The CarlinKit 5.0 2-in-1 Adapter (CPC200-2air) is a wireless adapter that adds the ability to hook up an Android phone to a car’s stereo wirelessly. The adapter is advertised as being faster and more reliable than its predecessors. With the ability to connect multiple phones, the CarlinKit 5.0 2-in-1 Adapter provides a convenient solution for families on the go.
In this write-up, the author provides a review of the CarlinKit 5.0 2-in-1 Adapter, along with advice on how to get the most out of CarlinKit’s wireless adapters. The review includes testing conditions and review history, giving readers an in-depth look at the author’s experience with the product.
Specs
The CarlinKit 5.0 wireless adapter is the fifth iteration of Carlinkit’s wireless CarPlay adapter. It is compatible with any iPhone that is iPhone 6 or better and devices running Android 11. The adapter is based on the NXP/Freescale i.MX 6 automotive platform, which is similar to its previous generations.
The power consumption of the CarlinKit 5.0 measured at around 1.2 W while navigating and playing music, which is about 30% more than the Carlinkit 2.0. The power consumption discrepancy may be due to different Wi-Fi modules/modes being used.
The CarlinKit 5.0 is not the fastest booting wireless adapter out there. Boot times may slightly increase with the CarlinKit 5.0 because the adapter performs a straight passthrough of either CarPlay or Android Auto. It needs to know the platform of the phone to be connected before the negotiation process with the head unit can start.
The CarlinKit 4.0 and 5.0 both have vastly improved RF signal characteristics compared to the Carlinkit 2.0. The average signal strength has been measured on channel #36 over a period of 5 minutes at a distance of 0.5 m. The Wi-Fi channel can finally be adjusted to the advertised 5.8 GHz (UNII-3) frequency band, which may be less crowded than the lower 5 GHz frequencies. This improvement will certainly help holding onto the signal in heavy interference scenarios. If you are suffering from connection reliability issues in always the same spots, you may want to try switching the Wi-Fi channel.
The CarlinKit 4.0 and 5.0 effectively support Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) with link speeds up to 866 mbps (with 2×2 MIMO on 80 MHz wide channels) as per Apple’s recommendations. This enables the WMM Quality of Service mechanism for improved VoIP latency and input reaction times. However, it is not wise to use an 80 MHz wide channel. Considering that CarlinKit adapters are USB 2.0 Hi-Speed only, a ~800 mbps wireless link will not have a considerable impact on the application’s performance. Wireless CarPlay is designed to work on a 20 MHz channel in the 2.4 GHz band. CarPlay and Android Auto both use a peer-to-peer connection, not transferring a lot of data. A 20 MHz channel on the 5 GHz band is much less prone to interference while not messing with the application’s performance.
The CarlinKit adapters use the hard-coded and well-known 12345678 passphrase, enabling another non-paired phone to manually connect to the adapter and change settings or initiate a firmware update via web interface. The adapter should generate a random passphrase for Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto in order to prevent manual connections, which is a non-requirement anyway. The idea is to still have access to the adapter in case the Wireless CarPlay or Android Auto connection fails to tweak compatibility settings or update the firmware.
With respect to security, no personal data from the phone is transferred via CarPlay or Android Auto. So there are no concerns in that regard when using a CarlinKit adapter.
The USB-A port of the adapter is not advertised as being a charging or wired CarPlay/Android Auto passthrough port anymore but is only meant to be used as an emergency backup for flashing firmware via pen drive in case OTA updating isn’t possible due to broken firmware. The current output of the USB-A port on all CarlinKit wireless adapters is limited to 500 mA, resulting in a maximum power output of only 2.5 W, which won’t make a connected phone charge at a reasonable speed.
It is advisable to install a MagSafe/Qi wireless or USB Quick Charge/USB-C PD charger via 12 V on-board (cigarette lighter) socket, providing 15 W and more for faster charging.
