CarPlay sin cables with Ottocast U2-X (and Android Auto)

The small Ottocast U2-X adapter allows us to convert our conventional CarPlay into a wireless CarPlay identical to the official oneand it also works with Android Auto.

For those of us who use the car every day, CarPlay has become our indispensable travel companion. Listen to music, directions to our destination, speed camera and roadwork warnings, traffic control, listen to a podcast, send messages… and all this without having to touch our smartphone. But the price to pay is to always have our iPhone connected with a cable, because there are still few vehicles with wireless CarPlay from the factory.

This new Ottocast U2-X solves this problem and allows us to use CarPlay with each of its functions without the need for cables. With a very simple configuration system and operation indistinguishable from the official wireless CarPlayIt also works with Android Auto. We tested it and we’ll tell you how it works.

simple and tiny

The Ottocast U2-X is a small, discreet and light plastic box, perfect for hiding in the glove compartment or under the armrest, or in any other space in our car. Without buttons, nothing more than a USB-C port to connect the cable and a USB-A that we can use to charge our iPhone, this little accessory It comes with two cables in the box to connect it to the car USB. The fact that the cables come separately is an important detail, on the one hand because it is the most fragile part and if it breaks you can replace it, and on the other hand because in this way we can for use with USB-A (the usual) or USB-C connections that now come with most modern vehicles.

In the box there is nothing else, just a small manual which is really not very necessary, even less after reading this article and watching the video. This is one of the great virtues of this device: its configuration is very simple and once configured it can be forgotten completely, it is completely transparent to the user.

Compatibility

The manufacturer claims that Virtually all car models with wired CarPlay are compatible with this Ottocast U2-X, except BMWs. It is also compatible with the “aftermarket” CarPlay systems that you install in your vehicle, with the exception of those of the Sony brand. For Android Auto, you will need a smartphone running Android 11 and later that has Android Auto installed. I was able to test it with a few Audi and Volkswagen models, and it worked perfectly on all of them. Thanks to the fact that the connection cables are delivered separately and that you have a USB-a and USB-C connection, it is compatible both with the old models and with the latest models that already have the new USB connection -C, which is an advantage over other devices with the built-in cable with USB-A connection, which generally don’t work well with USB-C adapters.

Setting

The setup process once the device is connected to the car’s USB is very simple, like connecting it to a hands-free device. The first connection must be established via Bluetooth, adding the device to our iPhone and giving it the necessary permissions that we have to accept on the screen of our iPhone. Once the connection is established, the whole operation will be carried out through WiFi, a connection that allows greater and faster data transmission, so we will be able to enjoy music from Spotify or Apple Music with higher quality than if the connection Bluetooth was used. The setup process is quick and only needs to be done the first time we use it. Then when you start the car and have the phone handy, the connection is established automaticallybeing essential that Bluetooth and WiFi are active on our iPhone.

Functioning

The functions we have are exactly the same as if we were using the official system, we lose nothing when it comes to connecting our iPhone with a factory wireless CarPlay. Menu navigation is smooth and lag-free, but we did experience an approximate two-second delay when listening to audio. It’s not a problem with the device but with the wireless CarPlay system itself, and even if you notice it at first, you get used to it quickly and it’s not bothersome at all. There will also be a slight delay in phone calls, but as I said before, this is something you get used to quickly.

Editor’s review

If you use CarPlay and your vehicle doesn’t have a wireless option, this Ottocast U2-X is the accessory you’ve been looking for so you don’t have to take your iPhone out of your pocket and connect it to the cable Car USB. Its operation is indistinguishable from the official system, the connection is very stable, and the configuration process is extremely simple. Its price is $149.99 in the official Ottocast store (bit.ly/3wNhOFf) and now, for a limited time, you can enjoy a 10% discount.

Versus

• Does not allow corded operation