In this video, I review the Ottocast Mini 2-in-1 Wireless Adapter with a disconnection button. You can buy this dongle for $59.99 directly from the official Ottocast store – https://shrsl.com/4uxrs.
TLDR: Ottocast returns with the Mini, a compact 2-in-1 wireless CarPlay and Android Auto adapter. Boasting a tiny form factor and a unique device-switching button, it promises seamless connectivity. With fast boot speeds, responsive touch controls, and navigation passthrough, it performs well, but limitations in its switching function and basic settings hold it back.
It’s been a while since I have seen a new wireless adapter from Ottocast. The last was the CarPlayClip, a wireless adapter with a built-in touch screen. A design that was unique at the time. It performed very well in its boot and launch speeds, yet I felt the built-in display, although fun and unique, just wasn’t needed. A smaller device with the same performance would have been enough and cost a whole lot cheaper, too. Thankfully, it looks like Ottocast listened with their latest 2-in-1 adapter, the Mini.
In the box, you get a paper instruction manual, the Ottocast Mini adapter itself, and two USB adapters. One 90-degree USB-A adapter and one USB-A to USB-C adapter for modern CarPlay ports.
Features & design
The thumb drive size of the Ottocast Mini adapter lives up to its name. It is certainly small in its overall dimensions and is likely one of the smallest form factors I have tested. It could have been even smaller, perhaps, if it wasn’t for one of its unique key features.
Positioned on the top side of the adapter is a small button, which, when pressed, allows you to disconnect a paired device and reconnect to another. It’s a feature not commonly adopted in wireless adapters, at least of this size, and although we’ve seen a few adapters nod towards multi-device switching, I will have to see how well this Ottocast is able to switch devices as successfully.
It has a thin depth and a rounded facing end, which, overall, will reduce the visual impact it can have in a car interior that has its CarPlay/Android Auto port exposed. Orientation of the port could be an issue if you plan on pressing the switch button regularly. This is less of an issue when using its USB-C adapter because the adapter can then be rotated to make access to the button a little easier. However, adding the adapter will increase the length of this adapter by another three-quarters of its original size (yet this length is still less than a CarlinKit 5 Mini SE Pro).
Wireless Apple CarPlay
Inserting the adapter into my Cupra Born wired CP/AA USB port reveals the Mini’s boot menu in 8.1 seconds, making it the second-fastest 2-in-1 I have tested. A basic launcher screen greets you, which simply states the BT profile to connect to and the current firmware version. There’s also a hidden button (on my system, at least) on the bottom left that allows you to return to the car system screen.
Booting into Apple CarPlay took 21.22 seconds, positioning the Mini adapter in the average speed category of adapters I’ve tested. Display and touch interactions were rapid and very responsive, though. A surprise, considering its Gen4 Wi-Fi specification. GPS passthrough was supported in the Apple Maps app, but I had to switch between Mode 1 and back to Default options to make it work. Calling quality and delay were decent, and generally, the wireless CarPlay experience was great, with the exception of its IP config menu, which mirrored the same platform as its older Air models, with some very basic functions. This means less tweaking and adjusting to fix any compatibility issues that may show on certain car systems. However, with over 98% of car models allegedly supported, you may not need to worry too much about compatibility.
Wireless Android Auto
Booting to Android Auto over BT took 21.33 seconds, which is on the faster end of the 2-in-1 adapters in my test. Just like CarPlay, the Mini’s display and touch response in Android Auto are very good. With little delay. Calling quality and audio delay were also good, slightly better than CarPlay, which is expected, and a bonus for Android users.
Both CarPlay and Android Auto allowed navigation pass through to the central instrument cluster on my Cupra Born. Giving the Mini a little more added value over its closest rival, the Mini SE Pro from CarlinKit, which only allowed cluster passthrough via Android Auto.
The Physical Switch
Now, onto testing the Mini’s physical switch button. Sadly, it didn’t perform as well as I was expecting. Rather than switching devices, the Mini mainly disconnects the currently paired device, and it will always reconnect to the last used paired device (of up to two devices it has saved).
If this device is unavailable after 30 seconds, it will eventually try to switch over to the second paired device. That’s not ideal. I tried switching devices with a double press, but unfortunately, it did not work. This would have been a killer feature if Ottocast had implemented it, even through a firmware update.
My Impressions
So to date, the Ottocast Mini ranks in 2nd place in my 2-in-1 sheet, in terms of performance alone. But its features and how it goes about it do hinder this adapter’s overall appeal over its competition.
Its price is competitive, and that comes with good reason. It has a basic IP config menu, its audio delay in CarPlay is slightly worse, and it has lower generation Wi-Fi spec. But with that said, what it does do, it does it well. If Ottocast could improve its switching button to make it switch and improve on its IP config menu to allow us to tweak its media delay, the Mini could be an adapter thats worth your consideration.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 – Brief overview
0:34 – Unboxing
0:51 – Features & design
2:58 – Boot-up & main menu interface
3:36 – Wireless Apple CarPlay
5:34 – IP Config menu
6:43 – Wireless Android Auto
8:45 – Physical button tests
12:03 – My Impressions
You can view this video and many more on my YouTube channel. If you like what you see, please do Like and Subscribe to our channel so you can be alerted when my next video goes live.
