I’ve become quite dependent on having my phone be the featured media and maps device in my car. I consider Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to be a non-negotiable for any vehicle moving forward. Having the same apps and similar interface as my phone on my car’s screen is fantastic usage of tech serving a dual purpose.
Unfortunately, both infotainment platforms have been around longer than wireless connections for cars. That’s where companies like Carlinkit come into the market to bridge this gap for USB power infotainment systems. The new Carlinkit 5.0 2air offers USB to wireless conversion for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. (Note: I’ll be dropping the 5.0 for the remainder of the review)
Design
The overall composition of the Carlinkit 2air is fairly bland, but that’s not a terrible thing. It’s a small, rounded rectangular box with a USB-C port on one side and a full-sized USB-A on the other. The rest of the box is void of any real details short of the Carlinkit logo at the bottom front.
A quick aside on the logo. It’s not just for vanity. The text is backlit with LEDs and can sync with music playback. It’s kinda gimmicky, but I kind of like it for something that may be visible in some car interiors. Depending on where your auxiliary USB port is located, you may have no choice but to have the adapter out in the open, and it might as well add to the ambience.
The casing is plastic, but seems durable enough. The included USB cables are only a single foot, but in most cars, this shouldn’t be an issue. I also enjoy that the cable isn’t integrated into the Carlinkit 2air. This allows for a wear-and-tear replacement or longer option to be utilized without a need to replace the whole unit. (I’m looking at you Moto Auto)
Setup and Daily Usage
Getting the 2air installed and running in your car is pretty seamless. If you’ve ever connected to a Bluetooth stereo, you’ll feel right at home, as the connection process is very similar. Pop open Bluetooth Settings of your phone and search for the option listed in the documents of the Carlinkit manual.
For me, this was “Auto-0F55” and connected went well on the first try. After Bluetooth syncs from your phone to the dongle, you should see a splash screen for a few seconds on the car’s infotainment system. Here, you will see your device listed and within a few more moments, the CarPlay or Android Auto interface will start.
A quick note on this boot screen and why I like it over some other options. This splash device view listing the connected devices gives you about ten seconds to find an alternative to the last selected device. For my vehicle, I was able to connect both my iPhone 13 and my wife’s iPhone 12.
This brief screen gave me essentially a bootloader to choose her phone if needed. It’s a nice option to have, even if it delays the final mobile interface a bit. We ride together often, and most other wireless CarPlay and Auto devices don’t allow you to choose separate connections and defaults to the original device that was set up as the only phone connection.
After the quick setup, my daily usage of the Carlinkit 2air has been great. I’ve had very little latency lag that you can find with wireless dongles. I’ve also experienced a fairly flawless connection. Not only that, but I’ve had zero drops or resets while driving and using the 2air.
I’m also happy to report that my previous bug with Carlinkit devices and my Mazda have been solved. I’ve tested some of their units before and in those instances, the Android Auto interface didn’t properly detect my Mazda’s wide screen aspect ratio. This caused elements to be cut off from the screen and general bugginess that made it pretty much unusable with my Pixel. Thankfully, Android Auto worked just as well as Apple CarPlay with the 2air.
Final thoughts
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Overall, I’ve impressed with the Carlinkit 2air. With the simple setup, dual connection options, and consistent connection, the company has one of the better options to add wireless CarPlay or Android Auto to your vehicle. At $160 it’s on the higher end of the market, but the dual connection screen and even the dual OS support make it appealing. And if you act now, it’s being heavily discounted at just $65 full retail.
If you have multiple folks sharing the same vehicle, or you have a passenger DJ, the Carlinkit 2air could be the adapter you’ve been waiting on. Hit our discount links below to order the Carlinkit 5.0 2air and add it to your next commute. Oh, and use our custom code AndroidGuys18 for an additional 18% off your purchase.
Purchase the Carlinkit 5.0 2air from Carlinkit
