Twelve South, the accessory maker best known for the AirFly headphone adapter, has a new hit on its hands. The AirFly Drive is a small aluminium dongle that plugs into a car’s USB port and turns wired Apple CarPlay or Android Auto into a wireless connection. It costs $39.99 in the US, comes in black or white, and the black version was listed as out of stock on Twelve South’s own store at the time of writing.

Plenty of cars from the last decade have CarPlay or Android Auto, but only work when the phone is plugged in with a cable. The AirFly Drive targets exactly that group. It launched on October 1, and Apple focused sites MacRumors and 9to5Mac both covered it the same day, with 9to5Mac posting a follow up after readers asked for the full vehicle compatibility list. The low price and the brand’s track record are a big part of the appeal: MacRumors noted that similar adapters from other brands already sell on Amazon, but that Twelve South is a well known name in Apple accessories.

How it works

According to Twelve South, setup is meant to be done once:

  • Plug the AirFly Drive into the car’s USB port (a USB-A to USB-C adapter is in the box)
  • Pair your phone one time, with no app, account or charging needed
  • After that, the phone reconnects automatically within seconds of starting the car
  • A button on the front switches between two paired phones, handy for couples who share a car

It works with the car’s existing screen, buttons and steering wheel controls. Twelve South says the aluminium housing helps move heat away from the electronics, and the product carries a two year warranty. MacRumors pointed out one setup step to know: you first need to choose “Forget This Device” for your iPhone in the car’s Bluetooth settings.

Will it work in your car?

Twelve South lists support for iPhones on iOS 10 or newer and Android phones on Android 11 or newer, in vehicles with factory CarPlay or Android Auto from 2016 onward, and it publishes a full vehicle list on its site. 9to5Mac reported a wider range, quoting Twelve South as covering more than 75 makes and model years back to 2014. Since the sources differ, check your exact model on Twelve South’s list before you buy. If your car already has wireless CarPlay, or has no CarPlay or Android Auto at all, this adapter will not help.

Who it suits

The AirFly Drive suits commuters who make lots of short trips and are tired of plugging in every time, and households where two people drive the same car. Keep in mind that a phone that is no longer plugged in also stops charging from that cable, so many drivers pair an adapter like this with a magnetic charging mount.

How it compares

The main alternatives are the wired to wireless dongles from brands such as Carlinkit, which are widely sold on Amazon and offer similar plug in setups. The AirFly Drive’s selling points are its very small size, the two phone switch button, a two year warranty and Twelve South’s reputation. If you just want the cheapest route to wireless CarPlay and do not mind a lesser known brand, those rivals are worth a look.

Where to buy

The AirFly Drive is sold on Twelve South’s US store and listed on Amazon in the US. Stock and prices can change at any time, and Twelve South has not given a restock date for the black version.