In this review, I take a look at the CarlinKit HDMI to CarPlay Adapter. You can buy this adapter currently for $69.99 from Amazon US > https://amzn.to/3ziwZdc and also for $40 directly from their store > https://bit.ly/carlinkithdmi
Review of the upcoming CarlinKit Fire TV stick adapter coming mid-July – Indiegogo Campaign Coming Soon
TL/DR: The CarlinKit HDMI to CarPlay adapter allows you to connect HDMI devices to your CarPlay display, providing a familiar interface and menu layout. The adapter is easy to set up and offers good video and audio quality. It supports various HDMI devices, but may struggle with high-resolution content on CarPlay displays. It’s ideal for EV owners looking for entertainment options while charging. However, it lacks wireless CarPlay/Android Auto support and additional features found in AI Boxes. Potential for future improvements includes adding wireless support for enhanced functionality.
CarlinKit has joined its peers with a new CarPlay adapter that allows the ability to connect any HDMI device to your CarPlay display. Meaning you can plug in a video streaming box like an Amazon Fire TV stick or Google Chromecast, and via the remote these boxes come with, you can browse and view their content on your CarPlay display. It’s a nice way to bypass the typical AI Box clunky interface and be able to use a familiar home screen and menu layout, as you would on a home TV whilst sitting on your couch.
Although HDMI input isn’t anything new when you combine it with CarPlay. This time around though, accessory makers have stripping everything they have learned and built to bring you a solo HDMI connection adapter. We’ve already seen on from Ottocast, but CarlinKit has done a more simpler yet (slightly) configurable route.
In the box, you get the adapter with its tethered 30cm USB-A power cable, a small instruction manual, and a USB-A to USB-C adapter for connecting to more modern CarPlay car USB ports. It comes in a white colour, so matched against the dark interior of most cars, this adapter will certainly stick out.
Once connected, a simple front menu screen displays in a very swift 8.5 seconds. On the screen, there’s two additional buttons; the first takes you back to your car’s system screen, and the second cog icon button will display a configuration menu for the adapter.
In the config menu you can change language from English to Chinese, there is a Video section, which for me didn’t display anything. Next is an HDMI sound toggle button and below this is the option to update the adapter via a connected home or mobile Wi-Fi network. Below this is the option to view the adapter’s current firmware version number.
Connecting a powered HDMI device will instantly send its display feed to the CarPlay display screen. The experience from this point onwards is just like you’ve connected the same device to your home TV display. Control is done with the same remote or the controller that came with the HDMI device. There’s no touch passthrough, split-screen modes and no other interactive features to report here. It’s pretty barebones from this point onwards.
This adapter carries over clarity, colour and responsiveness very well. I never thought the HDMI feed was being manipulated or converted in any way that lowered its visual or audio quality. The main issue is getting power to the connected HDMI device within the car, and if it needs it, an internet connection. Powering stream boxes is simple, via a simple 18W-30W USB 12v socket adapter, however, mains plug connections or devices with heavy power draw will need some extra thought and no doubt hardware. If a 12v adapter isn’t nearby, these boxes can power themselves from a capable battery bank, just make sure it has enough capacity to withstand the length of use you will want from it.
Supplying internet whilst on the move is simply done, with many HDMI devices supporting a Wi-Fi connection to a mobile hotspot, or better still, an in-car Wi-Fi connection if your fancy modern vehicle has one.
I tried an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and Google Chromecast 4K TV streamers to this adapter and both ran perfectly well. However, trying to watch 4K 60fps content on a very incapable CarPlay display and a buffering mobile data stream was a problem. Turning it down to 1080p soon got around this issue and is more fitting to most common CarPlay display resolutions.
Whilst stationary, using the remotes from these devices felt more intuitive than using the touch screen. Like watching video whilst driving, it isn’t something you should be doing/using whilst on the move, so it would be best to pass the remote onto a passenger to operate. I can see this adapter’s appeal for anyone charging with an EV that hasn’t got the apps or the means to cast video to their central console display. As long as it has a wired CarPlay USB port, you can connect up all manner of entertainment to pass the time whilst charging, if you’ve surpassed the usual pee and snack/drink scenario of filling your charging time.
I found the HDMI to CarPlay adapter from CarlinKit to be great solution for anyone seeking to connect an HDMI device to their CarPlay display. You can’t really compare this adapter to anything else other than a closed or open AI Box. The adapter is pretty dumb until you connect an HDMI device to it at an extra cost, so factoring the two together, you’re close to a closed Android OS AI Box or a very simple open Android OS AI Box cost at this point. The power behind video stream boxes might offer a smoother experience in video playback and some light weight gaming (if the platform supports it), but without any wireless CarPlay/Android Auto ability or being able to run other Android Apps, you do have to ask yourself which is more important to you.
The AI Box’s extra CPU/GPU grunt will handle games a lot better than connected TV streamers. However, it’s a different story if you connect a very capable game console such as a Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck. And if you plan on using cloud-based gaming platforms like Amazon’s Luna, Xbox Cloud Gaming, streaming your PlayStation 5 or Nvidia’s GeForce Now service,, then it has more to do with your internet connection than the power of the connected box.
This adapter’s possibilities are vast when you think of the different HDMI devices that you could hook up to your CarPlay display. But you are limited to just that entertainment source. Like other adapters of this kind, they missed the trick of not including wireless CarPlay/Android Auto support in this adapter. With its Wi-Fi ability already available, the hardware is inside and ready for it. A simple side switch to flip between these functions would add even more reason to buy such a device. Hopefully, they are listening and we may see this feature come soon enough as the next evolution for these type of adapters.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 – Brief overview
0:48 – Unboxing
1:13 – Features & Design
2:13 – Installation & Boot-Up Menu
3:21 – Amazon Fire TV Stick on CarPlay
4:28 – Preview CarlinKit adapter
5:14 – YouTube sync test
6:47 – Can it do 4K 60fps?
7:29 – Netflix sync test
8:58 – Gaming on Fire TV Stick
10:23 – Google Chromecast CarPlay Test
11:02 – YouTube sync test
11:54 – Can it do 4K 60fps?
12:20 – Netflix sync test
12:51 – My Impressions
