News in Short
- Twelve South has launched the AirFly Drive wireless CarPlay adapter.
- The compact dongle converts factory-wired CarPlay into wireless CarPlay.
- It also supports Android Auto on compatible vehicles.
- The adapter works with more than 75 car makes and model years dating back to 2014.
- It requires no app, account or separate charging.
Twelve South has launched the AirFly Drive, a compact adapter designed to turn wired CarPlay into a wireless experience.
The new dongle connects to a car’s existing USB port and enables wireless CarPlay through the vehicle’s built-in display. It also supports Android Auto on compatible vehicles.
Twelve South says the adapter works with more than 75 car makes and model years dating back to 2014.
AirFly Drive is designed to stay plugged in
The AirFly Drive uses a compact aluminum housing and is designed to remain connected to the car.
The adapter features a USB-A connector. Twelve South also includes a USB-A to USB-C adapter in the box, allowing it to work with different USB ports.
There is no battery that users need to charge. The adapter draws power from the vehicle.
Setup does not require an app
Twelve South has kept the setup process simple. Users can plug the AirFly Drive into the car’s USB port and pair their phone with it.
The adapter does not require an app or account.
After the initial pairing, AirFly Drive automatically reconnects to the phone when the car starts. This means users do not need to manually connect their phone for every journey.
AirFly Drive supports two paired phones
The adapter can pair with two phones at the same time.
A physical button on the AirFly Drive lets users switch between the two paired devices. This could be useful when more than one person regularly uses the same car.
The adapter also works with the vehicle’s existing display and controls.
Users can continue using the car’s built-in buttons and steering-wheel controls while using wireless CarPlay or Android Auto.
Wireless CarPlay works with the existing car display
AirFly Drive does not replace the car’s infotainment system. Instead, it uses the existing display and wired CarPlay connection to provide a wireless connection.
This allows compatible iPhone users to access Apple CarPlay without plugging their phone into the car each time.
Android users can also use Android Auto where the vehicle supports it.
Twelve South says it will provide ongoing compatibility updates for the adapter.
AirFly Drive price and availability
The Twelve South AirFly Drive is priced at $39.99.
It is available to order from today.
The adapter is aimed at drivers whose vehicles already support factory-wired CarPlay but do not offer wireless connectivity. For these users, the dongle provides a way to remove the cable from everyday CarPlay use without replacing the car’s existing infotainment system.
