The Only Android Auto Wireless Adapter You Should Spend Your Money On (and It Works With Carplay, Too)

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The AAWireles Two Plus costs $65, and supports some Android and iOS wireless connectivity.
• There's still a multifunctional pairing fastener for seamlessly instrumentality switching.
• If you're an Android user, opt for nan cheaper $55 model.

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Dozens of tech products make their measurement onto my reviewer's table each year, but only a prime fewer negociate to person capable staying powerfulness to stay my mundane carry. Last year's AAWireless Two was 1 of those rarities, and it someway conscionable sewage amended successful 2 ways.

For one, AAWireless has launched nan much-anticipated successor to nan wireless Android Auto adapter, named nan Two Plus. While it's designed nan aforesaid arsenic nan erstwhile model, meaning it's still a plug-and-play affair, you tin now usage nan instrumentality to tally Apple's CarPlay operating strategy wirelessly. So, alternatively of having to ligament your iPhone to an older conveyance to tally nan iOS-based platform, you tin simply brace it to nan dongle.

Also: My hunt for nan eventual Android Auto adapter is over: this 1 checks each nan boxes (including price)

The full process, including nan expertise to move betwixt Android Auto and CarPlay pinch nan property of a button, useful magically. For families pinch different telephone brands, tech enthusiasts who committedness by nan duo-phone lifestyle, and users who conscionable want a reliable, functional, and reasonably priced wireless car adapter, this is nan 1 I've settled connected -- and urge you do nan same. Here's why.

If you've publication my reappraisal of past year's AAWireless Two, past it shouldn't travel arsenic a astonishment that I still usage it successful my car (a Mazda CX-5) each day. Since mounting up nan adapter past October, which progressive plugging nan instrumentality into my car's USB-A port, long-pressing nan multifunctional fastener to initiate Bluetooth pairing, and confirming nan pairing from my phone, nan AAWireless Two has lived successful my halfway console passim nan seasons.

The only clash came erstwhile I was reviewing a caller iPhone and recovered myself tapping into CarPlay much often than Android Auto, which required a wired relationship since my Mazda didn't support wireless.

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

That was until a period ago, erstwhile I replaced nan AAWireless Two pinch nan Two Plus, eliminating nan request to excavation retired a USB-C cablegram and struggle to plug it into my telephone during nan dark, end-of-year days. Now, I simply commencement nan motor of my car, hold for 5 to 8 seconds for nan dongle to respond and my telephone to pair, and voilà: wireless automotive package goodness.

Also: Android Auto not connecting? Try this 1 mounting tweak - it worked for me

While I tin only attest to nan consistency and reliability of nan wireless pairing pinch my 2023 CX-5, I besides utilized nan dongle connected a play roadworthy travel precocious pinch an older 2019 Audi Q5. Except for nan 1 time, erstwhile long-pressing nan multifunctional fastener didn't punctual immoderate pairing parameter (a pulsing ray ringing surrounding nan button), I didn't person immoderate issues connecting my iPhone aliases Android to nan car. Your mileage whitethorn vary. 

I've really recovered that nan AAWireless Two Plus often useful overtime, arsenic it will still clasp a section Wi-Fi relationship moreover aft you move disconnected your car and locomotion away. The idle authorities lasts for only a fewer seconds, truthful it's thing to interest about. However, I often announcement nan "pairing successful process" notification and second-guess whether I powered disconnected my car. 

Both nan AAWireless Two and Two Plus stock a akin app interface pinch customizable settings.

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

I'll adhd that nan Bluetooth relationship is beardown capable to trigger my Spotify playlist (set to autoplay erstwhile paired pinch a car) moreover erstwhile I'm still wrong nan location and person only started nan conveyance to lukewarm it up. My only qualm pinch this behaviour is that podcasts aliases different audio shows whitethorn commencement playing up without you realizing it.

To make nan astir of your AAWireless Two Plus, you'll want to dial into nan companion app. Within settings, you tin make finer adjustments, specified arsenic adjusting nan DPI, enabling split-screen modes, and mounting a pairing privilege concatenation for aggregate connected devices. 

Also: Your Apple CarPlay is getting a large upgrade: 3 features I'm utilizing connected iOS 26 correct now

This setup is adjuvant if you participate nan car pinch a partner aliases family member. For example, nan adapter ever pairs to my Android telephone first, but automatically switches to my iPhone if nan Android isn't present.

Like nan erstwhile model, you tin still entree diagnostic and troubleshooting devices from nan mobile app, including nan action to toggle pass-through mode for information transfer, hole audio stutters, disable TTS descend for routing navigation audio, and more.

ZDNET's buying advice

Ultimately, nan AAWireless Two Plus does what it's advertised to do, and it does it well. I still highly urge nan older (and now cheaper) AAWireless Two for Android-only users, arsenic it does astir everything nan same, isolated from for not supporting Apple CarPlay. However, for iPhone users aliases those looking to move operating systems, nan Two Plus is nan caller champion option.

At $65, nan AAWireless Two Plus isn't needfully nan cheapest car adapter. A speedy Amazon hunt reveals listings that hover astir nan $40-$50 range, pinch reviews that show promise. But I uncertainty those options person nan aforesaid functionality, package support, and in-app devices arsenic nan AAWireless, which is why it's nan adapter I'll beryllium recommending to astir group going into nan caller year.