ATOTO AD3WCP Wireless Apple CarPlay Adapter Dongle Review

If you have an existing wired CarPlay system that you’d like to make wireless, then the ATOTO AD3WCP-A Wireless CarPlay adapter will allow you to operate Apple CarPlay without the need to physically connect your iPhone to your CarPlay system with a cable.

The adapter is a sizeable dongle when compared to the alternatives that are out there, but small enough to fit in a compartment where your CarPlay port is. Its outer casing is a sleek glossy black with some air vent perforations on the top along with two red and green LED lights for power and operation status. On the edges of the casing are two ports. The first is a USB-C port for charging the adapter, and on one side there is a TF card slot, used for upgrading the dongle without the need to sign in to their upgrade portal and when a downloadable update is given to you from their support team.

Connected to the Coral Vision CarPlay display, the dongle cold booted into its initial menu in 24 seconds, and 12 seconds from a hot boot. From this home screen, there isn’t much you can do here other than pair your iPhone to the mentioned Bluetooth ID that’s shown on the bottom left of the boot menu.

I connected it to the dongle’s Bluetooth ID and I was into wireless CarPlay within 18 seconds. From here CarPlay behaves as you would expect over a cable connection, with the usual wireless traits of around 1-2 seconds audio delay in music playback, navigation commands and calling.

It also worked on my Alpine X902D system, running just fine, however, it didn’t work with my Dasaita VIVID Android head unit in my Golf. The ATOTO AD3 is meant for factory and aftermarket CarPlay systems, so this behaviour was expected.

There are no USB passthrough ports or Android Auto support on this dongle, the AD3 just offers existing wired CarPlay systems a way to operate wirelessly with your iPhone, and nothing else.

Upgrading the dongle was a little challenging. It requires you to either sign up to its online portal with your vehicle details or contact its support team directly for a downloadable update file. Submitting the form to connect resulted in server errors, but my attempt the following day was more successful. The available update was downloaded and applied successfully and there are clear notes on what the update offers.

It was via this update text I found out that you can still connect to the dongle’s own Web UI settings menu through the usual IP address (192.168.1.101) in your Safari browser. This showed the same config menu as the Ottocast U2-Air and AutoBox dongles I reviewed recently. Meaning this is running similar software, if not exactly the same.

Similar to the U2-Air and AutoBox wireless dongles, the boot into CarPlay is very similar, if not the same on this dongle. However, what the AD3 wireless dongle has going for it is that it has a physical way to upgrade the dongle with the TF card slot. It has a higher max bandwidth transfer rate of 433.3 mbps and a higher channel width of 80 Mhz. It also operates over Wi-Fi 5 rather than Wi-Fi 4 on the other two dongles.

So on paper, this is a better dongle than the U2-Air and AutoBox dongles, but whether you’ll notice these hardware upgrades is down to your own personal use. In theory, the higher Wi-Fi specs will help with calling and delay, but the 1-2 second delay is still there like all other wireless dongles. If anything, the Wi-Fi connection will add more stability over fewer spec’d dongles that are out there. So if money is not a concern, then the ATOTO AD3 wireless dongle is the better buy on paper right now.

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TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Brief overview
0:25 - Unboxing
0:43 - Features
1:26 - Installation
1:46 - Wireless CarPlay
2:24 - Microphone Quality
3:20 - Updating
4:12 - My Impressions

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EQUIPMENT IN THIS VIDEO:

#atoto #wirelesscarplay #apple

[benyip]

Hey Anthony love tour videos. Always well presented.

At 4:56 you have a nice comparison chart with specs of different dongles.

Is there a full chart available somewhere for us to reference? I think one with listed features especially would be valuable! (For instance I'm specifically looking for a dongle with screen mirroring capabilities because of a need for a fairly rare app I need to monitor)

[ritchiemeza]

it’s on sale on ebay rn for 50 and this video convinced me to buy it

[tkantone]

I need help. I have the same dongle just white. I have aftermarket Sony 8100. I don’t get any sound.

[anhonestreviewer]

Hi, I bought the white version of this after watching your video. CarPlay works as expected but I’ve lost steering wheel remote controls for music selection. Any tips on how to restore it?

[pulcruz]

hi, do you have the update sofware via tf card?

[TheSlowpC]

Currently at this time it’s showing here in the states at 69 bucks with a 20% off coupon too. Not a bad deal. Just ordered to see how it works compared to my other autobox units. Even though it has the same firmwares, might like the slightly better wifi connection.

[AndreBarnett]

I’d like one with wireless pass through 😊

[GregUK]

Hi, just got this dongle and I am not getting any sound. Installed and booted into CarPlay, all functions seem to work except the sound. Status light stays blue on the dongle and doesn’t go green. I am using a Sony XAV-AX3005DB head unit in a 2012 Audi A3 8P. Any advice on what the issue could be please?

[buffomarinus]

Thanks mate, just used your link. Cheers

[devangl]

Hi Anthony,

I bought the AD3 recently and have been experiencing issues with music playback. I am using Amazon Music app on the carplay screen.

The music playback works perfectly for about 15-25 minutes. After that the music playback starts breaking and cutting out. And suddenly the black screen with Atoto logo comes up.

At this point, I have to unplug/plug back the atoto adapter.

Have you experienced anything like this??

I am also using Amazon Echo Auto through my iPhone for accessing Alexa voice services on my carplay. I am not sure, if the echo auto is causing any issues with Atoto AD3 music playback. As both Ad3 and Echo are connected through Bluetooth to my iPhone.

Would love to know your insights here!

Thanks,
Devang

[Gwakari]

I am using it 6 months now without problem. Thanks for video 👍😉 only thing is about 4-5 second delay when accepting incoming call (idk if it is only my unit) so 4-5 seconds second side simply hear nothing but after that everything is fine. Can you check it on your unit? Or is it normal with wireless dongle? Thanks

[adrianbrown]

What I think I'm most curious about would be if any of these companies are going to be able to make Wireless CarPlay adapters that have less delay (or ideally no delay though I understand why that's may not be possible. Also curious if there will ever be models that don't end up with the background around the application names.

As always, thanks for the video! Great information to go off of!

[MadmusicalHulk]

Hello. Great video and review. I’m new and just subscribed. I’m looking for something like this but not sure about which one to buy. I have a Seat Ateca (September 17) model.