![]() ![]() You're not sure where you would place it.You would rather use something with an app.You know exactly where you would place it.You want your phone free wirelessly charge.You drive a vehicle with no other option but wired Android Auto.Not a big deal, in the grander scheme, but something to consider if you feel the device could somehow get in the way. Placement is a tricky business if faced with situational challenges like that. They might even be in front of a wireless charging pad. They can be at the front or in the center console. This matters more because of the USB ports' location in the car. I do like that it doesn't leave residue, only it also struggles to stick to textured surfaces, which are pretty common in dashboards and vehicle interiors. It also struggles to stick to textured surfaces, which are pretty common in dashboards and vehicle interiors.Īlso, the adhesive pad Motorola provides isn't the best. ![]() I'm just not sure about further down the line, and for someone who isn't as tech-savvy, troubleshooting this thing would feel tenuous. My second review unit worked without issue, so I can't complain. Motorola's troubleshooting steps are limited, and the factory reset is likely going to be your go-to in case things really go awry. If the light is solid, yet you're not getting a connection, it's hard to understand what to do. For instance, flashing green means the device is trying to connect, and a solid light means it has. The LED is the only indication that something might be wrong, but even then, it's not a tell. I also bring up software and troubleshooting because it's hard to know what to do to fix anything that might come up, or even if the MA1 is responsible. ![]() Losing that connection means the MA1 is running blind. ![]() You may never run into any problems, and resetting it might never be an issue, but as a piece of advice, I would try the reset process first before unpairing it from your phone, in case you're troubleshooting anything. It's one of the potential pitfalls of a device that, while singularly focused, doesn't have an easy way to interface with it when something doesn't seem right. I didn't try factory resetting the second one, but it otherwise functioned without any connectivity problems. I bring this up because the original MA1 Motorola sent me failed to factory reset properly, so they sent a replacement owing to the original possibly being defective. To do so, you have to put it back to factory settings through a series of button presses where the LED changes color to indicate its status. Bluetooth pairings don't make the transition, even if you are migrating from one phone directly to another, which means you have to pair the MA1 all over again. One of my concerns with the MA1 is what happens when it's time to switch phones or vehicles. I could always plug in through a 12V socket charger if I wanted to charge the phone faster. It was pretty negligible, and even at lower battery levels, I was fine. I mostly tested it with the Pixel 6 Pro, and at worst, the MA1 just sipped a little power over the course of a drive. It's not a perfect transition, mind you, and I'll get to that, but general usability left a lot to like.Įven better was that the wireless connection didn't kill my phone's battery. The interface was just as responsive, steering wheel controls work the same way, and so do voice commands. What's even better is that, despite the slower startup, the rest of the Android Auto experience doesn't feel any different. Get a third-party dock, and you've got a pretty slick setup inside the cabin. Using the MA1 alters that reality in a big way, including if your car doesn't have a wireless charging pad. There are plenty out there that have them - yet also force you to plug in to use Android Auto, which charges the phone at the same time anyway. That is one of the pain points the MA1 can solve, which is to make a wireless charger actually useful, especially if you're driving a vehicle that includes it. (Image credit: Ted Kritsonis / Android Central) ![]()
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