Motorola MA1 Wireless Android Car Adapter - Instant Connection from Smartphone to Car Screen with Easy Setup - Direct Plug-in USB Adapter - Secure Gel Pad Included

Product Information

Going in, the main question I had about the Motorola MA1 was “how is this going to compare to a hardwired connection?

I could leave the device dangling and lay it down under the passenger seat or use the included adhesive pad to position it somewhere on the dash. On top of that, the dongle design offers a bit of flexibility on where the adapter sits in your car, without losing any performance in the process. Then after 3 seconds, the LED should turn to white and this indicates that the MA1 has completed the factory reset. He’s usually found trying to squeeze another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining about how terrible his Smart TV is.The rest of the setup was pretty straightforward in that I had to pair with the MA1 via Bluetooth and run through the Android Auto setup to get the sequence working. The LED light should begin pulsing green, and wireless Android should appear on your car display within 90 seconds. However you may want to substitute it for something like mounting tape or adhesive putty, since it does have a tendency to unstick from the car. Users therefore enjoy an original equipment (OEM)-like user experience that improves over time as Google continues to enhance Android Auto. Availability of Motorola’s wireless Android Auto dongle has not been too consistent since the CES 2022 unveil in January.

Ah, that makes sense, but kind of makes the dongle pointless then if I still have to plug the phone in anyway to charge. This means your phone registers the connection the same way, so you’ll need a compatible device — one that supports 5GHz Wi-Fi and runs Android 11 or newer. I don't have the wireless charging, but whenever I plug my phone into the car, I get a warning on the phone (S22 Ultra) that the charge rate is very low and suggests using another source. The LED will begin blinking blue, continue holding the adapter button down for at least 35 seconds, and then release only when the LED blinks green quickly.

I have stuck the motorola gizmo to the underside of the dash above the USB port, you cant tell its there. The MA1 uses a mix of Bluetooth and 5GHz Wi-Fi to connect to your phone, the same protocols as any other built-in wireless Android Auto setup. Adapter compatibility depends on the automaker's specific implementation of USB and Android Auto; contact your vehicle manufacturer if you are unsure. In my case, I have a Pioneer aftermarket head unit installed in mine that has its own USB port by way of a separate cable that comes out near the glove compartment. Wireless Android Auto has something of a reputation for battery drain, which I could sort of see with the Motorola MA1.

I have a 2020 c63s, does anyone have a similar car, if so does the MA1 give you full screen on Android Auto ? But consider having your device "forget" the legacy bluetooth connection to the car stereo as that may interfere with each other. On your car screen, navigate to the Bluetooth phone list, and 'forget' or 'delete' all paired phones. Also in the box is a small foam sticker, which can be used to attach the puck to any number of surfaces in your car. That all changed with the arrival of wireless Android Auto dongles, and the Motorola MA1 dongle was pitched as the “easy” version, with a dead-simple experience and direct backing from Google.

That is one of the pain points the MA1 can solve, which is to make a wireless charger actually useful, especially if you're driving a vehicle that includes it. Sure, you can always plug your phone into a different power source, but that kind of defeats the purpose of a wireless connection. What's even better is that, despite the slower startup, the rest of the Android Auto experience doesn't feel any different. Granted, you do need to be able to run the platform to begin with, but if you've always had to plug in via USB to make it happen, this device may let you untether it. I'd expect to make more use of the wireless charging pad if using for anything longer than a 30 min journey.