Design & Build Quality
The CarlinKit 5.0 2air has a modern and edgy design with a matte finish and a CarlinKit logo that nicely sits behind an LED. Although some people may hide the adapter behind their car’s fittings, it is visually pleasing. Functionally, the adapter has holes at the side to improve airflow and keep temperatures down inside the housing, which supposedly improves reliability on a hot summer day. Additionally, the USB-C plug is not as deep as before, which boosts cable compatibility. The adapter’s build quality is impressive, with attention paid to both the design and functionality. The LED and USB ports are well-positioned, and the adapter is built to last. Overall, the CarlinKit 5.0 2air is a well-designed wireless adapter that is both reliable and visually appealing.
Plug & Play
The CarlinKit 5.0 2air wireless adapter is easy to install and use. Unlike other CarlinKit wireless adapters, it does not display an initial boot menu anymore after plugging it into the car’s USB port. However, this does not make installation any more complicated. It is no harder than pairing the phone to the adapter’s AutoKit-XXX Bluetooth. Wi-Fi credentials are exchanged transparently, over which connections are magically established whenever the paired phone gets close to the running car.
It is important to note that for any CarlinKit adapter to work, the car has to at least support wired CarPlay or Android Auto via USB. Once the adapter is plugged in, it typically takes no longer than 20 seconds after turning the ignition switch until music from the phone starts playing over the car’s speaker system. However, mileage may vary depending on the used car and/or head unit. In case of the Leon Sportstourer, its factory-fitted MIB2 infotainment system is already starting up with USB ports being powered when unlocking the car.
Connecting to Android Auto is a bit hit or miss, typically taking a second attempt, also requiring user input each time the CarlinKit 5.0 boots into the Android ecosystem in order to choose between Android Auto and MirrorLink, which should only occur once at the very first connection, remembering the selection made.
To summarize, the CarlinKit 5.0 2air wireless adapter is very easy to use and install. It does not require any complicated steps, and connections are established automatically when the phone is close to the car. However, the car must support wired CarPlay or Android Auto via USB. Connecting to Android Auto may require a second attempt and user input to choose between Android Auto and MirrorLink.
Multi-Phone Support
The CarlinKit 5.0 adapter allows multiple phones to be paired, but there is no dedicated facility to select or switch between phones across the two supported platforms. However, the adapter attempts to connect to the last used phone by default. If that phone isn’t reachable, the adapter will try to connect to the other one. To switch between phones, one can disable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on the currently active phone, causing a disconnect with the adapter automatically connecting to the other phone. Enabling Background mode inside the adapter’s settings will hide its UI altogether. This best practice is useful for those who actively use multiple phones, such as an iPhone and an Android phone. The CarlinKit 5.0 adapter is compatible with most iPhone models and other phone brands.
Wireless CarPlay
Human Interface
When using Wireless CarPlay, the interface navigation via touchscreen remains quite similar to the wired connection. However, there is a slight increase in lag, which may be attributed to the head unit’s touchscreen quality. The system does not support multi-touch gestures but allows for one-finger gestures to achieve functions such as pinch-to-zoom within maps apps like Apple or Google Maps. Additionally, the system properly detects that CarPlay is controlled via a touchscreen, allowing for accurate display of information such as phone call details and route guidance. Steering wheel controls for volume and track skipping work well, but seeking the currently playing audio track by long-pressing the skip buttons is not supported through the adapter. Siri is supported and can be engaged by long-pressing the voice control button on the steering wheel.
Media Playback
Wireless CarPlay uses the compressed and lossy AAC-LC format for media audio, which the adapter needs to decode. Despite this, there is no audible quality degradation. Transitioning between and mixing multiple audio sources works flawlessly, and the adapter handles different types of audio, enabling separate volume levels for each type. However, some advertised features, such as the LED acting as an ambient light, may not function as expected.
