10 Gadgets You Can Plug Into Your Car's USB Port
Most new cars and SUVs are tech-laden. The feature lists on them are mostly extensive. Carmakers pack their vehicles with equipment that improves comfort, adds convenience, and elevates the overall experience inside. Sunroofs, connected car tech, ventilated seats and ADAS are all becoming increasingly popular in India. Despite being a common find on most car models, one simple feature is often overlooked by many- USB ports! People often fail to notice the additional gadgetisation opportunities that these bring along. Here are 10 smart accessories you can buy on Amazon that can be plugged into your car’s USB port and be used to level up your in-car time!
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have become extremely popular in India. These facilitate seamless smartphone connectivity and minimise distractions and have become integral parts of car infotainment. Previously, you would connect your phone to the vehicle’s infotainment unit through the main USB port to access these.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto suites allow you to do the same via Bluetooth. You don’t have to use the USB cable in this case. These are now being offered even on mass-market models.
If your car doesn’t have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a simple gadget can fix it. This wireless adapter is essentially a dongle that can be plugged into the car’s main USB port. You can then pair your phone with it, and the device connects seamlessly with the infotainment unit. In short, you end up having a wireless Apple Carplay or Android Auto connection even when your infotainment head unit doesn’t support it...
Several wireless Carplay/Android Auto adapters are available on Amazon. Some even let you stream videos on the infotainment screen using dedicated apps.
Most new cars and SUVs come with air purifiers and AQI displays. In the post-pandemic world, more people want these in their cars. If your car doesn’t come with one, head to Amazon and buy one. Most of these can sit comfortably in one of the cup holders and work using in-built batteries. These can be plugged into the car’s USB port for recharging. There are also models that draw power directly from the USB port.
In many of our previous articles, we’ve talked about the rising importance of dashcams. Many of them draw power from the vehicle’s USB port, while some can be connected to the 12V socket. Relying on USBs for power, in a way, makes them extra-safe by avoiding wiring or power related complexities. Making changes to a car’s stock wiring isn’t recommended. If not done properly, this can have serious consequences, including short circuits.
In 2025, almost everyone will know what Amazon Alexa is. The ‘Echo Auto’ is a gadget that ‘brings Alexa to your car’ with most of its features. Carmakers have lately started integrating Alexa into the vehicles’ infotainment systems. This has, in a way, rendered this gadget obsolete to some extent. If your car lacks it, invest in this gadget!
The Echo Auto device comes with five microphones and picks up voice commands effectively. It relies on the car’s USB port for power. The actual pairing with the car’s infotainment units happens via Bluetooth. This device, however, needs your smartphone’s internet connectivity for functioning. In addition to playing music, making calls, and other common functions, you can use Echo Auto even for controlling Alexa-compatible home devices.
Ambient lighting plays a key role in setting the mood inside a vehicle. If done right, it can elevate the overall cabin experience. If your car doesn’t come with factory-fitted ambient lights or if you’re not happy with the ones offered, there are affordable Amazon finds that can add ambient lights to your car.
There are ambient lighting strips that can be placed inside with selectable colours, and even projector setups that project different light patterns onto your car’s roof, mimicking the effect of Starlight roof liners. These lights need to be connected to the USB port for their power needs.
Another useful gadget is this USB-powered car fan. It can be mounted on the headrest of front seats and will improve the air circulation and cooling at the rear. This can be particularly useful if your car doesn’t have rear air vents, or if you simply need an additional set of blowers! Some models even come with adjustable fan speeds and small lighting setups.
If you read an extra reading lamp inside the car, here’s an Amazon find. This light has a flexible leg and can be connected to the car’s USB port and be used to light up a small area inside the cabin. This isn’t an exclusive car gadget. You can even use it in the office or at home, powered by USB ports of your laptops or even a power bank.
Portable vacuum cleaners can be very useful in keeping your car’s interior clean. Cordless vacuum cleaners are quite popular. These can be charged using the car’s USB ports. There are also models that draw power from the vehicle’s 12V socket.
Most cars today come equipped with multiple USB ports. If you need more, you can use a hub splitter. This device can be connected to the car’s primary USB port. The device itself has multiple USBs, which can be used to charge multiple devices. Using these, in most cases, will not damage the car’s power systems or battery.
This is the most common use of USB ports. Most of us use these ports to recharge our smartphones, GoPro cameras and wearables.