If you’ve bought or leased a new car in the last five years or so, it’s very likely that it supports Android Auto, Google’s smartphone display system that lets you put Google Maps and other Android apps on the dashboard in a way that’s vastly superior to the infotainment systems found in most vehicles.
Unfortunately, most cars on the road today that support Android Auto only offer a wired version, requiring you to plug your phone in with a USB cable every time you hop into your car. And while Android Auto can be used wirelessly, it’s more than Bluetooth can handle, so it’s only available in vehicles with built-in Wi-Fi — something that’s typically found only in higher-end trims. Fortunately, you don’t need to equip your car with Wi-Fi to enjoy Android Auto wirelessly; instead, you can get a more expensive wireless Android Auto adapter like the small Carsifi adapter of the same name.
CarSevi Wireless Adapter for Android Auto
Carsifi is a small, convenient wireless Android Auto adapter that gets the job done and offers the unique ability to switch between two paired phones with the push of a button, making it great for families with one car. However, getting customer support can be a hassle.
- The magic button allows you to quickly switch between two phones.
- Works out of the box on most vehicles.
- small and unnoticeable
- Companion app not updated for Android 14
- Customer support may be non-existent.
Price and availability
The Carsifi Wireless Android Auto adapter can be purchased directly from the manufacturer’s website or from Amazon for around $90. The package includes the adapter, a basic quick-start card that directs you to the app, two short USB-A and USB-C cables, and an adhesive strip to mount it in your car.
to set
- He writes
- Android Auto Converter
- Power source
- USB
- Contact
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- Dimensions
- 2.56 x 1.38 x 0.35 inches
What are the good features of Carsifi Wireless Android Auto Adapter?
Quick switch button for multiple drivers
Like many other gadgets of this type, the Carsifi Wireless Adapter for Android Auto began life in 2021 as a Kickstarter campaign, and the company was little more than a one-trick pony. However, Carsifi has proven to be a solid, reliable adapter that gets the job done for many people, and my experience was no exception.
While I don’t consider most Android adapters to be large, the Carsifi is still one of the smallest adapters I’ve used. It’s about the same size as my Nissan key fob and noticeably smaller than the Carlinkit 5.0 adapter we reviewed. This makes it easy to place inside your car without getting noticed, and the package includes double-sided 3M tape for those who want to mount it in a more permanent location.
The adapter has a standard USB-C port on the top end and comes with two six-inch cables to plug into your car’s USB-A or USB-C port. These cables should fit most vehicles, but you can use your own longer USB cable if you prefer; I had no problem plugging my Carsifi into a six-foot USB-C cable and hiding it in my center console.
On the front of the Carsifi you will find an LED status light and a single button. This is the so-called “magic button” that sets the Carsifi apart from most other wireless Android Auto adapters, as it can be used to easily switch between two paired phones or pause and resume the Android Auto connection.
While this second function is of questionable value — I can’t think of a single instance where I’ve ever wanted or needed to do it — the ability to switch phones could be the biggest reason to choose the Carsifi over another adapter if you’re in a household where more than one Android user regularly drives the same car.
To set this up, simply pair a second phone with the Carsifi via Bluetooth and set it up for Android Auto. Once that’s done, a double-tap on the Magic Button will switch to the other phone. It’s not exactly instantaneous; it took about 10 seconds in my testing, and I wouldn’t suggest trying it while driving, but that’s not really what it’s designed for. Instead, the Magic Button should let you easily switch when someone else is driving, especially when both phones are in the car at the same time. Carsifi says you can connect three or more phones, and the button will cycle through them, but I only tested it with two phones.
It’s worth noting that when working with multiple devices, the Carsifi app will try to connect to whichever device was last used; there’s no way to set a default smartphone. I can see this being a minor issue in a situation where one person is driving most of the time, but it’s certainly not a huge drawback, especially if you’re only using two phones, as it only takes one press of a button to switch back.
I drove my 2021 Nissan Rogue with Carsifi as my main Android Auto hotspot for about a week without any issues. Google Maps, YouTube Music, and Apple Music were responsive and worked reliably with Carsifi as they did with most other Android Auto adapters I’ve tried. Switching between the Google Pixel 6 and Moto G Stylus 5G was seamless enough that I sometimes forgot which one I was using.
What’s bad about Carsifi Wireless Android Auto Adapter?
Android 14 users better hope the device works right out of the box.
While the Carsifi adapter worked for me without any issues, there is one major hurdle I ran into that might make you hesitate if you’re running the latest version of Android. The Carsifi app is on the Play Store, but it hasn’t been updated recently enough to be compatible with Android 14 (or even Android 13 on some phones). This means the Play Store will block you from installing it, forcing you to resort to some APK tricks if you want to download it to your device. Since the Carsifi app was last updated in November 2022, it should be available for Android 13 devices, but the Play Store shows it as outdated.
There are mixed reports of people having issues installing it on Android 13 — I couldn’t download it on my Moto Stylus G, even when it was running just the April 2023 security update, but others using Samsung Galaxy S series phones have reported success.
Fortunately, you don’t need the Carsifi app to use the adapter — as long as it works properly with your phone and car. However, without the app, you won’t be able to download firmware updates or customize some of its features, like the Magic Button. The good news is that you don’t need to install the app on the phone you primarily use with Android Auto to get this done, so if you have another phone running an older version of Android, you can install the app on it. The configuration settings are stored on the Carsifi adapter, not your phone.
Should you buy it?
While I didn’t have any issues with the Carsifi Wireless Android Auto Adapter during a week of testing and daily use, and many people have reported similar positive experiences, the lack of support makes it seem like a risky purchase.
The fact that the developer hasn’t updated the companion app to address the Play Store compatibility issues we mentioned earlier might be enough to give you pause on its own. However, that may just be the tip of the iceberg; the firmware doesn’t appear to have been updated in over a year, and the company’s support forums appear to be primarily user-to-user conversations at this point, with the last post from a company representative coming in late 2022.
While this could change, the lack of support makes it difficult to recommend the Carsifi. This is especially true for a device in this class, where the variety of vehicles and head units typically poses compatibility issues that can only be addressed through firmware updates.
If the Carsifi app works in your car, it should continue to work well, so it might be worth the risk if you can find it at a really good price from somewhere like Amazon with a guaranteed return policy; however, there are many better alternatives in the same price range. With the Carsifi app, you should assume that you are buying it “as is” with no expectation of customer support.
CarSevi Wireless Adapter for Android Auto
The Carsifi app offers a strong, reliable wireless connection with Android Auto and seamlessly switches between multiple phones, making it great for people who share a car with other Android Auto fans. Unfortunately, software updates and customer support are lacking, making it a somewhat risky purchase.
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Free your phone from wires while you’re on the road.
