Carlinkit 3.0 vs 2.0 Wireless CarPlay Dongle Speed Test | Carlinkit U2W 3.0 Review

The main difference between these two dongles, though, is the firmware software being used by the chipset inside. The original 2.0 dongle uses the standard U2W firmware, which is very similar to other branded dongles such as the CarPlay2air. It’s mostly noticeable by the green UI when you first boot up the dongle.

This U2W Plus (or 3.0 dongle) uses the newer optimised AUTOKIT UI, which is visually noticeable by its red UI, a slightly different menu screen, and the addition of some customisable launch settings from the boot menu.

The advantage of using a wireless dongle that uses AUTOKIT UI is that it can boot up much faster. This is because the images for the boot-up menu screen are pre-rendered and it does not need to be generated every time it boots up, which saves a bunch of time and this optimisation gets you into the dongle's boot menu much faster.

Out of all of the tests, the results were in favour of the 3.0 dongle. It is a much faster dongle overall, where boot-up times are reduced by around 5 seconds overall. This in terns results in a faster bootup time overall. Sometimes the 2.0 dongle can get close, so if you already have a 2.0 dongle there may not be such a significant reduction to warrant upgrading to the 3.0 or equivalent dongle.

However the AUTOKIT firmware does bring some advantages, such as the boot menu and the basic level of opinions it offers. Without having to go through the dongle’s own browser-based settings menu, this makes this dongle better for anyone less technical, who wishes to change settings such as auto boot amongst other basic settings without going through the IP web browser settings menu.

The time saved by the optimised boot-up time should be universal in any CarPlay enabled vehicle. The only variable is your own system bootup time, and the time it takes to connect to your iPhone’s Bluetooth signal and displaying CarPlay over Wi-Fi.

I also took a look at both dongles using some Wi-Fi testing software, and I found out that the 2.0 dongle ran at Wi-Fi 4 standard, at a maximum output of 300 megabits per second. Whereas the newer CarLinkit 3.0 dongle ran at the much faster Wi-Fi 5 standard, at a maximum output of 866.7 megabits per second - similar to the updated CarPlay2Air dongle and the Ottocast U2-Now dongle.

So in short, I would highly recommend these AUTOKIT-based wireless dongles over the older firmware-based dongles. The speed and faster WiFi5 should make for a faster and more reliable CarPlay connection, with improved calling performance. But with that said, I still encountered irregular crashes after around 1-2 hour of use on all of these dongles, and I personally don’t have much experience with calling with these dongles to really test their audio lag and whether it is any better with Wi-Fi 5 or not.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

⭐️ SUPPORT ME ⭐️
If my videos have helped you in any way, you can show your support and appreciation by making a one-time donation through Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you so much!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Intro
0:24 - Brief overview
2:13 - Firmware updates
2:39 - Ignition into boot menu test
3:03 - BT pair into Apple CarPlay test
3:32 - Ignition into Apple CarPlay test
4:02 - USB connect into Apple CarPlay test
4:33 - Results and My Impressions

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MORE CONTENT & UPDATES:
Looking for more Apple CarPlay and Smart Technology content? Visit us on the following channels...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EQUIPMENT IN THIS VIDEO:

#Carlinkit #Wireless #CarPlay

[technickr]

Thank you for clearing my questions and showing details about the difference of the dongles.

[clfehr]

I have two Carlinkit dongles. One is clearly the older firmware and one the updated firmware. Both are very stable with rare crashes. I drive about an hour a day, and get a crash less than weekly. Drove 2, 000 miles this summer without a single crash from my 3.0 dongle 🤷🏼‍♂️.

Also, paid about £60 from AliExpress.

[BenjaminNeammanee]

Thanks for the review, didn't know I have the 3.0 until your video. Bought this since May

[margauxj-broussel]

Thanks you for the review. I love the fact that the option of "background mode" was added as it is much cleaner and discreet than the prompt screen and that retain the factory look of our infotainment system. We purchased 2 Carlinkit in the last 3 months. They already came with the red interface. However the Carlinkit support is absolutely nonexistent, they never replied to any of my queries, before and after purchase, despite my follow up. I take the liberty of pasting my questions below, this community might know some of the answers:


We have 2 carlinkit on each of our cars and we have some questions that would help us using the device better:
• How many iPhones can be paired?
• Is there a way to set up a device priority. For example, if two paired iPhones are in the car, can we choose which one to connect first.
• Is the adapter connects to the wrong phone and launch Carplay, how can we easily go back to the devices selection screen?
• Would that process still be possible under "background mode"?
Thanks!

[tomwilson]

Just got a Carlinkit 3.0 and am using it with a Pioneer head unit in my Renault Clio! It is working great, pairs quickly with my iPhone 12 and have not had any drop outs. Thanks for your review!

