Buy the Ottocast Play2Video Ultra for $109 direct here
The latest Ottocast Play2Video Ultra promises to merge three experiences into one compact device. Acting as a wireless CarPlay and Android Auto adapter, while also providing a closed Android system for streaming video & music apps onto your car display, it aims to give drivers a complete in-car entertainment upgrade. But does it deliver smooth performance and streaming quality at its competitive $109 price point? After testing it in my Cupra Born EV, here’s what I found.
Unboxing and First Impressions
Inside the box, Ottocast includes the Play2Video Ultra adapter, a USB-A to USB-C converter, and a USB-A to USB-A power passthrough cable, should your car’s USB port not have sufficient power. The compact pebble-shaped design feels solid and modern, featuring a glossy finish, passive cooling vents on the bottom, and an LED indicator on top. Its short tethered cable makes connection simple, though its fixed length could be a long-term concern if it were to break or become faulty.
Compared to its predecessor, the Play2Video Pro, the Ultra gains a RAM boost from 2GB to 4GB, storage from 16GB to 32GB, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, and improved build quality. On paper, this looks like a significant upgrade for a small price increase.
Setup and Interface
Once plugged in, the adapter boots to a clean and intuitive launcher with shortcut tiles to access its pre-installed Android apps – YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Spotify and IPTV. There’s also Bluetooth music, USB media, and wireless CarPlay or Android Auto modes. It runs on a lightweight version of Android 12, and while it’s a closed system without the Google Play Store, you can still access these previously mentioned pre-installed streaming apps.
The UI feels responsive enough for navigation, though it’s clear this device isn’t built for multitasking or heavy app switching due to its low-end hardware inside. This is enough for casual watching of video streaming apps; however, navigating menus and opening apps can take much longer than more capable AI Boxes out there.
Streaming and Media Playback
YouTube playback was smoother than expected, with a low (and very acceptable) +44ms audio-to-video delay, while Netflix loaded reliably, but due to power bandwidth at the time, it came with some reduced image quality. This should be overlooked with a decent supplied internet connection, but without a dedicated SIM card slot, you’ll have to rely on hotspoting from your mobile or in-car Wi-Fi, if it has one. Spotify was the worst performing of the pre-installed apps on the Ultra; this clearly showed the adapter’s limitations, resulting in very long loading times and some lag when browsing or switching tracks.
Playing local media from a USB drive worked fine, but little time has been put into both the built-in video and music players. Its video player lacked any usable aspect ratios, where a third-party player like VLC would have improved playback control and image accuracy. Its music player had no graphical flair, and it felt more like a token inclusion than anything that resembled the quality of its other UI elements.
Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto
Switching over to wireless CarPlay, the Play2Video Ultra connected extremely quickly for an AI Box, at just 6.30 seconds. Connection seemed stable, although the display quality appeared slightly blurred and washed out (a trait of emulated CP/AA apps found on AI Boxes). Touch responsiveness lagged slightly, and a very bizarre voice recording distortion bug made voice messages sound like a chipmunk. Call quality was acceptable, though with a little delay.
Android Auto performed much better overall, delivering a higher resolution than native on my Cupra display, interactions were smooth, and call quality was very quick and reliable. I did have trouble with Google Assistant hearing my voice – we can’t have it all, can we?! Like in CarPlay, the Ultra lacked GPS passthrough, cluster display, or HUD support — limitations common among AI boxes.
Thermal Performance
During some extended use, the device reached temperatures up to 58°C, which is very warm but within safe limits thanks to its passive cooling vents. Still, it’s not something you’d want to leave running for long periods in direct sunlight, as it might affect performance overall.
Is It Worth Buying?
The Ottocast Play2Video Ultra delivers impressive functionality for its price of $109, currently. You get wireless CarPlay, Android Auto, and a handful of pre-installed streaming apps in one neat, budget-friendly unit. However, its limited performance, slow app load times, closed system, and minor bugs make it feel like an entry-level option rather than a premium solution.
If you simply want to watch YouTube or Netflix on your car’s screen and add some wireless connectivity without spending too much, this adapter offers solid value. But if you need faster performance, better multitasking, and wider Google App Store access, a higher-end AI Box will serve you much better.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 – Introduction
0:30 – Unboxing and accessories
0:52 – Design, build quality, and ports
1:52 – Play2Video Pro Compared
3:02 – First boot-up and main menu walkthrough
4:47 – YouTube playback and audio sync
5:57 – Netflix and Spotify streaming
8:51 – USB video & music media playback
11:58 – Wireless CarPlay test
15:19 – Wireless Android Auto test
17:41 – Thermals
18:09 – My impressions
