This Popular Wireless Android Auto Adapter Just Got a Massive $30 Price Cut

If you're new to Android Auto, you've probably never heard of these two devices. AAWireless is the product that pioneered the wireless Android Auto concept, spearheading the category that now allows us to convert a typical wired connection to a no-cord experience.

Before AAWireless, getting rid of cables was mainly impossible. Once AAWireless launched, the same concept caught the attention of several companies, including Motorola, which invested in developing similar devices.

The MA1 is mainly known as the wireless Android Auto adapter backed by Google, though the search giant wasn't involved in its development. It did highlight the device at its I/O developer event, though so many people wanted the MA1 specifically because the search giant recommended it.

If you're looking for a wireless Android Auto and are interested in the MA1, there's no better time to get it than right now. The device just scored a massive $30 discount on Amazon, costing $60.96, down from $89.99. The price is down 32%, though it's unknown how long it'll stay in place, so you'd better hurry up to buy the adapter.

Meanwhile, AAWireless retains its regular $74.99 price tag. However, big changes are coming on the AAWireless front, including a new-generation version with CarPlay support out of the box. The feature is already in the beta phase on certain models, allowing Apple users to get rid of cables and connect their iPhones to the infotainment system wirelessly.

Motorola MA1 features

Motorola MA1's feature lineup is very similar to what AAWireless can do. The main difference is the design, but its big goal is still to convert a wired connection into wireless.

The MA1 supports 5 GHz Wi-Fi for wireless Android Auto and connects to your vehicle via the USB port it uses to power Google's in-car experience. The device pairs with your phone using Bluetooth, with Android Auto launching automatically when all connections are established.

The experience is practically plug-and-play, and once you connect all devices (the infotainment system, the phone, and the adapter), you can start running Android Auto wirelessly.

After you connect the adapter to the vehicle the first time, you can forget it's there. It shuts down when you turn off the engine and restarts when you turn it on, so Android Auto starts automatically without a cable when all connections are re-established.

The potential issues

While the MA1 might seem like the ideal product, customers have complained about long-term reliability problems.

Not long ago, I published a story specifically to discuss the potential reliability problems that the MA1 could encounter after a few months of daily use. The experience seems mixed, with some readers telling me they've been using the adapter for over two years without issues.

However, several readers said the adapter stopped working after a while due to unknown reasons.

"My first MA1 died 11 months after purchase. I reached out to support, and I was sent a new unit since the first was still covered by the 1-year warranty. The 2nd unit I received had a 90-day warranty. It died within the 4th month of use," Benko Adarmis explains.

Motorola has never commented on these reliability issues, but it's worth keeping in mind that the reliability problems could also be caused by the other parts of your setup – the car or the mobile device. An update shipped to either of them could cause connection problems and break down the wireless Android Auto adapter, leading to random disconnects and other reliability issues.

Eventually, any wireless Android Auto adapter can have the same fate and end up struggling with the connection to the car if the culprit is the software released by the carmaker or the phone manufacturer.

Meanwhile, with a new AAWireless version on the radar, many people wonder if Motorola is also planning an improved model. I asked around, and nobody seems to be aware of such an ongoing project at Motorola, meaning that either the company isn't planning a second-generation wireless Android Auto adapter or it's already working on it and doing a wonderful job to hide all details from the press.

Google's I/O developer event, when Motorola could potentially take the wraps off an upgraded model, takes place in the spring, but I wouldn't hold my breath for such an announcement. The current version still sells well, and despite some people seeing the massive discounts as a sign that Motorola is trying to clear out the inventory ahead of a new model unveiling, there's no solid proof that such a device is on the radar.

The MA1 is available on Amazon with next-day delivery, so if you order it today, you should be able to figure out how reliable it is in your car by this time tomorrow.

Let us know what you think about the MA1 in the box below.