There’s something liberating about just getting into your car, turning it on, and launching Android Auto right after. Even more so when you don’t need to plug the phone into one of the vehicle’s USB ports to achieve this.
Wireless adapters continue to offer a convenient way to take the cable out of the equation and leave your phone free. Carsifi does this while adding a unique element by allowing drivers to share the connection with others in the vehicle. However, uncertainty over app and product support casts a shadow over an otherwise effective device.
For starters, Carsifi started as a crowdfunded device before becoming available to everyone in the United States, Canada, and Australia in 2022. The original price of $110 has since dropped to around $90, making it more competitive compared to other Android Auto adapters like the Motorola MA1. The only problem is that the device appears to be available only on the Carsifi website.
Easy setup, seconds for wireless Android Auto
Wireless Android Auto adapters come in different types, primarily aimed at performing one task: ensuring a stable wireless connection between an Android phone and a vehicle infotainment system. I’ve tested several, and Carsifi is one of the smallest adapters I’ve seen so far. Smaller in length and height than a credit card (although naturally thicker), its lightweight construction and tiny frame mean it won’t be bulky in the car.
Carsifi also includes two short cables, one with a USB-C port and the other with USB-A, covering vehicles that might have one or the other. There is also a double-sided 3M adhesive strip in the box to mount it on the dashboard or wherever you prefer in the car within easy reach. It’s also quite simple to use your own longer cable if you prefer something else to place. In my case, I used the adhesive from the Motorola MA1, which I thought might hold the Carsifi better (it didn’t), but I ended up storing it in a basin in front of the shifter .
It’s also possible to pair the Carsifi with other phones, allowing a passenger to run their Android Auto connection instead.
Setting up the Carsifi was one of the easiest processes I’ve experienced so far. Plug the device into your vehicle’s USB port and it immediately enters pairing mode. Just pair it with an Android phone to get it up and running, and the Android Auto interface appears on the screen within 30 seconds.
Other adapters or dongles sometimes require additional steps, whether that’s setting up a Wi-Fi Direct connection or, in some cases, using a dedicated app to set everything up. Carsifi is as plug-and-play as it gets, which is ideal for those looking for something less technical. The included instructions are simple, so it’s best to check out the full support page to learn more about what it can do.
Unfortunately, there are so many things that work well with Carsifi that the app situation seems downright confusing. The brand hasn’t updated its Android app to work with Android 13 – let alone Android 14. I reached out to the media relations team and didn’t get a response regarding software support , so I went to tech support, who told me they didn’t update it because of “Play Store rules”, whatever that means. Instead, they suggested downloading an APK file of the previous app, which is simple enough to download and install but not a practical solution.
Mind you, the app doesn’t do much anyway, and you don’t need it to configure the device as the settings are stored on the Carsifi itself rather than your phone. The problem is that this is the only method available to update the firmware. Again, this is not something seen with all adapters, including the Motorola MA1, so it would be more convenient for everyone to download an app from the Play Store and grab it from of the.
Share the connection with others
It’s also possible to pair the Carsifi with other phones, allowing a passenger to run their Android Auto connection instead. Even though this doesn’t seem useful at first glance, I think it makes a lot of sense because everything works wirelessly.
Double-click the Carsifi button and it switches to the other phone, ultimately displaying that user’s Android Auto setup. In cases where a passenger wants to listen to their music, contact people or navigate maps, this makes things much easier. For example, if you as the driver have a Spotify account, but the passenger uses Apple Music, Tidal or YouTube Music, switching phones negates any hassle-free account switching on the road.
You have to be careful when double-clicking, because a single click pauses Android Auto, a feature I still don’t find much use for. Additionally, some patience is required as it may take a good 10 seconds for the adapter to switch to the other phone, leaving a brief period of silence during which the message “Is this working?” questions begin to arise. After a while, however, you recognize these nuances, and it becomes old hat.
More good news is that Carsifi works great in both factory and aftermarket systems.
Also keep in mind that the adapter remembers the last phone it connected to, so there is no “master” device here. That’s why you might want to double-click the button in case Android Auto doesn’t appear for you or you’ve forgotten which phone might have been last.
The good news is that Carsifi works great in both factory and aftermarket systems. My Pioneer replacement head unit has no issues and best of all, the steering wheel controls work wonderfully, which doesn’t always happen with all adapters.
Reliable, but with tough competition
The clunky support behind the product gives me pause. On the plus side, tech support has been very responsive, so if you have any issues someone should get back to you, but I can’t be absolutely sure it will be the same for everyone, given the strange refusal to update the application.
That said, there are plenty of Android Auto dongles and adapters, many of which create wireless connectivity under similar conditions. Some nuances or functional points put some distance between them, like how AAWireless has a dedicated app and technical features that others don’t have. The Motorola MA1 comes from a recognizable brand, although it doesn’t seem as transparent to me. Additionally, a successor model could arrive this year.
Carlinkit and Ottocast are two others that continue to produce Android Auto adapters, but be sure to read the fine print regarding incompatibilities. They may not work with some automotive brands or aftermarket head units. Carsifi walks through a lot of this in a way that makes it appealing as a plug-and-play product.
Once you go wireless with Android Auto, it’s hard to go back.
Ultimately, once you go wireless with Android Auto, it’s hard to go back. Even more so if you have a wireless charger in the car. Carsifi accomplishes the key task of making the transition simple and painless, establishing a connection in a short time and ensuring it stays that way. Of all the adapters I tested, this one seemed more stable than the others.
As I noted, the strange lack of app-level support is hard to understand, and it’s still only available through direct sales from Carsifi, so it’s not something you’ll find easily at other online retailers. For the price, though, you get something that works as advertised, eliminating the kind of frustration you don’t want to deal with on the road.
Carsifi has a job to do: allow drivers to run Android Auto wirelessly, which it does with few functional issues. There are questions about support, but as long as it continues to do its job, you may not need a helping hand anyway.
