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This tiny adapter transforms a USB port to a wireless connection, enabling seamless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto pairing.
Today, while searching for Amazon Spring Sale deals, I found myself dropping the Ottocast Mini wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto adapter — currently on sale for $36 — into my shopping cart, hoping to end a minor annoyance with my wife’s car.
Years ago, I updated my wife’s 2004 Honda Civic with an aftermarket multimedia receiver, adding Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity to the dashboard. There’s one problem: Every time one of us hops behind the wheel, we have to fish out the USB cable to plug in our phone. It’s a minor annoyance, but enough friction that, for short trips around the corner to the grocery, we often just don’t bother plugging in at all. This issue isn’t limited to older cars and aftermarket kits; many newer cars, like CNET’s long-term Kia EV6 test car, also only support USB-connected phone mirroring.
This compact dongle connects to your car or receiver’s USB port, converting the wired Android Auto or Apple CarPlay connection to a wireless one. After setting up and pairing up to two phones, you should be able to just crank up your car and hit the road — no fumbling with a USB cable and no wearing out your phone’s USB port. The Ottocast Mini comes with a right-angle and USB-C adapters to better fit the compact dongle in a variety of vehicles.
Currently, the Mini is on sale as part of the Amazon Spring Sale for $36, which is about $10 off the regular price. That’s only $1 more than the similar Motorola Sound MA1 adapter (also a Spring Sale deal), which only supports Android Auto connectivity. Motorola is a better-known brand, but at this price, I’m willing to take a chance on the Ottocast Mini for iPhone compatibility.
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