You have also spent a thousand euros to buy the latest generation iPhone, but you have bitterly realized that the device cannot be connected to the infotainment system of your car without the help of a cable. And then once you have connected your smartphone, you also realize that Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is ingenious in some ways but poor from the multimedia point of view. I am the first who loves to view videos on YouTube while I am driving, or entertain my guests with TV series and/or even TV, but it is impossible if we do not equip ourselves with a gadget like the one provided by One Car Stereo who kindly provided us with the AI Box Elite, which brings all the entertainment we seek for ourselves and our passengers to the infotainment system of your car.
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What's in the box
English: The package contains a paper instruction manual that explains how to connect to Android or iOS systems. The AI Box Elite gadget and 2 cables for powering the product are naturally included, one with a USB-A / USB-C connection and the other with a double Type-C connector, so you can use the box with any car. In this regard, I would like to point out that for correct operation it is necessary that your car is equipped with a USB port that allows data exchange and therefore not only power but above all that CarPlay is present as the product will bypass the system, making it appear that an iPhone has been connected via cable. One Car Stereo AI Box Elite is not compatible with vehicles without a touchscreen display, it is not compatible with vehicles equipped with an aftermarket CANBUS system (decoder / box protocol), it is not compatible with vehicles equipped with an aftermarket car radio installed with the exception of Pioneer, Sony and Kenwood double DIN stereos that support wired CarPlay and finally it is not compatible with vehicles equipped only with wireless CarPlay (for example BMW). Generally speaking, the box is compatible with 98% of cars produced since 2016, while the smartphone requires an iOS 10 or higher operating system, while for Android the version must be at least 11.
Hardware Overview
Looking at the adapter, you can see a rectangular device, similar in size to most AI Boxes currently on the market. On the top we find the brand logo and product name while on the front profile we find the Type-C power input and small status LEDs, while on the opposite side is the Micro SD card slot. On the back of the box there is a small air vent for passive cooling, to keep the Qualcomm QCM2290 quad-core 64-bit Cortex A53 processor clocked at 2.0 GHz with an 11nm manufacturing process, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage space for installing additional apps, in addition to the Adreno 702 GPU, cool. The connection is made exclusively via WiFi 2.4 / 5.0 Ghz and Bluetooth 4.2BLE + 5.0BR / EDR, a combo that also allows mirrorlink with the smartphone after installing the free Carbitlink app on the latter. The dimensions of the gadget are 80 x 50 x 13.8 mm.
connection
So how exactly do you get the Netflix app to work on a car infotainment display? I've outlined the prerequisites for this to work a few lines above, but I'll add that you also need to have a landscape-oriented infotainment display, not a portrait-oriented one. When you connect the AI Box Elite to your car, instead of an iPhone, the car's infotainment system will recognize it as a CarPlay interface, and the irony of all this is that the AI Box Elite is an Android device with Android 11, masquerading as an iPhone for the car. Interestingly, the device offers a Micro SD slot so you can view media files without using your smartphone connection, all using the music or video player that's already integrated into the product's system, which has basic functions, sure, but does its job. When you first start it, the box will calibrate the resolution and ppi based on your car's display.
New Infotainment
After the initial setup, a menu divided into two areas appears on the infotainment screen, with 4 quick launch icons and the music player bar on the left. These icons allow you to enter the settings, access all apps, start standard Android Auto/CarPlay and start smartphone mirroring. On the right, the icons can be customized, but preconfigured we find access to the file explorer, Bluetooth calls, Bluetooth music, local music and local videos plus an icon for adding an app as we like. Below these 6 icons we then find a button to exit the system and return to the car's original infotainment home.
I configured the WiFi by connecting it to the smartphone via the mobile hotspot function. Once the box is connected, you can navigate through the various functions available, but above all we can use Netflix, Disney + and even the Play Store. Yes, on our One Car Stereo AI Box Elite we can install all compatible apps and therefore extend the potential and functionality of the product. If you really can't install apps from the Play Store because Google indicates them as not supported by the system, you have APKPure already installed, from which you can draw and have all the apps you want, such as Alexa and WhatsApp.
Of course, the first thing I did was test out video features like Netflix and YouTube. I admit that the app interface for both of them isn't really optimized for the car display. Overall, videos take a few extra seconds to load on the screen, but once started, they play perfectly. The same can be said for Netflix. I didn't really know what to expect before starting this review, but I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that everything works without any particular hitches or slowdowns. You can also enjoy TV via the IPTV app so you don't miss the news or other programs you're fond of. The interface navigation is based on touchscreen interaction with a floating button that also offers quick shortcuts, such as clearing the cache/RAM.
The audio is transmitted directly to the car stereo without any delays. I appreciate the fact that there is no audio latency and that the moving images are synchronized with the sound. The buttons on the steering wheel also work so you will not lose any native functionality of the car. Of course if you want a sort of alternative CarPlay/Android Auto, the ability to download and install apps is a godsend. In fact, you do not find a navigation app installed by default but you can decide which one to install like Waze and similar.
Final houghts
While this is all fascinating, I would like to point out that I do not encourage anyone to distract themselves by watching videos while driving. I know how frustrating it can be to be stuck in traffic, but the safety of others and your own should be paramount.
2025 HEYINCAR Smart AI Box Android Auto Wireless CarPlay For Kia MG Hyundai Volvo VW Benz Peugeot Seat Toyota Mazda Skoda Opel
Ultimately, the One Car Stereo AI Box Elite delivers exactly what it says on the tin. This box lets you watch videos on your car’s infotainment system. It lets you get a little of the Tesla experience in your current car for just a few dollars, $133 to be precise, including shipping, but you can find it branded under another name for just $55 on super sale. If you need to entertain the kids on trips or if you often find yourself in parking lots waiting to pick someone up, this could be a worthwhile purchase.
