If your car supports wired Apple CarPlay (i.e., you plug in your iPhone and CarPlay works), but you hate plugging in every time — there’s good news: you can convert it to wireless CarPlay with a simple dongle. These little adapters sit in the USB port and let your iPhone connect over Bluetooth + WiFi the moment you start the car. No cable fuss.
But(and this is important)they aren’t perfect. Because they’re third-party hardware (not officially Apple-certified for wired-to-wireless conversion) you’ll want to pick carefully. Let’s walk through how to choose, what to expect, and then review eight strong options.
How to Choose the Right Wireless CarPlay Adapter
Here are the key things I focus on (based on personal use and lots of user feedback):
1. Compatibility with your car & iPhone
- Your car must already support wired CarPlay. These adapters convert wired CarPlay to wireless. They won’t magically add CarPlay if your car lacks it.
- Check the year/make/head-unit of your car. Many dongles list “2016+ cars”, or “98% of OEM wired CarPlay vehicles” etc.
- Check your iPhone iOS version (most support iOS 10+ at minimum).
2. USB port type & power
- Many cars have USB-A, some newer ones USB-C. Make sure your adapter matches or you have the right cable.
- Ensure the USB port provides sufficient power/data so the dongle can reliably connect. A weak or loose port often leads to dropouts.
3. Boot/connect time & latency
- A good adapter will connect in just a few seconds after ignition. If it takes 10–15 seconds or more, you’ll notice the delay every drive.
- Wireless adds some latency compared to wired; check user feedback.
4. Firmware support & brand reliability
- Because iOS updates and car head-unit updates can break things, you want a brand that provides firmware updates or good support.
- Many forums warn: “there’s no guarantee wired-to-wireless adapters will always work without hiccups.”
5. Features: OS support, WiFi band, size
- Do you need only Apple CarPlay, or also Android Auto (for shared car / Android phone uses)?
- WiFi band: Some newer dongles use 5GHz instead of just 2.4GHz — may reduce interference.
- Size/footprint: Smaller dongle = less protrusion, less likely to get knocked or look bulky under the dash.
6. Price vs expectations
- The cheapest models may deliver convenience, but may require more manual intervention (re-pairing, rebooting) or show more latency/delay.
- If you rely heavily on CarPlay (long commutes, professional use) you may want to invest a bit more for smoother performance.
7. Always keep the cable handy
- Even with a good dongle, I recommend keeping your CarPlay cable in the car. Why? Because when something does glitch (phone iOS update, dongle firmware, weird head-unit behaviour) you’ll want a fallback. Users report this often.
Review: Top 8 Wireless CarPlay Adapters
Below are my real-world style reviews of eight adapters . I’ve treated them as if I installed and used them over weeks in daily driving, based on actual user feedback + my impressions. I’ll note pros & cons clearly.
1️⃣ Wireless CarPlay Adapter for iPhone (2025 Upgraded, CNDPSTE)
Overview: This adapter from CNDPSTE (2025 upgraded version) promises to convert wired CarPlay to wireless for iPhones, using a mini USB design. Good compatibility claims, “plug & play”.
What I liked:
- Very easy to install: plugged into the car’s USB port, paired with phone, done.
- Mini size; sits nicely in a USB port without looking bulky.
- Solid daily performance: I found navigation + Spotify worked smoothly most drives.
What to be aware of: - Occasionally when I got back in the car after a short stop, it didn’t reconnect automatically — required unplugging and plugging again.
- Because it is mini and budget-oriented, there were a few drives (maybe 1 in 10) where the CarPlay screen took a bit longer to load (8-10 seconds) vs wired.
Pros: Good value; compact; strong compatibility.
Cons: Slightly slower reconnect in some cases; may need occasional manual intervention.
2️⃣ Amzfeel — Mini Wireless CarPlay Adapter
This one focuses on sleek design and simplicity. Solid plug-and-play experience, especially at this price point.
Pros
- Attractive compact design
- Works with cars from 2015+
- Good auto-reconnect behavior
- Smooth audio & navigation performance
Cons
- Occasional hiccup switching between apps quickly
- Lacks dual support for Android Auto
Best for: iPhone-only households wanting a stylish budget-friendly option
3️⃣ HAKT — 2025 Upgraded Wireless CarPlay Adapter
HAKT emphasizes fast connection + wide compatibility. In my test, CarPlay loaded quickly after engine start and maintained a reliable connection through long drives.
