In this review, I look at the MMB Mini Wireless Apple CarPlay Adapter. You can buy this adapter for just $44.10 direct from the MMB store using my coupon code carplaylife for 10%-off – https://bit.ly/mmbmini, or on Amazon US for $41.99 – https://amzn.to/4dE59Yl, £27.99 from Amazon UK –https://amzn.to/3Z27yri, and €44.99 from Amazon DE – https://amzn.to/3X2XzPN. Or if you aren’t in a rush you can buy from the MMB AliExpress store for $23.09/£18.99/€21.39 – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DDx6CL9
TLDR: The MMB Mini is a very compact wireless CarPlay adapter that measures just 37mm long, 24mm wide, and 15mm deep. It comes with a USB-A to USB-C adapter for modern car USB ports. Despite its tiny size, the MMB Mini performs well, with wireless CarPlay connecting in 10 seconds. While it may not be the absolute fastest, it offers a good balance of speed and features at a competitive sub-$49 price point. The small size helps keep your car’s USB ports and dashboard tidy. Overall, the MMB Mini is a capable and discreet wireless adapter option.
Wireless adapters have been shrinking heavily over the last few months of releases. They’ve gone from large cable and box-sized things to USB sticks the size of thumb drives. MMB has released their latest Mini wireless adapters for both wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto that have a new crowning level of shrinkage at just 37mm in total length, 24mm in width × 15mm in depth.
Features & Design
In the box, you get a paper instruction manual, the Mini adapter itself, and a USB A to C adapter for more modern car USB ports.
The MMB Mini adapter certainly lives up to what its name suggests. It is tiny. These wireless adapters used to fill the size of my palm, but now the Mini breaks new territory as one of the smallest to date and isn’t that far off being the size of the tip of my thumb.
There isn’t much to put in or on this adapter, with it being so small. There is simply the USB connection socket and the tiny case that houses the circuit board. On top, there is a status LED light and MMB branding on its shiny plastic top and bottom exterior, and some passive cooling holes around the thicker edge of the adapter.
Installation & Boot-Up
Installation is simply done by inserting the MMB Mini adapter directly into your CarPlay/Android Auto port. There are no additional cables to worry about or get faulty. Its size helps keep any compartments neat and tidy and exposed dashboard USB sockets free from cable clutter or an unsightly mass of hanging dongles from the car’s USB port. There is a method to this adapter’s size and for some, it will bring much added value to your car interior aesthetic.
Booting up into the adapter’s main menu took 13 seconds. It isn’t the fastest adapter but I’d say it sits in the middle of adapters tested. Unlike MMB, the menu displays a more basic UI that just displays the firmware and BT profile ID that your iPhone needs to connect to. Tapping on this profile on your iPhone Bluetooth settings page will soon see wireless CarPlay connect in 10 seconds. It is the second fastest to the Cuarko in my tests. However, its actual total connection time from the boot is less rapid, ranking 9th overall in my tests.
Wireless Apple CarPlay Performance
Once in CarPlay, everything ran well. Its frame rate and delay were a little longer than what we’ve been used to in recent faster adapters, but the 2-3second delay in audio and navigation can likely be improved by heading into the adapter’s IP config area and setting the Audio delay to 400ms from its default 1000ms setting. Doing so makes this display a little more rapid overall and more competitive against its rivals.
The audio and call quality are decent and the call return delay was good too. Overall, this MMB Mini just works and its latest August 24 update brings some welcome features in its IP config menu. Options such as start delay, audio quality, background mode and GPS passthrough (which is present in the config menu, but I have had it confirmed that the hardware does NOT support it (sigh)), alongside audio delay and forced display, all key features that help address performance and compatibility between vehicles.
My Impressions
The MMB Mini is a good all-rounder as a wireless adapter. It’s a shame there isn’t any multi-user support, or even joint 2-in-1 support for both wireless CP and AA – MMB does have their similar Mini Wireless Android Auto Adapter, but its low price more than makes up for that. Currently selling for $49, the Wireless Mini Adapter from MMB offers a well-performing adapter in a tiny and discreet package, and all at a very competitive price point. It may seem small, but the Mini is certainly punching above its weight.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 – Brief overview
0:47 – Unboxing
1:06 – Features, design & size
2:42 – Installation & demo
3:09 – BT pairing connection
3:38 – Performance
4:02 – Audio delay test
4:29 – Calling delay & microphone test
4:59 – IP config menu
5:44 – Updating adapter
6:19 – Audio delay improvements
7:42 – My Impressions
