Popular Android Auto wireless adapter gets an upgrade – and button. Here's what's new

Across various online forums, you’ll find plenty of praise for the AAWireless dongle. This Bluetooth device allows you to connect your smartphone to your car’s Android Auto platform wirelessly. One Reddit user enjoys its speed and reliability, while a TT Forum user likes its ease of operation.

Now there’s good news for car owners: The developer behind the AAWireless has announced a new model — the aptly named AAWireless TWO.

Also: Android Automotive receives new QOL update, including support for Bluetooth headphones

The first thing you’ll notice about the new model is that the revamped adapter looks quite different from the older version. No longer a square-shaped block, the new dongle has been shrunk by 30 percent to a slimmer rectangular design. At a glance, the AAWireless TWO almost resembles a USB drive.

It also has a multifunctional button on the front with an LED light around the edge. According to the company, this button is used to “perform actions like pairing a phone [or] switching between phones.” Also, the new dongle — which works with a recently updated AAWireless app — enables you to change the button’s function — for example, to have it disable connections instead. 

The button’s full capabilities are unknown apart from the given examples, although ZDNET did reach out to the company for additional information.

There is some bad news: Wireless CarPlay will not be supported. Chiel Prins, chief technology officer at AAWireless, said the team could not get CarPlay working on the new device. The developers must create “a different hardware design” before “implementing adequate… support.” CarPlay will remain a permanent beta feature on the first AAWireless model.

Also: How hackers could have remotely controlled millions of cars

Fortunately, the company is working on a “TWO Plus” adapter that will support both CarPlay and Android Auto; however, it won’t be available until Q1 2025. iPhone owners interested in the dongle may want to wait until next year.

The AAWireless TWO will launch on October 20 in the US at $64.99 and be sold exclusively on Amazon. Pre-orders are unavailable, but you can sign up for an email list to receive notifications when the dongle goes on sale.