Here’s How You Can Get Android Auto and CarPlay in ANY Car for Just $199
Most new cars already have Android Auto and CarPlay, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get the two phone mirroring systems in an older model.
However, it doesn’t mean you must spend a small fortune on upgrading the car with Android Auto and CarPlay. A device posted on Kickstarter seeking crowdfunding support proposes an approach that we’ve seen before, but it makes it more convenient to get Android Auto and CarPlay thanks to the power of Android 13.
Called KroxWay, the device is basically a stand-alone display that you can install on your dashboard to run Android Auto and CarPlay. The screen is a mini-computer itself, running Android 13 out of the box and allowing users to connect their mobile phones wirelessly for apps like Google Maps, Spotify, and others.
Photo: Kickstarter
Anyone can get similar capabilities in their cars with an Android device, but KroxWay has a design that makes more sense for a car. You won’t need to install it on the console but at the bottom of the windshield, so you can look at the screen as if it were your car’s infotainment display.
It packs a 10.26-inch screen with a resolution of 1600×600 pixels, packing an 8-core chip paired with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage space. From a technical perspective, these are the specs of a mid-range Android tablet, so you should be able to run Google’s operating system and most apps smoothly.
However, compared to a tablet, KroxWay requires a permanent connection to power (via your lighter socket), as the device doesn’t integrate a battery. The screen starts when you turn on the engine and turns off when you stop it, like your factory-installed display.
Photo: Kickstarter
Because it runs Android 13, the device allows you to install any application from the Google Play Store. This means that you won’t have to deal with the limitations enforced by Android Auto and CarPlay, which only allow car-optimized applications, and you can also get access to YouTube and Netflix. As usual, I can’t help but include the obligatory warning, as you’re not supposed to watch videos when the car is in motion.
KroxWay includes phone mirroring and wireless support for Android Auto and CarPlay, but I wonder why anyone would still pair their smartphones, considering the pre-loaded Android 13 experience offers access to more functions. I’ve already tried Android mini-PCs in my cars, and they were all great, unlocking the entire Android experience and offering access to apps that weren’t otherwise available on Android Auto and CarPlay.
The only benefit I can think of is the access to phone calls and messages, but if you’re not interested in this side of the experience, you can just stick with Android 13 because you’re also getting apps like Google Maps and Waze.
Photo: Kickstarter
The large screen can also be used for other activities, such as browsing social media, if you install apps like Instagram and Facebook from the Google Play Store. Thanks to Bluetooth integration, you can also connect a wireless controller and play games as if your car came with a pre-loaded gaming console.
KroxWay can also double as a dashcam, as its installation position allows it to record what happens on the road and record traffic as you drive to the destination. You can access recordings, delete them, and transfer them to your smartphone as if you were using an Android tablet. The built-in dashcam allows drivers to adjust the recording angle within a 30-degree range so that you can change its viewing angle independently from the screen.
One of the best features available on KroxWay and powered by Android is the split-screen support, which means that you can run two apps side by side simultaneously. The large screen is great for keeping navigation side by side with another app, though I must insist on not watching YouTube or other video apps while driving.
Photo: Kickstarter
KroxWay is now seeking crowdfunding support on Kickstarter, and if everything goes according to plan, it should start shipping in November this year. The good news is that you can get the device with a $199 pledge on Kickstarter, as the parent company offers a 39% discount for the Super Early Bird package. A two-device pack is available for $369, but as with everything happening on Kickstarter, it remains to be seen how the development and mass production of the project advances.
Meanwhile, KroxWay has already surpassed the funding goal, with 74 backers supporting the project. You still have 28 days to send your donation if you believe the idea deserves your support and you want to use this Android PC for Android Auto and CarPlay in your car.
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