This Cheap Gadget Turns Any Car’s Info Center Into a Smart TV

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With Amazon’s Fire TV Stick, one of its key advantages is that it allows you to take your streaming anywhere. Most people already know that you can use it to keep up with your TV shows, movies, and games, even when you’re in a hotel. However, one cool thing to know about your Amazon Fire TV Stick is that you can use it in your car with the right gadget, like the Carlinkit FireDrive Link Pro.

Designed to turn your car’s built-in screen into a smart TV, it allows you to access a range of Fire TV Stick features, depending on your specific car. For example, it allows you to stream content from partners and play cloud games with Amazon Luna. Of course, for safety reasons, these features should only be used when the vehicle is parked. You can also use the same HDMI port to enjoy other types of media, such as videos and movies with a display of up to 2K HD at 30fps, and use the wireless CarPlay features with your mobile phone. Additionally, you can adjust the view to zoom, fill the display, or preserve the original aspect ratio.

Weighing 46 grams, the Carlinkit FireDrive Link Pro is a compact product measuring 122.5 by 34 by 23 millimeters with a Fire TV Stick slot. Out of the box, it includes the unit, USB-C adapter, power/data Y cable, and power supply adapters. While it’s not a perfect product with peppery issues from dissatisfied customers regarding audio delay, connectivity, and staying on even when the car isn’t on, most reviewers think it does its job well. That is, if your car and your cell phone are compatible with it.

Since it is not permanently attached, you can move the Carlinkit FireDrive Link Pro to different vehicles. While the manufacturer says it works with most CarPlay systems, it also mentions some important limitations. For example, Carlinkit says it is not designed to work with other traditional wireless systems, such as those used by Tesla and BMW. Although Carlinkit claims it works with 98% of cars equipped with wired CarPlay. In its Amazon listing, it talks up the likes of high-end, luxury brands like Audi, Porsche, and Mazda. And you can expect it to work with Honda, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Ford, Citroen, Volvo, and Volkswagen.

Additionally, you cannot pair the Carlink FireDrive Link Pro with all smartphones. Apple users need an iPhone 6 or higher with at least iOS 10 installed, while Android owners should make sure their phone is running at least Android 11. For compatible phones, you’ll need to turn on your iPhone and Bluetooth to connect and use the wireless CarPlay features. While you don’t really need the Fire TV Stick integration, Carlinkit also sells the $36 CarPlay Wireless Adapter MiNi SE 2025, which also gives you a wireless experience with full Apple CarPlay features.

Although it doesn’t have many reviews yet, early feedback from Amazon users for the Carlinkit FireDrive Link Pro has been very positive. With an average rating of 4.1 stars from 78 customers, more than half of users (55%) gave it an excellent rating. Generally, people think it’s easy to set up, works as expected, and integrates seamlessly with the Fire TV Stick. In fact, one user mentioned that they have tried similar products from other brands, but found this to be the best in initial pairing and streaming quality.

For its price point, a few people thought the build felt premium. One reviewer raised a unique concern, which is that it can stay on even when your car is not running. To reduce the lag, someone also shared that it is important to upgrade to the latest firmware and sync the sound on your Fire TV Stick.

Only about 4% of users thought it was a waste of money and rated it as one star. Among the most commonly cited concerns, people share connectivity issues. In another review, the owner of Carlinkit mentioned that they initially gave it five stars and even said “a must have for truckers who want to have fun on the road!” However, they decided to downgrade due to a sudden loss of communication and poor after-sales customer support a few weeks later.