This dongle gave my car wireless Android Auto and I can't go back

I'm lucky enough to get to try out a lot of new cars, which is generally a good thing. However, why so many automakers still try and convince me that their own satellite navigation system is the bees' knees when it invariably isn't is beyond me. Nope, I, like most other sensible folk, tend to get in and connect Android Auto or Apple CarPlay when it comes to maps and knowing where I’m going. For my money, there are few, if any, in-car systems that can beat Apple and Google's offerings at the moment.

Related

Best wireless Android Auto adapter: Ditch the cables

Android Auto is Google's replacement for your car’s infotainment system. If you want to use it wirelessly, you need one of these adapters.

It gets better though. The AAWireless Android Auto Dongle is a dinky little gadget that’s designed to make getting connected and staying that way a breeze. The company created the device to streamline connectivity and let me enjoy everything Android Auto has to offer, without the tedium of plugging in cables, pairing phones and all the rest of it. The setup process could be a bit simpler, but once you’re there, though, it's excellent.

AAWireless Wireless Android Auto Dongle

The AAWireless Dongle for Android Auto is a nifty little gadget that lets you ditch the cable needed to establish a connection with a smartphone and in-car systems and head units. It’ll work with the vast majority of cell phones and car brands too.

Pros

• Seamless way to connect Android Auto without cables
• Supporting app is intuitive and easy to use
• Works with lots of phones and car makes

Cons

• So small you could potentially lose it
• Some fiddling needed during setup process
• No iPhone version yet

$70 at AAWireless$75 at Amazon

Price, specs and availability

The AA Wireless Dongle for Android Auto is available just about everywhere, with Amazon being the most obvious place to look depending on your location. In the US, it costs $75 (about £70 in the UK), which I think is reasonable given the convenience it offers.

AAWireless Wireless Android Auto Dongle

Power Source USB What's Included Dongle, cable, manual Brand AAWireless Processor Dual core Connectivity Bluetooth 4.2, WiFi 2.4GHz and 5GHz Dimensions 49 x