Audio Delay
The adapter-side audio decoding uses a default 1000 ms buffer to compensate for transmission fluctuations over Wi-Fi, resulting in a total audio lag of over 2 seconds. However, the buffer’s size can be configured via the adapter’s web interface, allowing for an effective lag of around 1.5 seconds. This lag is noticeable, especially when skipping through songs, but turn-by-turn instructions still arrive perfectly in time.
Telephony
Making phone calls through the adapter works in principle, but there may be instances of talking over each other. The round-trip time (RTT) for phone calls may increase when using Wireless CarPlay, but it remains within acceptable limits for conversational audio.
GPS Navigation
When using Wireless CarPlay, the iPhone may be placed in a location without GPS satellite visibility. However, the system passes on location information of an in-car GPS antenna to improve accuracy and preserve the phone’s battery life during navigation.
Wireless Android Auto
The CarlinKit 5.0 adapter is a device that enables wireless Android Auto on a car’s head unit. Unlike the CarlinKit 4.0, which converts wireless Android Auto to CarPlay, the CarlinKit 5.0 performs a straight passthrough from wireless to wired Android Auto. This results in improved responsiveness, and also enables some Android Auto exclusive features of the MIB2 such as multi-touch gestures like pinch-to-zoom inside maps apps.
There is a difference between CarlinKit 4.0 and CarlinKit 5.0 with respect to how visuals are rendered. With the CarlinKit 5.0, Android’s car projection uses a touch-friendly 160 dpi as proposed by the MIB2. The CarlinKit 4.0 is able to override the DPI proposed by the head unit. By default, it uses one that is in the ballpark of the screen’s native DPI, being 120 dpi in case of the 8” screen at 800×480 in a car. The visually more pleasing rendering via CarlinKit 4.0 adapter at 120 dpi with more real estate being displayed comes at a cost, though, with smaller icons being harder to hit, text harder to read, and also an increased input lag. The DPI can, however, be adjusted to everyone’s liking, which is a big plus of the adapter. The CarlinKit 5.0 still is the clear winner in terms of responsiveness, though.
Wired and wireless Android Auto both use the Bluetooth Hands-Free Profile (HFP) for making phone calls. The CarlinKit 5.0 implementation is brilliant because the HFP connection is established directly to the car’s Bluetooth rather than the adapter’s, resulting in less lagging compared to wireless CarPlay. In fact, RTT measured at around 500 ms which is even less than wired CarPlay. Interestingly, wireless Android Auto also suffers less from media playback lagging compared to wireless CarPlay despite not taking any shortcuts like phone calls.
It can be concluded that with the CarlinKit 5.0, Android Auto has the edge over CarPlay even when being used with a mid-range Android phone with limited Wi-Fi capabilities.
Web Interface & OTA Updating
CarlinKit adapters have a lively support system with constant bug fixes, performance improvements, and compatibility enhancements. The web interface of the adapter has undergone significant design and functionality changes in recent upgrades, including the ability to customize the logo of the shortcut that takes you back to the car’s infotainment menu. The web interface can be accessed via a web browser on the connected phone by typing in the URL http://192.168.50.2.
In the case of Android, the Wi-Fi access point of the adapter must be explicitly connected to via Android Wi-Fi settings using the 12345678 passphrase. Some phones may not connect to a Wi-Fi network that lacks internet connectivity, making it necessary to sideload the AutoKitools app to access the adapter’s web interface. The app may not have received much attention, but it serves its purpose.
The front page of the web interface displays in-depth information about the status of the adapter’s hardware, which may help with debugging in case of problems. This new feature is sure to be appreciated by tech enthusiasts.
With newer firmware versions, users can customize the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth network names and the logo of the shortcut that takes them back to the car’s infotainment menu. There are also several configuration switches that can be used to tweak the experience or work around compatibility issues with certain car and head unit manufacturers. Unfortunately, some of the terms used are either poorly translated or not very intuitive, such as “Category,” which is more like an “Audio Compatibility Mode.”
The Wi-Fi channel can be changed in case of constant interference problems, and it may be wise to change the passphrase to improve Wi-Fi security. This would fix the security issue of the known hard-coded passphrase while still allowing users to manually connect to the adapter in case of problems.
