I bought my current car when Android Auto was still in its infancy, long before wireless connectivity was a thing of the past. These days, many new cars come with built-in wireless support, but many new and older vehicles still lack the wireless capabilities that would save you from having to plug in your phone every time you start the engine. There are several good wireless adapters on the market, but AACPlay might be the right solution at a reasonable price and with the right features to please most drivers.
AACPlay Wireless Adapter for Android Auto
The AACPlay Android Auto Wireless Adapter can add wireless connectivity to any vehicle equipped with Android Auto. It’s a fairly small device that can be placed in a center console compartment or mounted nearby using the included double-sided adhesive pad. There’s no complicated setup procedure; just plug it in and connect your Android phone to it, just like any car with wireless connectivity.
- Small, lightweight and easy to install.
- Very reasonable price
- Simple and intuitive to use
- The LED is very bright, and flashes.
- produces little heat
To avoid confusion, let me explain what this adapter is and what it isn’t. This adapter doesn’t add Android Auto to a car that doesn’t already have it. Rather, it adds wireless connectivity to a car that already has Android Auto, allowing your phone to connect without the need for a cable.
Price and availability
The AACPlay Wireless Adapter for Android Auto is only available to order through Amazon and in the US. It officially retails for $50, but it’s usually on sale for a few dollars off, and Amazon may also offer coupons. When all is said and done, the final price should be around $40 before tax.
to set
- Brand
- AAC Play
- Dimensions
- 9.1×4.1×1.5 inches (231×104×38 mm)
- Weight
- 0.176 oz (5 g)
- Connection
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB-C, USB-A (for firmware updates)
- What it contains
- 2x Cables (USB-A & USB-C), 1x Adhesive Sticker, 1x Carrying Bag
Hardware and Design
Cheers to replaceable cables!
The AACPlay adapter is a thin, unassuming black plastic slab with USB ports on the top (Type C) and on the bottom (Type A). Since these ports aren’t fixed cables, you can easily replace damaged cables or use a longer cable for more mounting options.
Logos and regulatory information are printed on the front and back, but that’s about it. The sides have small vents for airflow, and there’s a long LED light mounted on the front. I’m always disappointed that none of these adapters offer a switch to switch between paired phones, which is useful when two people share a vehicle and ride together regularly.
The box includes a pair of 6-inch USB-C cables with both A and C plugs to fit any port in any car. There’s a soft felt carrying case for the adapter and cables, and a small gel adhesive pad is included for semi-permanent installation.
Maybe I’m just too obsessed with electronics and heat, but this adapter does get a little warm after about fifteen minutes. It’s far from hot, and I wouldn’t call it warm, but it’s enough that I’d advise against placing it in any tightly enclosed spaces without airflow, especially on long trips in warm weather.
I have to dedicate a moment to the single LED. My soul cringes every time a manufacturer commits a truly evil act by introducing super-bright LEDs into products. Is that too much? Well, what if I told you that it also flickers! The LED is fine in daylight, assuming you can ignore the flickering. However, it’s brighter than it should be, and at night, it easily overpowers everything on my dashboard, including the Android Auto screen.
Fixing this insidious design flaw is pretty simple. You can tape a strip of electrical tape (or similar) over the LED, or you can use the included adhesive pad for this purpose. You can also hide it somewhere that blocks the light; just make sure it still has airflow.
performance
No complications
The pairing and setup process is very simple. There’s no dedicated app to install; all you need is Android Auto on your phone to get started. If you’ve paired your phone to the car with a cable before, the only thing required here is a Bluetooth connection, and the adapter then switches to Wi-Fi after a short pause. Similarly, the phone that makes its initial connection to the car also has to go through the Bluetooth pairing process before switching to Wi-Fi, and then the standard first-start experience begins to complete setup.
Performance was consistently good for me on every phone I tested—mostly the Pixel 7 and Galaxy S22. There was no noticeable loss of image quality, slow animations, or audio degradation. Connection speeds were also very good, typically taking about five to 10 seconds longer to connect than if I connected the phone via USB.
Firmware status: Hidden?
Almost all modern electronics have the ability to receive firmware updates, which can be used to add new features or fix compatibility issues for specific cars and head units. However, I have my doubts about the availability of firmware updates for this AACPlay adapter.
As it turns out, aacplay.com was not available at all during the review period, and it appears that it never was. Similarly, since there is no dedicated app or any way to register with the manufacturer, I can’t think of any way to notify customers, even if the company eventually issues an update.
Fortunately, Android Auto isn’t too complicated, and this AACPlay module should work fine with most vehicles running its original firmware.
a race
The Android Auto wireless adapter market arguably began with Indigogo’s push for the AAWireless, followed shortly after by the Motorola MA1. Both technically sold for $90 at one time, but have since dropped in price or are regularly on sale in the $50-$70 range. Both performed well in our comparison.
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However, there are also several obscure brands that are floating around on Amazon with two or three generic designs of devices from Alibaba. These tend to be a few dollars less expensive, but still not much less than about $40, so the savings are minimal. Additionally, most of the models I’ve seen are designed with a very short power cord.
Should you buy it?
There are relatively few things that set one wireless Android Auto adapter apart from another, so it’s hard to say which one is best for each person or car. However, aside from a few relatively minor and easily fixable complaints, I can’t find much to fault with the AACPlay model, and most people will probably be happy with it.
There are no complicated setup procedures, and the performance seems as good as anyone could ask for. The price is in the luxury range, while the design is generally better than most cheaper alternatives. Just make sure there’s some way to cover up that annoying blinking light.
AACPlay Wireless Adapter for Android Auto
The AACPlay Android Auto Wireless Adapter can add wireless connectivity to any vehicle equipped with Android Auto. It’s a fairly small device that can be placed in a center console compartment or mounted nearby using the included double-sided adhesive pad. There’s no complicated setup procedure; just plug it in and connect your Android phone, just like any car with wireless connectivity.
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