[thebammer]

I have that Carlink. It was a bit to sync at first (I say it was user error) but now that it's linked, its super fast and connects within 10 seconds. I had my phone in my pocket and it still linked up to my radio.... I highly recommend it

[kabilzy]

Thanks for video. Just FYI for those considering buying... I have new 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. This device performs extremely well and beats the startup times shown here by half if not better, often between 6-10 seconds after the "Starting CarPlay" notification in MBUX. Also as an FYI, the only thing that really bugged me was having to "see" the AutoKit UI screen while connecting. I wanted an experience like a Mercedes I demoed that had built-in Wireless CarPlay, where all you see is the "Starting CarPlay" wait graphic. But then I discovered the "Background Mode" setting in Carlinkit and voila. Now the experience is identical to a Mercedes with built-in Wireless CarPlay. If the makers of this device could just get a better Chinese to English translator... lol.

[iamdenislara]

Thank you for the video. We are getting closer and closer to cable speeds! One day

[DanZimmerli]

I enjoy my 3.0. Thanks for this video.

[Brubri]

First of all, thanks for the review.
Today I got my first Carlinkit dongle... And I have a big doubt that I hope you can help me with. Basically, I bought it from another website (called carlinkitcarplay, I hope it wont be considered as spam, since my comment got deleted twice), and there the dongle is advertised as "2.0/3.0" version, because according to them _"3.0 is just the code name of a software update version. Currently 2.0 and 3.0 are exactly the same"_ even though this video demonstrates that there's another actual difference, which is the faster Wi-Fi speed. The images they use to advertise the dongle seem to represent the 2.0 version (with the Carlinkit logo like the one on the left at 0:14), but now that I got it I see that it actually looks like the 3.0 version (with the Carlinkit logo upside down, compared to the other dongle). Also, I noticed that it already has the new red UI already out of the box, and I'm almost sure that I didn't download any software update. Is this a confirmation that I actually have the 3.0 version? If not, is there any way to know for sure which version of this dongle I got?

[anarkan]

Thank you Anthony for the putting together the one and only most comprehensive and technically relevant and informative review of the carlinkit 3.0 vs 2.0 which is precisely what I was after and made me decide to upgrade from 2.0 to 3.0 as my 2.0 although semi stable every once in while crashes and drops out to a black screen forcing me to keep pulling the usb cable and reinsert the usb cable back in my vehicle golf R 2016 MIB II head unit.
Here is me hoping that the 3.0 will have a some what better stability than the 2.0.
Having said that I know how to upgrade its firmware but Can you please elaborate on how to downgrade a firmware if needs be.
Finally is there a way that either the 2.0 or 3.0 can be factory reset I could not for the life of me find any information anywhere on how to do this. So I can wipe my the profiles on my 2.0 so I can give that to someone els to use.

Thanks again for an epic job mate. No thrills or crazy irrelevant cinematic just relevant useful information which is precisely what I was after to make my upgrade decision.
Respect ✊
Subbed

[arieorange]

Thanks for the review, i would like to buy one of the 3.0 model,

[captnrb]

I have unit installed on 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited with nav radio head. Upon start up sometimes the radio says “recovery mode” and after 15 seconds it reboots radio and nav possibly with another shut down and reboot. I have the latest software in both the vehicle and the 3.0 dongle. Also, when using voice for directions in Waze, the radio does not come back on. Any suggestions?

[mfrancis]

\\\New Subscriber/// Great video's... Question: Can I use the usb slot on this dongle to play other media and will this dongle allow my passengers to watch that media while the car is driving?
Martin from London.

[srock]

Relatively sophisticated user. Honda Passport 2019. The 3.0 unit wont reliably auto connect. Have tried resetting to factory settings, forgetting and repairing bluetooth, forgetting and re setting wireless making sure I am on latest build. It will hang at connecting screen (bluetooth shows conned and wireless shows connected. If I unplug and replug it will often start up. It will then work for the day even when shut down for a few hours and then not start up the following day. Out of ideas. Any help appreciated

[drofth]

Hi, thanks! I have a super dumb question though.
I have a one year old Kenwood radio in my car and I have to plug my iPhone in to use Car Play. Does this type of dongle allow my to connect my phone wirelessly to use Car Play from the phone? Thank you!

[huseyinkaya]

I have carlinkit 2.0 sometime lose connection so 3.0 Same or not

[mawan]

Hi.. Can i use carlinkit 3.0 to my CRV TURBO 2017?
Currently the original headunit does not have car play feature. Thx

[Boredm]

pretty sure this device messed up my system. I had issues with the Carlinkit 3.0 as it wouldn't auto connect. I returned it to amazon, and continued using my wired iphone connection instead, for carplay. It wouldnt work and I almost immedietly started receiving a never-ending popup saying "device not supported" on my touchscreen. I reset everything, cleared personal data, rebooted system, cleared all devices, bluetooth etc, and i still get the pop-up. even when NOTHING is plugged in. VERY FRUSTRATING! any help/info is greatly appreciated!

[HCG]

What Wi-Fi testing software do you use? I've been looking for one with a simple, clean interface like that.