The OTA updating mechanism is straightforward. Users need to visit the web interface’s Help page and press Check Update. If an update is available, they will be prompted to install it. Firmware images are downloaded via the user’s phone’s mobile plan, and they are typically small, around 10 MB.
Users should leave the car engine running while updating the firmware to prevent the USB from entering a power-saving state or being switched off altogether. They should also avoid plugging their phone or any other device into the adapter’s USB-A port while updating to prevent potential disruptions from the power or data side.
If users manually connect to the adapter’s access point via the 12345678 passphrase, they should forget the network in the phone’s Wi-Fi settings when they no longer need the web interface to prevent future autonomous connections. This may cause interruptions on an active CarPlay or Android Auto session in a multi-phone scenario. They should not mess with the Auto-Join setting, as disabling it may also have a negative impact on CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity.
Verdict
The CarlinKit adapters have come a long way since their initial release, and now offer a much more mature experience. While there is no guarantee for an Apple-like carefree experience, the CarlinKit adapters are a great option for those looking for a wireless CarPlay and/or Android Auto experience.
The CarlinKit 5.0 adapter is the better option for cars already supporting wired Android Auto, as it offers a straight passthrough of wireless to wired Android Auto rather than a cross-conversion to Apple CarPlay. With this setup, the experience comes close to perfection with both wireless CarPlay and Android Auto. In fact, the experience has gotten so good that users will never want to go wired again.
While CarlinKit still has to overcome some rare disconnect scenarios, which are not necessarily related to Wi-Fi interference, the stability and overall categories receive a full five stars.
In summary, the CarlinKit adapters are a great affordable option for those looking for a wireless CarPlay and/or Android Auto experience. While they may not offer an Apple-like carefree experience, they have come a long way and now offer a much more mature experience. With the CarlinKit 5.0 adapter, users can enjoy a straight passthrough of wireless to wired Android Auto, making it a better option for cars already supporting wired Android Auto.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to convert an existing CarPlay system to wireless?
To convert an existing CarPlay system to wireless, you need a wireless CarPlay adapter. These adapters connect to your car’s infotainment system via USB and use Bluetooth to connect to your iPhone. With a wireless CarPlay adapter, you can enjoy the convenience of wireless CarPlay without having to buy a new car.
Top-rated wireless CarPlay adapters on the market
There are many wireless CarPlay adapters on the market, but some of the top-rated ones include the Carlinkit 2.0 wireless CarPlay dongle, the CPLAY2air wireless adapter, and the JoyeAuto wireless CarPlay adapter.
Are there any wireless CarPlay adapters that support video streaming apps like Netflix?
Unfortunately, most wireless CarPlay adapters do not support video streaming apps like Netflix due to safety concerns. However, some adapters like the Carlinkit 2.0 and the CPLAY2air wireless adapter allow you to mirror your iPhone’s screen to your car’s infotainment system, so you can watch Netflix that way.
What to consider when choosing a wireless CarPlay adapter for a vehicle?
When choosing a wireless CarPlay adapter for your vehicle, you should consider factors like compatibility with your car’s infotainment system, ease of installation, and the quality of the wireless connection. You should also check if the adapter supports the latest version of CarPlay and if it receives firmware updates.
What are the common issues with wireless CarPlay adapters?
Some common issues with wireless CarPlay adapters include connectivity issues, audio dropouts, and slow response times. These issues can be caused by factors like interference from other wireless devices, outdated firmware, or a weak Bluetooth connection.
How does wireless CarPlay performance compare to wired CarPlay?
Wireless CarPlay performance is generally similar to wired CarPlay, but there may be some differences in terms of audio quality and responsiveness. Wireless CarPlay can sometimes suffer from audio dropouts or delays due to a weak Bluetooth connection, but these issues can be mitigated by using a high-quality wireless CarPlay adapter and ensu