OneCarStereo OneTouch Review: Wireless CarPlay for a Wired-Only 2020 RAV4

This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from Japan, so the product link goes to the maker's Japanese online store. OneCarStereo provided the unit for this review (sponsored).

Quick take

The OneTouch is a tiny USB dongle that turns wired-only Apple CarPlay (and Android Auto) into wireless. In my 2020 RAV4 it worked, reconnected automatically after the first setup, and finally let me use CarPlay while my iPhone sits on a MagSafe charging mount. The two catches: streaming apps that block mirroring (Netflix) won't show up, and the dongle gets very hot.

OneCarStereo OneTouch with its USB-C adapter

What I tested

OneCarStereo OneTouch (USB-A, with a USB-C adapter in the box)
A 2020 Toyota RAV4, whose head unit only supports wired CarPlay
An iPhone, for wireless CarPlay and AirPlay screen mirroring

What I found

OneCarStereo OneTouch plugged into the RAV4's USB port

Plug it into the car's data USB port and the head unit shows CarPlay, Android Auto, AirPlay and Miracast options.
Mirroring: after joining the dongle's Wi-Fi from the iPhone, Screen Mirroring worked. My own videos played with sound, and YouTube played fine — the mirror stayed on while driving (for the passenger, obviously). Videos from the Photos app showed up a little small.
Netflix did not display. Apps that block screen mirroring won't work, so this is not a way to watch any service in the car.
Wireless CarPlay: you disconnect the car's Bluetooth, pair the iPhone with the dongle over Bluetooth, and CarPlay appears. After that first setup, choosing CarPlay connects automatically when you start the car.
You can't mirror while CarPlay is active; switching back meant turning off the iPhone's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi first.
Heat: after use the dongle was almost too hot to hold. I had the air conditioning off while filming, which probably made it worse, but I'd leave some airflow around it.

Who it's for

Drivers whose car only has wired CarPlay or Android Auto and who don't want to replace the car for wireless
Anyone who charges on a MagSafe car mount — this was the biggest win for me, since I no longer have to choose between charging on the mount and plugging in for CarPlay
Not for you if your car already has wireless CarPlay, or if you mainly want to stream Netflix-type apps on the car screen

Watch the review

【超小型で挿すだけ】有線CarPlayがワイヤレスに。OneCarStereo OneTouchをRAV4で試す【スマホミラーリングもできる】

The video is in Japanese; captions can be auto-translated on YouTube. Useful chapters: 02:26 installing in the RAV4, 03:31 AirPlay mirroring, 06:07 Netflix test, 06:55 wireless CarPlay, 09:41 heat.

Limitations

I tested one car (a 2020 RAV4) with an iPhone; I didn't test Android Auto. The heat check was by hand, not with a thermometer. The regular price was ¥14,199 at the time of recording.