ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The AAWireless Two usually prices $65 and offers you wi-fi Android Auto assist when plugged in.
- A brand new built-in button helps you to shortly swap between paired units.
- The companion app is nearly too sturdy, however that is an excellent drawback to have.
apr / 2025
Since I purchased my first automotive three years in the past, I’ve had the worst luck with wi-fi Android Auto adapters. I initially sprung for the Motorola MA1 due to its reputation and, admittedly, Amazon’s algorithmic advice, however it was just too unreliable to make use of throughout commutes and highway journeys.
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The pairing course of wasn’t at all times the quickest; audio playback (together with navigation directions) tended to stutter, and the dongle would usually get so heat that it felt uncomfortable stashing it inside the middle console. Once I took the chance on a special, generic model, its interpretation of “wi-fi Android Auto” meant totally changing the working system with its personal proprietary consumer interface. Boo.
A little bit of cross-shopping led me to the AAWireless adapter, which, just like the Motorola MA1, connects to your automotive by way of USB-A and serves as a wi-fi receiver for Android Auto. I have been testing it for greater than half a yr now, and my driving expertise has by no means been extra refreshing.
The AAWireless Two adapter prices $65, which is definitely cheaper than its predecessor and competing equipment. The way it works is pretty easy: You obtain and open the AAWireless companion app (do you have to need to make any modifications or replace the software program), plug the adapter into your automotive by way of USB-A, long-press its multifunctional button to provoke pairing mode, after which connect with it in your telephone display screen.
From this level ahead, your telephone will mechanically pair with the adapter when your automotive is turned on.
The pairing course of alone is superior to that of different wi-fi adapters, because the multifunctional button doubles as an LED indicator ring, saving you from second-guessing whether or not the adapter is on or not (or if pairing mode has been activated).
It took a while to familiarize myself with what every coloration meant, however after the primary few days of testing, I received the hold of issues. Simply be sure to’re staring straight on the LED ring, because the coloring is much less seen when off-axis.
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The AAWireless Two can pair and swap between a number of units, which is good for many who share a automotive with another person. Establishing the secondary gadget is similar as the primary, and swapping between the 2 is so simple as a single press of the multifunctional button.
I am a fan of the app’s capacity to set a precedence checklist for which gadget to attach with. I am often the one driving between my spouse and me, so we want the adapter to pair with my telephone. As soon as it does, the Android Auto expertise usually works fluidly, reacting to my button presses with out a lot lag (if any), and enjoying Spotify with out skipping a beat.
My qualms with the AAWireless Two adapter have extra to do with the product class as a complete. For instance, switching to a wi-fi adapter means my telephone is not plugged in and charging step by step as I drive round city.
For highway journeys or commutes into the town (which may take upwards of an hour), that trickle cost is one thing I’ve taken with no consideration. After all, I can nonetheless juice up my telephone if there is a spare USB port, outlet, or wi-fi charging dock, however I miss the comfort of utilizing a single cable to energy my telephone whereas operating Android Auto.
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The AAWireless Two adapter additionally would not assist Apple CarPlay. It is branded as AA (Android Auto) Wi-fi and never CPWireless, in any case, however the firm remains to be lacking out on a big consumer base. Fortuitously, an up to date model of the adapter, which includes a {hardware} redesign to assist CarPlay, is predicted to be launched later this yr. That would not assist me, an Android consumer, however it makes the potential conversion to an iPhone much less burdensome.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
That is all to say: the AAWireless Two is the most effective wi-fi Android Auto adapter I’ve examined to this point, and I’ve used fairly just a few. It is priced effectively, features in addition to it appears to be like, and, most significantly, holds a dependable connection all through my rides.
Ought to you have got any points with the adapter, I like to recommend checking the companion app first for any related diagnostic and troubleshooting instruments. There are alternatives for toggling pass-through mode (for knowledge transferring), fixing audio stutters, disabling TTS sink for routing navigation audio, and way more.
The AAWireless Two stands out from a crowded market of Android Auto adapters with its burdenless setup and software program expertise, from the app interface to considerate connectivity options that genuinely make a distinction to the way you (and others) drive your automotive. It helps that the adapter is competitively priced at $65, with manufacturing happening in Europe, a course of that issues greater than ever with the state of the financial system.
