Few things are more annoying when getting into your car than having to take your phone out of your pocket, find the USB cable (which often fails), and plug it in to start Android Auto. If your vehicle has factory-wired Android Auto, you can convert it to wireless very easily using an adapter or "dongle".
In addition, if you use multimedia playback applications like AutoIPTV, you will need an adapter that supports 5GHz data transmission to avoid stuttering in the video. Here we bring you the 3 best models on the current market.
1. The Stability King: 5GHz Premium Adapter
This is currently the most sold and reliable model. It uses an internal chip capable of creating a 5GHz Wi-Fi network inside your car, which guarantees minimum latency. It is ideal for using Google Maps and listening to Spotify music simultaneously without crashes.
- Main advantage: Connects in less than 10 seconds after starting the engine.
- Ideal for: Intensive users who use video or IPTV apps, as the bandwidth avoids image lag.
2. The Invisible Option: Compact Mini Adapter
If your car's center console is small or you don't want cables hanging from the dashboard, the "Mini" version is your best ally. Its size is slightly larger than a traditional USB pendrive.
- Main advantage: Ultra-compact design that goes unnoticed. In many cars, the USB compartment lid can be closed with it on.
- Ideal for: Drivers looking for clean aesthetics and standard navigation and call use.
3. The All-rounder: High-Speed Dongle
A robust alternative designed with improved heat sinks. If you live in a very hot area and your previous adapter shut down due to overheating, this model solves that problem.
- Main advantage: Excellent thermal management, does not disconnect on trips of more than 4 hours under the sun.
- Ideal for: Commercial drivers, taxi drivers, or long summer trips.
How does a wireless adapter work?
The installation is "Plug and Play". You just have to connect the dongle to your car's USB port (the same one you used for your phone). Then, you turn on your phone's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, look for the adapter in the list of Bluetooth devices, and pair it. Done! From that moment on, every time you enter the car, it will connect automatically.
Pro-Tip for watching IPTV
If you experience stuttering while watching television through AutoIPTV using one of these dongles, go to the application settings on your mobile and increase the "Network Buffer". This will allow the dongle to pre-load a few seconds of video, canceling out any small wireless interference from the car.