Ottocast Mini Tube in the test: Use Android Auto and Carplay wirelessly from 40 euros

Compact and stylish: With the Ottocast Mini Tube wireless adapter, plugging in your smartphone for Android Auto or Carplay is a thing of the past.

Constantly plugging in your smartphone is annoying – especially if the car doesn’t support wireless CarPlay or Android Auto. This is exactly where the Ottocast Mini Tube comes in: the compact adapter goes into the USB-A socket, and this also works with USB-C using an adapter. From now on, it takes over the radio connection to the smartphone, which can remain in your pocket. The round metal dongle also looks good visually. Our test shows whether it not only looks chic, but also impresses in everyday life.

The Ottocast Mini Tube is tiny: the round USB dongle measures just 2.5 cm in diameter and length. With its metal knob and ribbed surface, it looks high-quality and chic – once plugged into the fittings, you could easily mistake it for a rotary control. There is a single LED in the middle. This makes it by far the most stylish adapter we have tested so far.

The device is connected via a USB-A connector. Practical: A USB-C adapter is included – if the vehicle only offers the more modern connection. However, the dongle with the adapter protrudes around two centimeters further out of the socket, which can look unsightly depending on the car. In our test car, the connection was in a closed compartment behind the center console anyway – it’s a shame about the chic look that no one can see there. If the USB-A port is deeply recessed, it may be difficult to insert the adapter cleanly.

A tiny instruction manual is also included. Unfortunately not in German: users have to make do with English, French or Spanish.

We put the Ottocast Mini Tube to the test in an Opel Astra K (built in 2017). An Honor Magic V3, a Samsung Galaxy S23 and an iPhone 12 Pro Max served as players. The compatibility list on the manufacturer’s product page reveals whether your own car is compatible. The adapter is incompatible with BMW vehicles.

An important detail in advance: The car must not support wireless Android Auto or Apple Carplay ex works – otherwise the dongle will refuse to work. You wouldn’t need it anyway. However, the vehicle must definitely have the wired version of Carplay or Android Auto, because the adapter acts as a placeholder for the smartphone on the USB port and establishes the radio connection from there – but does not retrofit the interface.

Commissioning is simple. As soon as the Mini Tube is plugged into the USB port, the LED under the logo signals the operating status: first it flashes red (power supply is on), then blue (communication with the car is ongoing). As soon as the Bluetooth connection to the cell phone is established, it lights up permanently blue. The dongle then establishes a local WiFi connection between itself and the smartphone. Practical: If the infotainment system recognizes the plugged-in adapter, the display promptly provides the device name for the Bluetooth connection.

With Carplay, the setup went smoothly straight away: the iPhone was paired immediately, with subsequent connections Carplay was ready after just under 30 seconds. There was a bit of a problem with Android Auto the first time around – it wasn’t until the second attempt that the infotainment system and the adapter reliably recognized the smartphone. Don’t get confused: At the beginning the infotainment shows a Carplay logo. If there is a connection to Android Auto, this also becomes the corresponding logo.

Practical: The dongle remembers the last two smartphones connected. If you share a car, you don’t have to re-pair it every time. However, if both cell phones are on board at the same time, manual work is required – there is no button to disconnect the connection. In everyday life, the mobile device connected via the adapter in around 30 seconds, and the radio bridge remained stable in the test.

Directly from the manufacturer, the Ottocast Mini Tube normally costs 50 euros – with the code TS20 it’s only 40 euros.

A notice: The provider is based in China, even if shipping takes place from German warehouses. As a result, EU consumer protection rights such as warranty, cancellation and buyer protection may not apply in full. However, the manufacturer voluntarily grants a 30-day right of return – if necessary at the buyer’s expense – as well as a two-year guarantee. Transport insurance is only available for an additional charge, the shipping itself is free.

The Ottocast Mini Tube is a stylish, compact and inexpensive solution for retrofitting wireless Android Auto or Carplay in the vehicle. The round dongle plugs directly into the corresponding port with its USB-A plug – it also fits into USB-C ports using the included extension piece.

Thanks to its compatibility with Android Auto and Apple Carplay, the adapter is also suitable for couples or families who share a vehicle but prefer different smartphone worlds. The connection to the user interfaces optimized for the car is established in just under 30 seconds. Only BMW drivers look into the tube: Unfortunately, the adapter is out of the question for them.