How does Ottocast CarPlay work and how much does it cost?

Apple CarPlay can provide a smooth experience when your iPhone connects wirelessly. If all goes well, it can automatically connect when you get in your car and put multiple apps at your fingertips. However, wireless CarPlay isn’t supported by all cars, and many compatible vehicles still require you to connect your iPhone using a USB cable.

Ottocast CarPlay is a solution to this problem, provided your infotainment system supports wired CarPlay connections. Ottocast adapters plug into your vehicle’s USB port, acting as a bridge between your car and your iPhone to turn your wired CarPlay connection into a wireless connection. Ottocast offers several adapters that come with a range of features and compatibility.

The Ottocast adapter is the intermediary between your iPhone and the car’s infotainment system. You’ll plug it into the same USB port you would use for wired CarPlay and leave it in place. The car does indeed see that it is a CarPlay compatible device, but it is much more than that: it manages all communications with your iPhone wirelessly.

Ottocast does, however, require an initial setup process. You’ll need to pair it to your iPhone via Bluetooth the first time you connect it to your car’s USB port, then approve the connection once prompted. Bluetooth manages the connection before switching to Wi-Fi, ensuring a secure and stable connection between the Ottocast adapter and your iPhone.

After this first pairing, the process should be fairly smooth. The Ottocast adapter will remember your iPhone and attempt to reconnect to it every time you start your vehicle. It may take a few seconds, but you won’t need to re-pair every time.

As for CarPlay, it’s business as usual. You won’t see a different Ottocast CarPlay interface. It’s the same Apple interface you’ll see with standard wired or wireless CarPlay. How you control it won’t change either: the car’s touchscreen, dashboard controls, or steering wheel buttons will all act as they should. If you are on a call, the microphone will be supported and it will still play audio through the vehicle’s speakers. It is these features that make it worth buying an Apple CarPlay wireless adapter.

Ottocast isn’t the only third-party CarPlay adapter to offer this functionality, with AAWireless and CarlinKit offering other solid alternatives. None of them are approved by Apple, which means you won’t get support from Apple when using a third-party adapter like this for CarPlay. They should work, but compatibility may vary.

There are several different options if you’re considering using Ottocast for CarPlay connections. The company sells several adapters, each with different applications and features.

The Mini Cube has a list price of $49. It’s pretty basic, but it does what you’d expect from a third-party CarPlay adapter by turning a wired connection into a wireless one. It’s compact, with a right-angle design that keeps it close to the USB port it needs to be plugged into. It also converts your Android Auto to wireless mode, so if you have a passenger with an Android phone in a car that also supports Google’s infotainment system, they can connect to it too. The Mini adapter is a bit smaller, has a standard price of $59, but works pretty much the same. Other models, like the Mini Slim, vary in size, but support USB-A over USB-C, for example.

More expensive models like the U2Air Pro are iPhone-only, meaning they will only work for CarPlay and cost the same at $59. You also have models like the Play2Video Ultra which, with CarPlay support, also turn your car’s screen into a device that lets you stream Netflix, YouTube and Prime Video directly while you’re parked.

The top model is the OttoAibox P3 Pro. Costing $219, it’s essentially an Android mini PC with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. It has a built-in AI assistant, a personalized interface for your car and includes support for Google Play, which lets you install apps directly. It’s also an Apple CarPlay (and Android Auto) device, meaning that with the press of a button you can switch between its built-in Android mode and your CarPlay interface.

Ottocast adapters are not a universal solution for CarPlay. Unfortunately, you can’t plug it into a car that doesn’t already have wired CarPlay support and use it. The basic requirement for all Ottocast devices to work is factory wired CarPlay support, which means it will charge when you connect your iPhone with a wired USB cable. You can check this for yourself by searching for your vehicle’s make and model on the Ottocast website, or you can confirm CarPlay support for over 800 models via Apple’s website.

Ottocast suggests its adapters will work for cars manufactured from 2016 onwards, but year is not a guarantee. Also pay attention to the size of the adapter: Some of these adapters will not necessarily be suitable, even if the compatibility is there, if the USB port is located in a cramped place on the center console of your car.

The Ottocast website has the most up-to-date information on this, especially if you encounter any product-specific restrictions. For example, the U2AIR Pro will not work on devices that are wireless CarPlay or Android Auto systems only nor is it supported by aftermarket Sony head units. Compatibility for some Mitsubishi owners is also spotty, and Ottocast recommends that you confirm compatibility with each manufacturer before placing your order.

Will Ottocast work well with your car? If the compatibility is there and it physically connects to the USB port, there’s no reason to assume otherwise. It gives wired CarPlay users the flexibility that wireless users have, because you can simply leave the adapter in your car. However, the connection negotiation may take a few extra seconds and you might experience a slight lag or disconnection. If this is the only USB port you have, you will need to charge your iPhone separately.

Ottocast CarPlay will not change the Apple CarPlay experience if you already have it. The value is gained by removing the cable, so for regular drivers who use it a lot, this little convenience might be worth it.