UGREEN Bluetooth 5.4 Aux Car Adapter, [Enhanced Connection & Noise Cancellation], Bluetooth Aux Receiver with Nylon Braided Cable, Plug & Play for Car Music/Hands-Free Calls/Stereo Audio

Why it's worth it

The CM596 is a wired dongle — aux plug on one end, USB power on the other, no battery to remember to charge. Bluetooth 5.4 connects within a few seconds of starting the car, and the inline buttons handle tracks, volume and calls.

It's the simplest thing here that works. Plug the 3.5mm end into your aux jack, the USB end into a power port, and start the car. It pairs on its own from then on. There's no app, no configuration screen and nothing to charge overnight, which is exactly what you want in a car you share or lend out.

Bluetooth 5.4 is current tech for very little money. Plenty of adapters at this level still ship with years-old chipsets that drop out and drain your phone faster. This one holds a steady link out to about 32 feet, which is far more than the distance between your pocket and the dashboard. Connection complaints are what push people to replace these things, and 5.4 is the best insurance available down here.

From our review of 10 car bluetooth and aux adapters, by Ben Carter, Tech Editor

What we like

• +It's the simplest thing here that works
• +Bluetooth 5.4 is current tech for very little money
• +The cable is built for a console
• +Everyday listening sounds clean

What to know

• –The buttons are loud and stiff
• –Calls are the weak spot
• –Quality control isn't perfect