We have already tested quite a few USB dongles, products that transform the wired connection of Android Auto and Carplay into a wireless one, that is, without cables. We have always been fully satisfied, but today the reactions are even more positive because of a gadget with a decidedly low price. We are talking about the wireless adapter by FBINSE, which we have tested thoroughly and of which we will tell you about our experience, which you will have already guessed to be positive.
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Unboxing and construction
The package contains the FBINSE adapter, two cables to connect the device to the car, both short but with different connections: one with a USB-A and Type-C connection and the other with a double Type-C connection. Finally, we find a user guide. I appreciate that FBINSE has included both types of USB to adapt to whatever type of socket you have in your vehicle.
I was pleased with the compactness of this gadget, which can be placed in the passenger compartment without invading too much space. The adapter itself measures just 60 mm x 60 mm x 9 mm and weighs just 25 grams. On one side of the adapter there is a USB-C port that connects the device to the data port of your vehicle and in this regard I remind you that for the FBINSE gadget to work, your vehicle must necessarily be equipped with a data port, as the USB only charge alone is not enough.
Installation
The installation and setup process is very quick and easy. The first step is to connect the FBINSE adapter to your vehicle's CarPlay port using one of the included cables. An LED located next to the USB-C port on the adapter will then light up. Within a couple of seconds, the LED will start flashing and a screen will appear on your car's display informing you to connect to the smartBox-2B39 device. All you have to do is connect your smartphone via Bluetooth and confirm the pairing requests.
The CarPlay icon will now be accessible from the vehicle's infotainment system. Just click on it to immediately and wirelessly use the opportunities offered by the Apple navigation system. The steering wheel controls, at least in my case, are available and therefore we can, for example, call up the virtual assistant Siri by simply pressing the dedicated button, but of course if enabled on the smartphone we can also call up the assistant with the dedicated voice command Hey SIRI!
Test results
The system was smooth and the “cold” start-up took about 7 seconds. Everything works perfectly, flawlessly. I also tested calls, where usually on cheap devices from other brands, you run into delays in listening on the part of our interlocutor, while in the case of the FBINSE gadget, my interlocutor heard me clearly and above all without delays.
Using the native Carplay or Android Auto settings we can customize the screens and apps that launch over the wireless system. The multi view screen works as expected and there were no connection drops or video or audio interruptions for Apple Maps or Google Maps. After the initial setup, I ran several tests to confirm that the wireless connection would automatically re-establish itself when exiting and re-entering the vehicle.
Another peculiarity is that the FBINSE system offers the possibility of adjusting some settings in addition to the possibility of updating the firmware. All you have to do is connect from the phone's browser to the IP address 192.168.1.101 to access the system configuration panel. Some settings, if you are not a geek, are better left untouched.
Conclusions and price
While many car manufacturers are moving towards wireless CarPlay as an OEM feature, there are still a large number of vehicles on the road that do not have this feature built in. For them, the FBINSE adapter is an excellent choice considering the minimum cost of around 30 euros. Thanks to its small size and easy connection, you can have wireless CarPlay in your vehicle in just a few minutes. What do you think about wireless CarPlay? Is it something you would use in your vehicle? Join the discussion and leave a comment below.
