In this review, I'll be reviewing the Ottocast Mirror Touch wireless CarPlay adapter. You can purchase it directly from the Ottocast store using the coupon code EITech20, which will save you 20% off the starting price of €86,99, already on sale, so you can get it for just €69,60.
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Why choose between CarPlay and multimedia when you can have both?
Ottocast is no stranger to producing adapters, but this time they've done something different: something smart. Instead of following the trend of AI boxes—small boxes with an Android operating system that can sometimes be slow and cumbersome to use—they've created a smarter, simpler, and, frankly, faster solution. You'll use your smartphone, which you're already familiar with, and, more importantly, your device's hardware. And that's precisely why Ottocast's Mirror Touch wireless adapter could spell the end for most Android-based AI boxes.
This isn't your typical plug-and-play dongle. This adapter doesn't rely on app stores, sideloaded APKs, or confusing user interfaces. The box contains just the adapter, a brief instruction leaflet, and a USB-A to USB-C adapter for modern CarPlay USB ports. That's it. But the magic lies in the design and how it works. At one end of the adapter is a 40cm braided USB-A cable for your car's CarPlay port, and a hidden USB-C female port next to it for power. At the other end is an 80cm USB-C cable for connecting your phone/tablet for screen mirroring. In total, it's 130cm long, with the adapter positioned in the center, which houses a simple LED status light, Ottocast branding, and a small reset hole.
Super-fast wireless CarPlay
It's still a wireless CarPlay adapter, and its performance is surprisingly high. From power on, it reached the interface's main screen in 7 seconds. However, there's a first limitation: if you want wireless Android Auto, you can't get it with Ottocast's product, as it only offers CarPlay. Bluetooth pairing from my iPhone, however, was quick, allowing me to fully access the CarPlay screen in a few seconds.
It's also possible to update the firmware if the company releases updates that improve performance, and overall the wireless CarPlay experience was stable and smooth, with all compatible apps, such as Maps. I also didn't experience any delays when streaming music, such as on Spotify. If you have steering wheel controls, they will continue to work, including voice control.
A complete wired mirroring
But the real strength of this adapter is its ability to mirror the device it connects to. You must have a smartphone with a USB-C display port, or rather, with video output. It therefore works with iPhones from the 15 series onwards, while for Android devices, the list is extensive; you just need to make sure your smartphone has video output. That said, simply connect your iPhone or Android phone to the USB-C cable and select the mirroring option that appears on the car's infotainment system. You'll immediately see your smartphone's screen on the car's display, but the sensational thing is that you can control everything directly from the car's screen without ever touching your smartphone again. In fact, compared to what the competition offers, the Ottocast Mirror Touch enables the car's touch screen and doesn't simply mirror the contents of your smartphone's screen.
This means we can also watch TV shows and movies on Netflix and Prime Video, which isn't possible with traditional mirroring. Swiping, tapping, even dragging the search bars in Prime Video worked without much delay, if any. Watching YouTube with my usual audio/video sync test video didn't notice any significant delays, and unlike AI Box devices, you don't have to connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot or wait every time: just connect your smartphone, which already has internet connectivity.
However, I've noticed a more or less serious problem. If you want to search the Internet by typing the address in the search bar, or write a message, you won't be able to do so because the keyboard isn't mirrored. However, if you have a device with a desktop interface, like Samsung Dex, it works without any problems. The potential for full mirroring offers endless possibilities, such as letting children color in pictures without handing them their smartphone, and above all, always being able to see what's happening on the display. You can truly take advantage of every app on your smartphone, such as games. Imagine letting your guest play a game of Fruit Ninja while you're driving. We could even connect a Bluetooth controller to the smartphone and launch important games like COD, since the power required comes from the smartphone and not the Ottocast device. I assure you, there will be no delays, and the audio will play through all the car speakers, so in a certain sense, in surround sound.
With Ottocast Mirror Touch you don't just connect smartphones
All of the above isn't limited to connecting phones and tablets; you can also connect consoles like the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck, or even laptops—basically, any device with a USB-C video output will probably work. The car's display resolution might be the only bottleneck here, as my display's lower resolution occasionally made text a bit unreadable, but this is a minor issue if your game doesn't rely heavily on on-screen text.
AI boxes are good, but they come with compromises. They run on outdated chipsets, require manual hotspot pairing, and their interfaces are often cumbersome or overly dependent on Google Play apps that support these rooted devices, or on sideloading third-party APKs. But your phone already has the apps, with registered accounts, the extra power, and the refined user interface. The Ottocast Mirror Touch adapter essentially says, “Why not just use your phone?” If Ottocast had launched this adapter a year ago, we might not have seen even half the Android boxes I’ve tested since then.
Conclusions
The Ottocast Mirror Touch is a surprisingly sleek and functional solution that will likely change the way I think about CarPlay AI boxes and wireless adapters in the future. It won't be for everyone—if you don't want wires or native Android Auto support, look elsewhere—but if you're looking for simple yet snappy wireless CarPlay and reliable mirroring for streaming videos or gaming apps from your phone, with full touch interaction on your car's screen, this might be the only adapter you need. With the current offer, priced under $70, this gadget is worth grabbing at a lower price than any other AI box worth its salt, while doing more and better. It's a smart alternative that takes full advantage of the device you already own.