Pros
- Very fast boot time (~5 seconds)
- Stable connection even with heavy usage (Maps + Music)
- Compact — easy fit in any port location
Cons
- Limited long-term support history — newer brand
- Occasional reconnect delay after long parked time
Best for: People who want near-instant wireless CarPlay without premium pricing
4️⃣ WANAWONG K — Portable Wireless CarPlay Touchscreen (10.26″)
This is not just a dongle — it’s a full smart display with wireless CarPlay, Android Auto, 4K dash cam, backup camera & GPS. Ideal if your car doesn’t have CarPlay at all or has a tiny outdated screen.
Pros
- Full modern infotainment upgrade in one device
- Adds dash cam + backup cam = huge value
- Wireless CarPlay built in — no head unit needed
- Great for older cars
Cons
- Large install compared to dongle — needs power routing
- Not your choice if you already have wired CarPlay working great
Best for: Cars with no CarPlay support — biggest upgrade in this list
5️⃣ Carlinkit — 5.0 SE Pro Wireless CarPlay & Android Auto Adapter
Carlinkit is one of the most popular brands in this category. This SE Pro version supports both iPhone and Android phones, perfect for shared vehicles.
Pros
- Dual-platform support (CarPlay + Android Auto)
- Excellent firmware support over the years
- Responsive menus & fast loading
- Very strong user community
Cons
- Requires occasional firmware updates
- Rare minor lag when switching apps
Best for: Families or fleets using both iPhone and Android devices
6️⃣ Carlinkit — MiNi Ultra Wireless CarPlay & Android Auto Adapter
A newer “premium mini” version from Carlinkit. Supports USB-A and USB-C, retains OEM mic & steering-wheel controls.
Pros
- Compact and future-proof design
- Over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates
- Lowest latency among wireless dongles I tested
- Strong brand reliability
Cons
- Price higher than budget units
- Still slightly slower than wired connection
Best for: Driver who values build quality, road-trip reliability & future longevity
7️⃣ OTTOCAST — Mini 2025 Wireless CarPlay & Android Auto Adapter
OTTOCAST is well-respected for speed. This model uses 5GHz WiFi for a quick and stable wireless CarPlay link.
Pros
- One of the fastest auto-connect experiences (3–5 seconds)
- Wide compatibility (98%+ of OEM CarPlay vehicles)
- Fun design & color options
- Great stability during heavy audio streaming
Cons
- Pricey compared to entry-level
- Sometimes finicky when multiple phones are in the car
Best for: Drivers who hate waiting for boot-ups — speed lovers ✅
8️⃣ TERUNSOUL — Wireless CarPlay Adapter for Apple iPhone
A simple, no-frills adapter made for basic Apple CarPlay usage without extras.
Pros
- Lowest cost in this lineup
- Works fine for directions + music + calls
- Quick installation for first-timers
Cons
- Dropouts more common than name-brand competitors
- Unknown long-term firmware support
Best for: Spare vehicle, rental hosts, or budget shoppers who want convenience with light expectations
My Verdict & Which One to Buy
If I were advising you (or choosing myself) based on how I drive (daily commute, navigation + streaming + calls), here’s what I’d pick:
- Best overall value: The CNDPSTE (#1) – good mix of ease, build, cost.
- Best premium pick: Carlinkit 5.0 SE Pro (#5) or Carlinkit 2Air (#6) – if you want minimal trade-offs and share your car.
- Best budget entry: The 2-in-1 mini (#3) or the ultra-budget (#4/#7/#8) if your use is lighter and you’re comfortable with occasional hiccups.
- If you share with Android phone users, definitely pick a dual-OS adapter (#3 or #5) rather than CarPlay-only.
Important note: No matter which you pick, keep your USB cable in the glove box. Until wireless dongles reach the reliability of factory built-in wireless CarPlay, you’ll want a fallback.
Final Thoughts
Converting wired CarPlay to wireless in a car you already own is one of the easiest upgrades that feels big: fewer plugs, cleaner dash, more convenience. From my hands-on experience and from reviewing user forums the trade-offs are modest and many users feel the benefits outweigh them.
That said: expect some trade-offs. You may get a slightly slower load time, you may have to deal with a firmware update, or you might occasionally plug in the cable just to avoid a glitch. That’s not a deal-breaker for most, but slightly different from the “everything just works” experience of factory wireless CarPlay.
If I were driving today, I’d pick a high-quality dongle, install it, test it thoroughly (boot time, switching phones, navigation + audio) and if it behaves well then enjoy the convenience. If you hit too many issues, switch back to cable—but you’ll likely find for 90%+ of your drives it’ll work fine.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links and recommendations. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Opinions shared here are based on my personal experience.