In this article, I’ll compare three CarlinKit 2-in-1 wireless adapters and tell you which one is best for you.
In my test, I compared the CarlinKit 4.0, the CarlinKit 5.0, and the CarlinKit Mini 5 SE Pro. All three of these adapters from CarlinKit offer both wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, yet each adapter has its strengths and weaknesses. So let me show you how each adapter performs, and you’ll soon know which one is the right adapter for you.
So, let’s get started!
CarlinKit 4.0 Adapter
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Reviewed back in June 2022, the CarlinKit 4.0 adapter surprisingly continues to sell today, and that can only be a good thing because this adapter has three key features that most adapters being released today do not offer.
The first key feature is multi-user support. The boot menu on the 4.0 lists all previously connected iOS or Android devices, allowing you to select the exact device you need to connect to. A basic on-screen settings menu allows you to clear this list and turn off auto-connect, making selecting the connecting device much easier.
The second killer feature of the 4.0 is that this adapter operates over the CarPlay protocol, and by doing so, this feature allows anyone to convert their CarPlay-only car system to connect to an Android device for Android Auto. This is a perfect hardware solution if your car system has such limitations.
The third feature of the 4.0 is the ability to connect your phone to the adapter using a wired USB connection. This may seem pointless if you’re seeking a wireless solution, but if your phone is running out of power, you can simply connect your phone and continue to use the adapter, wirelessly or wired. Also, because it can convert CarPlay to Android Auto, you can connect your Android device over a wired connection for a faster Android Auto experience.
CarlinKit 5.0 Adapter
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Last reviewed in June 2023, the CarlinKit 5.0 adapter enhances the previous 4.0 adapter with a boost in hardware and optimisations in its software. The result is a better performing and more compatible 2-in-1 adapter, but at the loss of all 3 features that made the 4.0 so good.
The reason for this is that the CarlinKit 5.0 handles its connection differently to the 4.0 adapter, and this means it can only operate over the same protocol of the platform you wish to use it on, and it will not convert across protocols like the 4.0 was able to.
This change also meant Android Auto users lost any multiuser support. CarPlay still has the same AutoKit menu from the 4.0 adapter, but Android Auto users are left behind with a blank screen and a Bluetooth profile to connect to via a phone’s Bluetooth menu.
The 5.0 brought improved compatibility with car systems and support for navigation on the instrument cluster over the 4.0. A unique feature also on the 5.0 is that it can colourise its illuminated logo with a colour hue taken from the currently playing album art (CarPlay only).
CarlinKit Mini 5 SE Pro Adapter
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The CarlinKit Mini 5 SE Pro is their latest 2-in-1 adapter, which I reviewed at the start of 2025. A different form factor has been chosen for the Mini SE Pro, which offers a unique feature of having both USB-A and C connection types built into the adapter. This simplifies how this adapter works, without any additional cables, but you have to make sure your car’s USB port can accommodate its thumb drive size.
Like the older 5.0 adapter, the Mini SE Pro loses all multi-user support and wired support from the 4.0. Without a USB-A port, it loses USB passthrough charging from the 5.0, and its IP config menu is not as rich as the config menu shared between the 4.0 and 5.0 adapters.
The Mini 5 SE Pro does, however, improve on the performance of the 5.0 even further with faster performance in boot-up time and boot into CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has music seak support, as well as instrument cluster support from the 5.0, and GPS passthrough support is also featured across all three adapters.
Testing
So, that was the main difference between each adapter, but how does each adapter perform? I put all three adapters through my tests and recorded their results. Ready? Let’s go!
The Mini 5 SE Pro had the fastest bootup time, with the 5.0 only just behind it and the 4.0 roughly 5 seconds behind in 3rd place. It was similar when booting into wireless Apple CarPlay, with the Mini 5 SE Pro coming in at 17 seconds, followed by the 5.0 at 19 seconds, and the 4.0 coming in last at a more lengthy 26 seconds. The order was slightly different on Android Auto, with a boot time of 40 seconds on the 5.0, 29 seconds on the 4.0, and 20 seconds on the Mini 5 SE Pro.
I then tested their call return delay in CarPlay, and their results were all very close to each other. The Mini 5 SE Pro came out on top, with a 0.29-second delay in CarPlay; the 5.0 was close behind with a 0.30-second delay, and the 4.0 was just behind with 0.31 seconds.
Each adapter features a different Wi-Fi generation spec and also speed. The 5.0 has the oldest 4th Generation Wi-Fi spec, but it also has the highest maximum bandwidth speed. The 4.0 has a 5th Generation Wi-Fi spec and slightly slower max bandwidth speed, and the Mini 5 SE Pro has a 6th Generation Wi-Fi spec and the lowest bandwidth speed out of the three adapters.
Even with the lowest connection, the Mini 5 SE Pro had the least touch input and audio lag out of the three adapters. The 5.0 came in second, and the 4.0 came out the worst, yet all three were less than 1.4 seconds delay, which I found still pretty decent.
Finally, I checked out their official store selling price. All cost below $80, with the Mini 5 SE Pro coming out the cheapest. You can also find these adapters in other online stores for much cheaper, including Amazon, and the cheapest I could find was the Mini SE Pro on AliExpress for around $13!
So which is best…?
After looking through my results, it depends on how you wish to use the adapter. If you only have a CarPlay car system and wish to use your Android for Android Auto, the 4.0 is your only option here. I did have issues with my modern car system, and I couldn’t get Android Auto to display correctly on the 4.0 adapter. So, I would be cautious if you plan on using the 4.0 with Android Auto. The CarlinKit 4.0 may have been the slowest in my tests, but it wasn’t too far off in calling and touch input delay. If you’re looking for an adapter with conversion and wired passthrough support, the CarlinKit 4.0 is worth considering.
Other than multi-user support for CarPlay, wired power passthrough, and a better IP config menu, there is little else in the CarlinKit 5.0 over the Mini 5 SE Pro. So, between the 5.0 and the Mini 5 SE Pro, I would personally recommend the Mini 5 SE Pro. It is much faster to boot and connect to both wireless CarPlay and Android Auto. Its IP config may be more simplified, it at least supports real-time adjustments without rebooting, and it’s the only adapter out of the three to support music seeking in CarPlay.
With the lowest max bandwidth connection, it still managed to have the lowest call delay and touch input and audio delay in music playback, and along with its lowest price, both officially and online elsewhere, this makes the CarlinKit Mini 5 SE Pro the one to go for.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 – Brief overview
0:29 – CarlinKit 4.0 Wireless Adapter
1:46 – CarlinKit 5.0 Wireless Adapter
2:51 – CarlinKit Mini 5 SE Pro Wireless Adapter
3:56 – Test results
5:30 – Prices
5:51 – Which is best?
6:00 – CarPlay to Android Auto convertion
7:29 – Test data sheet
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