Android Auto technology, as well as its CarPlay counterpart, has revolutionized the concept of infotainment on cars by offering a valid and sophisticated alternative to the most classic on-board systems. Over the years, Android Auto has become increasingly "smart" by offering numerous features, services and content. Android Auto does not replace the infotainment system, it simply fits into it and allows you to manage, almost entirely, the smartphone "remotely" using the controls available on the dashboard and steering wheel, without taking your eyes off the road. As we highlighted in this in-depth analysis, Android Auto is available in two versions: with cable and without cable. The wired version is the most common and often available as a standard accessory on board the latest cars, the wireless variant instead is rarer to find. Many cars are therefore not compatible as standard with Android Auto Wireless; however, with some simple aftermarket accessories you can turn the system into the most practical version without cables. To do this you need to buy solutions such as AAWireless, a simple dongle that will take care of "switching" the wired signal wirelessly.
AAWireless is a small box about 5 centimeters on the side and 2 centimeters thick that must be connected, via USB port, to your car in order to communicate; the ultra-compact dimensions allow you to easily hide it, for example, inside the armrest or in some object holder. Personally, on my Mazda MX-5, I managed to glue it (with a small piece of double-sided adhesive) inside a side of the central tunnel, making it essentially invisible to the eye.
There are no keys, but only a small status LED and a hole dedicated to resetting the system. The configuration is really simple, you just need to install the app and configure the device. Once this is done, for future launches you will not need to open any app; the system will launch Android Auto automatically.
As mentioned, the purpose of AAWireless is to transform the Android Auto connection between the smartphone and the infotainment system from USB to wireless. To accomplish this simple task, AAWireless is equipped with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity; Bluetooth connectivity is only needed in the first step to transmit Wi-Fi credentials. The developer, in any case, specifies that on some specific models there may be compatibility problems and recommends enabling USB Mode or activating Passthrough through the application. The car models compatible with AAWireless are currently more than 500 and the list is constantly updated. How does it behave in the field? Well, representing a simple and effective solution. After more than a year of use we can confirm that this device works exactly like the wired version, without jamming or other problems. With AAWireless you will no longer have to take the smartphone out of your pocket and connect it via cable, just enter the cockpit to benefit from all the functions of Android Auto.
Of course, for long trips, thanks to a higher battery consumption, we recommend keeping the battery life monitored; in any case, the greatest benefits are achieved if your machine is equipped with a wireless charging system (Qi). In our tests with Samsung Galaxy S21 we found a fairly linear battery consumption in the order of 15% every hour of use. In conclusion, we believe that AAWireless is a great product and can actually be very convenient for those looking for a way to turn Android Auto wired into the wireless variant. AAWireless has been on sale for a few months on the Indiegogo crowdfunding platform at a figure of about 75 euros with the new shipments scheduled for March 2022. Device Update Despite the fact that AAWireless has been around for some time now, over two years, the manufacturer continues to release constant updates; to install the firmware it is only necessary to connect the device to the car, start the application on the smartphone and wait for the operation to complete. For the most curious, all the changelogs are available at this address; at present, the most updated version is 2.0.1 which brings with it some important fixes.
by Luca Rocchi Thursday, May 26, 2022 1:30 PMAAWireless performs the tasks it promises very well, without imputation and inaccuracies. The super small size and the regular surface also allows you to easily hide it inside the passenger compartment. The configuration is really simple and fast, allowing immediate use even by those who are not particularly experienced. The only "negative" aspect that we would like to point out is the availability and the related purchase platform: unfortunately AAWireless can only be purchased on Indiegogo and not (yet?) on Amazon.