CarlinKit Mini Ultra review: Inconsistent wireless CarPlay adapter
Description
At a glance
Expert's Rating
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Works seamlessly
- Supports split screen
- Tiny and practical
Cons
- Occasional crashes while driving
- Can only be used directly by one user
- Configuration access via IP interface instead of app
- Operating instructions in English or Chinese only
- Not compatible with BMW or Tesla cars
Our Verdict
The CarlinKit Mini Ultra does what it is supposed to do–most of the time. When it works, it works well.
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The CarlinKit Mini Ultra is an adapter for cars with USB-A ports that do not have support for wireless CarPlay. The company promises a plug-and-play setup, where you plug the Mini Ultra into your car, and you can then connect your iPhone to it so you can use CarPlay. It works, but not without a few issues.
After plugging the Mini Ultra into your car’s USB-A port, you connect to it by finding it in the iPhone’s Bluetooth settings. After the initial setup, your iPhone will connect to the Mini Ultra automatically and immediately. You also need to use Wi-Fi, which makes the Mini Drive’s performance faster. An adapter from USB-C to USB-A is also included.
Whenever I had to remove the Mini Ultra to use the USB port for something else, and then plug the Mini Ultra in again, I ran into transmission problems between my iPhone and the Mini Ultra. Sometimes the problems were resolved quickly, other times I had to wait a little until the connection stabilized. In the majority of cases, however, I was immediately online with CarPlay shortly after starting the car.
During a short journey, I had two connection interruptions, which I was able to rectify quickly by unplugging the adapter from the USB port and plugging it back in immediately.
When the Mini Ultra works, it works perfectly. The responsiveness–the speed with which CarPlay reacts–is very good. I noticed that the Mini Ultra creates a good amount of heat, however.
You can’t connect two different iPhones with this adapter, though that’s a fundamental limitation of the Bluetooth implementation. If you decide to use the Mini Ultra with another iPhone, CarlinKit states that Bluetooth and Wi-Fi need to be turned off on the iPhone that you aren’t using.
The manufacturer explicitly points out that its adapter is not compatible with either BMW or Tesla cars. The adapter also works with Android Auto.
Should you buy the CarlinKit Mini Ultra?
It does what it is supposed to do–most of the time. It has some shortcomings, and I had occasional disconnections between the adapter and mobile phone. You can probably find a more reliable adapter from another company.
United States
