Android Auto and CarPlay seem like standard features these days in 2025. Any new vehicle most likely has the option in some form or fashion to have your phone take over the infotainment system. Cars are long-term investments, and while the latest and greatest has this system in place, you don’t have to travel back in time long to find a car without them.
The maker of many popular wireless adapters for Auto/CarPlay, Ottocast, now offers a single solution for older model vehicles. With the new Ottocast Portable Smart Screen, you get Android Auto and CarPlay in a separate device for pretty much any car made after the early 2000s.
Design and Setup
As mentioned, the Ottocast Smart Screen is an all-in-one solution for CarPlay or Auto. The portable screen has internals that mimic that of a car screen, built into the screen and mount combo. With just a power adapter and a way to push audio to your speakers, you have a solution.
Even the speaker part is pretty seamless and optional. There’s an internal speaker if you just had to function with it, although it’s not great in the volume department. Thankfully, you can use a 3.5mm audio auxiliary jack found in many cars, or even FM transmission, to get the Ottocast pumping tunes in no time.
Power is provided via a cigarette port charging cable over USB-C in the back of the Ottocast Smart Screen. Once powered up, you have options for general Bluetooth connection to devices, an Android Auto button, CarPlay button, or dash cam. Yes, it even has a dedicated dash cam. If you’ve ever setup Auto or CarPlay on another unit, it’s the exact same for the Ottocast. The prompts give you a device name to connect over Bluetooth, and then your phone of choice will take over the rest of the onboarding.
Daily Use
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the Ottocast Smart Screen. I don’t currently have a car that doesn’t have it built into the existing system, but I did throw this guy on the dash of my wife’s Jeep to give it a test run. Using the aux jack and provided 3.5mm cable, I had it set up and ready in less than five minutes.
Mounting it was done easily with the provided adhesive on the bottom of the stand and has screw ports with included hardware if you needed a permanent solution. Using the Ottocast has been just like any other offering from a factory automotive company. You have a base system with the icons for entering your Auto or CarPlay interface and the rest is exactly the same, just on a portable screen you can place anywhere.
Instantly modernize any car with the Ottocast Portable Smart Screen, bringing seamless Android Auto and CarPlay to your dashboard in minutes, no tools required.
Final Thoughts
Awarded to products with an average rating of 3.75 stars or higher, the AndroidGuys Smart Pick recognizes a balance of quality, performance, and value. It stands out in design, innovation, and user experience, delivering great functionality at a competitive price.
It’s a niche market, but I think the Ottocast Portable Smart Screen has a ton of potential for the right buyers. I immediately thought of my farming family and older farm trucks or even tractors that this accessory offers an immediate upgrade with zero tools. The same is true for some like industrial box trucks or conversion vans.
You can snag your Ottocast Portable Smart Screen from the company directly now for just $130. While you can probably find after market in dash solutions in a similar price range, you won’t find any of them as easy to install.