds.
Fortunately, it didn't take long before companies involved in this market spotted the opportunity to expand into CarPlay territory, too.
Ottocast is one of them, offering an excellent solution for people who want to upgrade CarPlay to a no-cord experience. U2-Air is the company's wireless CarPlay adapter, allowing for an easy switch by simply plugging into the vehicle's USB port.
The setup comes down to a few simple steps. Plug the device into the USB port and connect it to the smartphone wirelessly via Bluetooth. Enable Wi-Fi on your iPhone, and in the Bluetooth settings of your iPhone, look for a device called "AUTO-xxxx." Pair the iPhone with the adapter, and seconds later, you should see the CarPlay experience firing up on the infotainment screen.
Best of all, Ottocast joined the Black Friday sale party on Amazon, so the device can be yours with a 38% discount for the next couple of days. It means the price has dropped from $109 to $68.
If Ottocast's device isn't your favorite cup of tea, you can search Amazon for alternatives, but most of them come from generic Chinese brands, so their reliability is a gamble. Carlinkit, which has long been considered the number one adapter to convert wired CarPlay into wireless, is also on sale, so it's worth checking out if you're in the market for such a device.
Version 5.0 can be yours today with a 42% discount, meaning it costs $60.88 instead of $104.99.
Both U2-Air and Carlinkit 5.0 support most cars fitted with CarPlay wired, and as long as the vehicle has a USB port to connect your iPhone, they should work properly. The two devices come with everything you need to run CarPlay wirelessly, including USB cables to connect them to the vehicle, though you might need a separate cord if your car sports USB-C input.
Start the engine, keep the iPhone somewhere around (in a backpack or a pocket), and CarPlay should load automatically on the infotainment screen.
If your car comes with wired CarPlay, you can always switch to a wireless connection thanks to dedicated adapters. These devices are more common in the Android Auto world, where products like AAWireless made the transition from wired to wireless in a matter of seconds.
Fortunately, it didn't take long before companies involved in this market spotted the opportunity to expand into CarPlay territory, too.
Ottocast is one of them, offering an excellent solution for people who want to upgrade CarPlay to a no-cord experience. U2-Air is the company's wireless CarPlay adapter, allowing for an easy switch by simply plugging into the vehicle's USB port.
The setup comes down to a few simple steps. Plug the device into the USB port and connect it to the smartphone wirelessly via Bluetooth. Enable Wi-Fi on your iPhone, and in the Bluetooth settings of your iPhone, look for a device called "AUTO-xxxx." Pair the iPhone with the adapter, and seconds later, you should see the CarPlay experience firing up on the infotainment screen.
Best of all, Ottocast joined the Black Friday sale party on Amazon, so the device can be yours with a 38% discount for the next couple of days. It means the price has dropped from $109 to $68.
If Ottocast's device isn't your favorite cup of tea, you can search Amazon for alternatives, but most of them come from generic Chinese brands, so their reliability is a gamble. Carlinkit, which has long been considered the number one adapter to convert wired CarPlay into wireless, is also on sale, so it's worth checking out if you're in the market for such a device.
Version 5.0 can be yours today with a 42% discount, meaning it costs $60.88 instead of $104.99.
Both U2-Air and Carlinkit 5.0 support most cars fitted with CarPlay wired, and as long as the vehicle has a USB port to connect your iPhone, they should work properly. The two devices come with everything you need to run CarPlay wirelessly, including USB cables to connect them to the vehicle, though you might need a separate cord if your car sports USB-C input.
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