Leaving your phone in your pocket and seeing Apple CarPlay or Android Auto appear on your screen without connecting a cable is no longer a big deal, especially if you've purchased a modern car. However, many cars still have a screen compatible with CarPlay or Android Auto, but not with wireless connectivity. In fact, if you own a modern car but have an iPhone, you certainly won't be able to connect wirelessly to the car's infotainment system.
Fortunately, there are affordable, high-quality products that solve the problem, such as the Ottocast MINI CUBE 3.0 dongle, which, as the name suggests, is the third generation of the tried-and-tested Mini Cube. It's a tiny USB adapter that transforms CarPlay and Android Auto from wired to wireless. As small as a euro coin and taking up the same amount of space as a USB-A connector, the gadget focuses on plug-and-play simplicity, eliminating tangled cables from your infotainment system in just a few seconds.
As mentioned, the Ottocast MINI CUBE 3.0 dongle is about the size of a one-euro coin, making it discreet and easy to hide. It takes up very little space, making it completely hidden from prying eyes. In short, once plugged into your car's USB port, which must be enabled for data transfer and not just charging, you might even forget you have it in your dashboard. A small LED indicates the product's operating status, but you can turn it off if you wish. This can be accessed via a dedicated internet link in the product settings, which also allows you to perform firmware updates.
The package also includes a USB-A to Type-C adapter, so you can use the dongle with cars equipped with this more modern port. It's compatible with virtually any recent car, whether it has traditional or newer USB ports. The important thing, however, is that the car already supports CarPlay or Android Auto via cable (typically 2016 models or later). As for smartphones, the device works with iPhones running iOS 10 or later and Androids running version 11 or later. The product features a recessed design on three sides, with a glossy finish and a refined aluminum alloy body, to make it easier to grip if you need to remove it from the car's USB port and place it in another vehicle.
The adapter uses 5 GHz Wi-Fi (5.8 GHz band) and Bluetooth 5.0, with a next-generation chip. In short, it uses fast Wi-Fi to transmit data between your phone and your car, offering high-quality audio and a near-instant response to commands. It also features GPS passthrough, which allows you to use your car's GPS antenna to retrieve your phone's maps. The Ottocast dongle has no physical buttons or other frills, making it easy to use even if you don't know anything about technology. It's essentially plug & play, except for a small step during the initial setup:
- Connect the gadget to your car's USB port (instead of the cable you use for CarPlay or Android Auto).
- Enable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on your phone. The adapter will broadcast a Bluetooth profile identified as “CAR2-BC1C” (at least in my case): select it on your phone to perform the initial pairing.
- After Bluetooth pairing, the device automatically switches to Wi-Fi for CarPlay/Android Auto. After about 10 seconds, CarPlay (or Android Auto) appears on the car's display.
There's no need to install any dedicated apps or fiddle with complicated settings. The MINI CUBE 3.0 dongle essentially creates a wireless bridge between your phone and your car: Bluetooth initiates the "dialogue," while Wi-Fi transmits large data (maps, music, etc.) quickly and reliably. Initial setup takes a couple of minutes at most. Once configured, the next time you use it, you won't need to do anything other than make sure your phone's Bluetooth is turned on: when you start the car, the adapter wakes up and automatically reconnects the paired phone within 10 seconds at most.
As mentioned, the Ottocast gadget wirelessly brings Android Auto and CarPlay, so there's no added functionality beyond what you're already used to using the cable. Booting up both systems is fairly quick, and navigating the interface is fluid. Native steering wheel controls are also supported. The screen responds to touch without any perceptible delay, scrolling through maps and menus was instant, and even the animations were snappy. I launched music playlists, podcasts, and GPS navigation, all without hesitation.
In terms of audio, whether for phone calls or music streaming, I didn't notice any significant differences compared to the wired connection. The sound quality is excellent and the audio latency is very low—practically imperceptible to the human ear. Calls sound clear and in sync, Siri/Google/Gemini/Alexa respond promptly, and the voice maps are delivered promptly. For the driver, the experience remains the same as in the car: the Ottocast MINI CUBE 3.0 controls remain unchanged. You can use the touchscreen, knobs, or steering wheel buttons just like with a wired phone.
In short, the Ottocast USB dongle doesn't work miracles and isn't any different from other dongles already reviewed, but here we have a minimal footprint, the expertise and reliability of a well-known brand like Ottocast, software support, and a price you can't afford to miss. It's cable-free, requiring no technical expertise. It's plug & play, fast, and seamless in everyday use: an adapter that truly improves the quality of life in the car. After a few days, you'll forget it's there, because it just works. And that, after all, is its greatest merit.
