In this review, I look at the Ottocast Nano AI Box adapter. You can pre-order/buy this AI Box for $309.99 directly from the Ottocast Store – https://shrsl.com/4vfwy using coupon code NANO50 for $50 off your order at checkout.
TLDR: The Ottocast Nano AI Box brings a fresh take to AI Boxes with its 1.83-inch animated display and ChatGPT 4o integration, alongside a much-improved Ottodrive 2.5 launcher. Performance is solid, with smooth video playback and fast app launches, though Android Auto struggles with blurry visuals and lag. Gaming is decent for casual play, but 3D games suffer from slight input lag. While the AI assistant initially worked, it later became unresponsive, possibly due to network or credit issues. Ultimately, the display adds cost without much value, making the Nano hard to recommend at its price—a cheaper, screenless version would be a smarter move.
When a brand goes silent for a long time between hardware releases, it’s often because they’re working on something big or unique. It’s been over a year since I reviewed Ottocast’s last flagship AI Box, and unfortunately, the P3 AI Box was a disappointment. It felt like a step backwards for the brand. Along with a rebrand, Ottocast has now channelled its efforts into something new and different. That time has finally arrived with the introduction of the Ottocast Nano, an AI Box that is indeed unique in its own way.
What’s in the Box?
Inside the packaging, you’ll find a paper instruction manual, the Nano adapter, a vent mount attachment clip, charging cables to power the adapter, four cable management clips, and a USB-A to USB-C adapter for modern CarPlay ports.
A New Look and Unique Display
From the packaging to the design of the adapter itself, the Nano AI Box clearly stands apart from previous Ottocast devices. We’ve seen screen-based adapters before, including Ottocast’s own CarPlay Clip, but the Nano features a similar multifunctional display that primarily serves as an emotive projection of its AI assistant. Powered by ChatGPT 4o, the display shows animated eyes that react to interactions. When you speak, a small hand raises to its ear, as if listening for your command.
If you find these eyes unsettling, the display can be customized to show other functions, including a selection of analogue and digital clock faces, three different music players displaying track metadata, and a live network status view.
Mounting and Placement
At the rear of the Nano is the same mounting solution used on the CarPlay Clip wireless adapter. This mount allows the device to be attached to an air vent for easy viewing of the 1.83-inch display while positioning it closer to the driver for improved interaction with the built-in microphone. Placing the Nano higher in the car interior also benefits its internal GPS for navigation apps.
Performance and User Experience
Booting up the Nano took longer than expected at 34 seconds, after which I was greeted by a refreshed Ottodrive 2.5 launcher. The menu is visually appealing and now features a persistent side dock, which is a welcome change from the awkward floating buttons found on most AI Boxes.
The dock includes shortcuts for invoking the Nano assistant, accessing installed apps, and navigating with home and back buttons. This setup makes it easier to return to the home screen or move between apps, offering one of the better AI Box interfaces I’ve tested.
Home Screen and Widgets
The home screen features four large default panels. The Maps panel serves as a shortcut to the chosen navigation app. The network connection panel displays hotspot status and connection options, including Wi-Fi, internal SIM, or the new CloudSIM feature. CloudSIM acts as an integrated eSIM that provides mobile data without the need for tethering or a physical SIM. A free trial is included to test its reliability.
Next to the network panel are two smaller panels: one for currently playing media with minimal controls and another for weather updates. All of these panels can be removed, resized, and replaced with widgets from Play Store apps. Or you can just have a row of commonly used app icons and a fancy wallpaper instead.
App Performance and Media Streaming
Tapping the apps button on the side dock reveals all the preinstalled apps, including access to the Google Play Store for additional app downloads you may be missing.
App launch times were respectable. YouTube loaded quickly, and its audio delay averaged 54ms—slightly better than the Bruxe R6, which averaged 64ms. This resulted in excellent lip sync when tested in my Cupra Born, though results may vary across different vehicles and their display systems.
Google Maps performed adequately but lacked pinch-to-zoom support and cluster passthrough for any Android-based maps. However, Apple Maps via CarPlay in the Multiplay app did successfully pass navigation instructions to the instrument cluster display. Android Auto-based maps were less successful.
CarPlay and Android Auto Performance
The Nano relies on the Multiplay Android app for wired-to-wireless CarPlay and Android Auto conversion. Bluetooth pairing for Android Auto took just 6 seconds, the fastest I’ve experienced. However, Apple CarPlay took a sluggish 17 seconds.
Performance in CarPlay was a little slow, which is common for software-based AI Boxes, but the display was sharp and correctly scaled. Android Auto, on the other hand, was blurry and had noticeable touch input lag, even when I checked it was using the preferred 5GHz Wi-Fi mode. Because of this, I wouldn’t recommend the Nano for Android Auto users.
Gaming Capabilities
Gaming performance on the Nano was as expected for an AI Box running the 6225 chipset. Lightweight 3D games can struggle, with noticeable touch input lag in Crossy Road. However, simpler 2D games like Angry Birds 2 ran smoothly.
Pairing a Bluetooth Xbox controller improved the gaming experience, and Asphalt Legends played surprisingly well, though at a lower display resolution. While not a gaming powerhouse, the Nano is capable of handling most casual mobile games fairly easily.
AI Assistant and ChatGPT Integration
Interacting with the Nano’s AI Assistant involves using the wake phrase “Hey Nano,” which triggers a small grey pop-up displaying your spoken prompt. The assistant can open and close apps, as well as play music from Spotify.
Initially, the assistant connected to ChatGPT 4o, but more recently attempts resulted in a beep followed by no response. This could be due to a lack of available credits or another connectivity issue. Despite trying different network sources—including Wi-Fi, mobile data, and CloudSIM—the assistant remained unresponsive to external queries. I’ll be reaching out to Ottocast for clarification on this issue and update this article if I learn anything useful.
Final Thoughts
The Ottocast Nano is a significant improvement over the disappointing P3 AI Box. The introduction of a persistent side dock and a more customizable launcher enhances the user experience greatly.
The 6225 CPU was a smart CPU choice, offering solid performance for apps and video streaming. While it doesn’t handle 4K streaming well, it’s sufficient for content made for most in-car display resolutions.
I feel the 1.83-inch display is unnecessary, personally. Without touch functionality, it quickly becomes a passive experience. This design choice also inflates the price, making it harder to recommend over similarly performing AI Boxes without the added screen.
Much like the P3 AI Box, the Nano attempts to differentiate itself with unique features, but the execution falls short. To remain competitive, Ottocast should consider releasing a “Nano Lite” version without the extra display, dropping the price by over $100, and integrating Google Gemini as a free AI assistant instead. Without these changes, the Nano risks suffering the same fate as its predecessor.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 – Brief overview
0:38 – Unboxing
1:17 – Features & Design
3:14 – Boot-up & Menu Interface
5:51 – Settings
6:16 – Installed Apps
6:29 – Nano Display modes
7:48 – Google Maps
8:16 – YouTube
9:26 – Netflix
10:12 – Spotify
11:09 – Benchmark results
11:35 – IPTV App
12:16 – Split Screen
12:55 – Gaming
14:03 – BT Controller Support
14:46 – Wireless Android Auto
16:25 – Wireless Apple CarPlay
18:07 – Nano AI Assistant
19:50 – TF Media Playback
19:58 – 4K Video
20:30 – 1080P Video
21:20 – My Impressions
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