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There’s something liberating about getting into your car, turning it on, and immediately having Android Auto start up. It’s even more liberating when you don’t have to plug your phone into your car’s USB port to make it happen.
Wireless adapters continue to provide a convenient way to eliminate the need for cables and keep your phone free. Carsifi achieves this while adding a unique element that allows drivers to share connectivity with others in the car. However, uncertainty around app and product support overshadows an effective device.
First, Carsifi started as a crowdfunding device and became available to everyone in the US, Canada, and Australia in 2022. The original $110 price has since dropped to about $90 for the Motorola MA1. One problem is that this device seems to be available only from Carsifi’s website.
Easy setup, connect to wireless Android Auto in seconds
Wireless Android Auto adapters come in many different types and are primarily intended to perform one task: ensuring a stable wireless connection between your Android smartphone and your car’s infotainment system. I’ve tested several of them and Carsifi is one of the smallest adapters I’ve ever seen. It’s smaller in length and height than a credit card (though thicker, of course), and its lightweight construction and small frame means it won’t feel like a nuisance in your car.
Carsifi also includes two short cables, one with a USB-C port and one with USB-A, so you can cover vehicles with one or the other. The box comes with a double-sided 3M adhesive strip that allows you to attach it to your dashboard or any conveniently accessible location in your car. It’s also easy to use your own long cable if you want to place other things. In my case, I used Motorola MA1 adhesive. I thought it would hold the Carsifi better (it didn’t), but I ended up putting it in the basin in front of the shifter.
Carsifi can also be paired with other mobile phones, allowing passengers to perform an Android Auto connection instead.
Setting up Carsifi was one of the easiest processes I’ve ever experienced. Connect your device to your vehicle’s USB port and it will immediately go into pairing mode. Just pair it with your Android smartphone to get up and running, and the Android Auto interface will appear on your screen within 30 seconds.
Other adapters and dongles may require additional steps, such as setting up a Wi-Fi Direct connection and possibly using a dedicated app to establish everything. Carsifi is plug-and-play, making it perfect for those looking for something less technical. The included instructions are barebones, so it’s best to check out the full support page to learn more about what it can do.
Unfortunately, there are so many features that work so well with Carsifi that the app landscape feels like a complete mess. The brand hasn’t updated its Android app to work on Android 13, much less Android 14. I contacted the media staff and didn’t get a response about software support, so I went to technical support and was told it was supported. Whatever that means, it wasn’t updated due to “Play Store Rules”. Instead, he suggested downloading his APK file for the previous app, which is easy to download and install, but is not a practical solution.
Just to be clear, this app doesn’t do much. Your settings are stored on Carsifi itself, not on your phone, so you don’t need to use an app to set up your device. The problem is that it is the only method available to update firmware. Again, this isn’t something you’ll find on all adapters, including the Motorola MA1, so it’s more convenient for everyone to download the app from the Play Store and get it from there.
Share your connections with others
Carsifi can also be paired with other mobile phones, allowing passengers to perform an Android Auto connection instead. At first glance it seems useless, but since everything works wirelessly, I think it makes a lot of sense.
Double-clicking the Carsifi button will switch to the other phone and eventually display that user’s Android Auto settings. It makes things much easier for passengers if they want to listen to music, contact people, or interact with maps. For example, if you, the driver, have his Spotify account, but your passenger uses his Apple Music, Tidal, or YouTube Music, switching phones can save you the hassle of having an account while on the go. You won’t need to make any changes.
Be careful with double-clicks, as a single-click will pause Android Auto, but I haven’t found much use for this feature yet. You’ll also need to exercise some patience, as it can take up to 10 seconds for the adapter to switch to the other phone, followed by a brief “Is it working?” silence. Questions begin to arise. But after a while, these nuances are recognized and it becomes old hat.
Even better news is that Carsifi works well with both factory and aftermarket systems.
Also note that the adapter remembers the last phone you connected it to, so there is no “master” device here. We recommend double-clicking the button in case you don’t see Android Auto or forget the last phone you used.
The good news is that Carsifi works well with both factory and aftermarket systems. My Pioneer aftermarket head unit has no issues at all, and even better, the steering wheel controls work like a charm, but this doesn’t always happen with all adapters.
Highly reliable but highly competitive
The clunky support behind the product makes you pause. On the plus side, tech support has been very responsive, so if you have a problem you should have someone to contact you, but given the weird rejection of the app update, everyone is disappointed. I definitely can’t say it’s the same.
That said, there are plenty of Android Auto dongles and adapters out there, many of which will establish a wireless connection under similar conditions. Certain nuances and functional points create distance between the two, such as AAWireless having proprietary apps and technical features that others don’t have. Motorola MA1 is released by a well-known brand, but it’s not that seamless for me. In addition, a successor model may appear sometime this year.
Carlinkit and Ottocast are two others that continue to produce Android Auto adapters, but be sure to read the fine print for incompatibilities. May not work with certain car brands or aftermarket head units. Carsifi overcomes much of that in a way that makes it more appealing as a plug-and-play product.
Once you go wireless with Android Auto, it’s hard to go back.
After all, once you go wireless with Android Auto, it’s hard to go back. Even more so if you have a wireless charger in your car. Carsifi makes the transition feel simple and painless, accomplishing the important task of establishing a connection in a short amount of time and ensuring it stays that way. Of all the adapters I tested, this one felt more stable than the others.
As I mentioned earlier, the strange lack of support at the app level is hard to understand, and it’s still only available through direct sales from Carsifi, so it’s not something you can easily find from other online retailers . But for that price, you get something that works as advertised and eliminates the kinds of frustrations you don’t want to deal with on the road.
Carsifi has one job to do, and that’s allowing drivers to run wireless Android Auto, and it’s mostly functionally flawless. I have doubts about support, but as long as it continues to function, you may not need help anyway.
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