Finally, I Found An Android Auto Adapter That's Reliable, Pairs Fast, And On Sale Right Now

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The AAWireless Two typically costs $65 and gives you wireless Android Auto support erstwhile plugged in.
• A caller built-in fastener lets you quickly switch betwixt paired devices.
• The companion app is almost excessively robust, but that's a bully problem to have.

For a constricted time, Amazon has nan AAWireless Two listing for conscionable $51 ($13 off), making nan adapter an moreover amended deal.

Since I bought my first car 3 years ago, I've had nan worst luck pinch wireless Android Auto adapters. I initially sprung for nan Motorola MA1 because of its fame and, admittedly, Amazon's algorithmic recommendation, but it was simply excessively unreliable to usage during commutes and roadworthy trips. 

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The pairing process wasn't ever nan fastest; audio playback (including navigation instructions) tended to stutter, and nan dongle would often get truthful lukewarm that it felt uncomfortable stashing it wrong nan halfway console. When I took nan consequence connected a different, generic brand, its mentation of "wireless Android Auto" meant afloat replacing nan operating strategy pinch its ain proprietary personification interface. Boo.

A spot of cross-shopping led maine to nan AAWireless adapter, which, for illustration nan Motorola MA1, connects to your car via USB-A and serves arsenic a wireless receiver for Android Auto. I've been testing it for much than half a twelvemonth now, and my driving acquisition has ne'er been much refreshing.

The AAWireless Two adapter costs $65, which is really cheaper than its predecessor and competing accessories. How it useful is reasonably straightforward: You download and unfastened nan AAWireless companion app (should you want to make immoderate modifications aliases update nan software), plug nan adapter into your car via USB-A, long-press its multifunctional fastener to initiate pairing mode, and past link to it connected your telephone screen. 

From this constituent forward, your telephone will automatically brace pinch nan adapter erstwhile your car is turned on.

The pairing process unsocial is superior to that of different wireless adapters, arsenic nan multifunctional fastener doubles arsenic an LED parameter ring, redeeming you from second-guessing whether nan adapter is connected aliases not (or if pairing mode has been activated). 

It took immoderate clip to familiarize myself pinch what each colour meant, but aft nan first fewer days of testing, I sewage nan bent of things. Just make judge you're staring consecutive astatine nan LED ring, arsenic nan coloring is little visible erstwhile off-axis.

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The AAWireless Two tin brace and switch betwixt aggregate devices, which is perfect for those who stock a car pinch personification else. Setting up nan secondary instrumentality is nan aforesaid arsenic nan first, and swapping betwixt nan 2 is arsenic elemental arsenic a azygous property of nan multifunctional button. 

I'm a instrumentality of nan app's expertise to group a privilege database for which instrumentality to link with. I'm usually nan 1 driving betwixt my woman and me, truthful we for illustration nan adapter to brace pinch my phone. Once it does, nan Android Auto acquisition often useful fluidly, reacting to my fastener presses without overmuch lag (if any), and playing Spotify without skipping a beat.

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

My qualms pinch nan AAWireless Two adapter person much to do pinch nan merchandise class arsenic a whole. For example, switching to a wireless adapter intends my telephone is nary longer plugged successful and charging gradually arsenic I thrust astir town.

For roadworthy trips aliases commutes into nan metropolis (which tin return upwards of an hour), that trickle complaint is thing I've taken for granted. Of course, I tin still juice up my telephone if there's a spare USB port, outlet, aliases wireless charging dock, but I miss nan convenience of utilizing a azygous cablegram to powerfulness my telephone while moving Android Auto.

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The AAWireless Two adapter besides doesn't support Apple CarPlay. It's branded arsenic AA (Android Auto) Wireless and not CPWireless, aft all, but nan institution is still missing retired connected a ample personification base. Fortunately, an updated type of nan adapter, which features a hardware redesign to support CarPlay, is expected to beryllium released later this year. That wouldn't thief me, an Android user, but it makes nan imaginable conversion to an iPhone little burdensome.

ZDNET's buying advice

That's each to say: nan AAWireless Two is nan champion wireless Android Auto adapter I've tested to date, and I've utilized rather a few. It's priced well, functions arsenic good arsenic it looks, and, astir importantly, holds a reliable relationship passim my rides. 

Should you person immoderate issues pinch nan adapter, I urge checking nan companion app first for immoderate applicable diagnostic and troubleshooting tools. There are options for toggling pass-through mode (for information transferring), fixing audio stutters, disabling TTS descend for routing navigation audio, and overmuch more. 

This article was primitively published connected November 15, 2024, and was updated connected July 8, 2025, to bespeak nan Amazon Prime time deal.