Android AI Boxes that plug into your car’s CarPlay port: YouTube, Netflix and apps on the car screen, plus wireless CarPlay and Android Auto.
How to choose
- Check RAM first: 8GB (Tbox Plus, Max, UHD, Ultra, Ultra 3, Ottocast P3) runs apps smoothly; 2–4GB is fine for one video app.
- A SIM slot means internet without your phone hotspot.
- HDMI out (Tbox UHD, Ottocast P3) feeds rear-seat screens.
- Your car must have factory wired CarPlay; the Tbox Ultra 3 also works with factory wireless CarPlay, including BMW.
Full comparison
Swipe the table sideways on mobile. "Not published" means the maker does not state it.
Android AI Boxes (YouTube, Netflix and apps)
| Comparison point | Rikkt Smart Dongle | Rikkt Car Video Box | Carlinkit Tbox Basic | Carlinkit Tbox Lite | Ottocast Play2Video | Carlinkit Tbox Mini S | Ottocast P3 AI Box | Carlinkit Tbox Max | Carlinkit Tbox Plus | Carlinkit Tbox AR (with dash cam) | Carlinkit Tbox UHD | Carlinkit Tbox Ultra | Carlinkit Tbox Ultra 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The basics | |||||||||||||
| Device type | Android AI Box | Android AI Box | Android AI Box | Android AI Box | Video adapter | Android AI Box | Android AI Box | Android AI Box | Android AI Box | Android AI Box | Android AI Box | Android AI Box | Android AI Box |
| System | Full Android | Full Android | Full Android | Full Android | Closed system with built-in apps | Full Android | Full Android | Full Android | Full Android | Full Android | Full Android | Full Android | Full Android |
| Android version | Not published | Not published | Android 11 | Android 10 | – | Android 13 | Android 12 | Android 13 | Android 13 | Android 13 | Android 13 | Android 15 | Android 15 |
| Works without your phone | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Built-in apps only | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Performance | |||||||||||||
| Processor | Not published | Not published | Qualcomm QCM2290, 4-core | Allwinner A133, 4-core | Not published | Qualcomm SM6115, 8-core | Snapdragon 665, 8-core | Qualcomm 8-core (Adreno 610) | Qualcomm SM6125 / SM6225, 8-core | Qualcomm 8-core | Qualcomm SDM660 / SM6225, 8-core | Qualcomm SM6350, 8-core | Qualcomm SM6350, 8-core |
| RAM | Not published | 4GB | 2GB | 2GB | Not published | 4GB | 8GB | 8GB | 8GB | Not published | 8GB | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage | Not published | 32GB | 16GB | 32GB | Not published | 64GB | 128GB | 128GB | 128GB | Not published | 128GB | 128 / 256GB | 128GB |
| Memory card | Yes | Yes | Up to 256GB | Up to 512GB | Not published | Up to 512GB | Up to 256GB | Yes | Yes | 32–128GB | Up to 512GB | Up to 512GB | Up to 512GB |
| CarPlay & Android Auto | |||||||||||||
| Wireless CarPlay | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless Android Auto | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Connects by itself when you start the car | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Keeps the car touch screen, buttons and mic | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Siri / Google Assistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Entertainment | |||||||||||||
| YouTube & Netflix on the car screen | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Google Play (install apps) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Phone screen mirroring (AirPlay / Miracast) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Split screen | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| HDMI out (rear-seat screens) | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| HDMI in (TV stick, console, laptop) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Connectivity | |||||||||||||
| Internet for video | Phone hotspot or Wi-Fi | Phone hotspot or Wi-Fi | Phone hotspot or Wi-Fi | Phone hotspot or Wi-Fi | Phone hotspot | Its own SIM or phone hotspot | Its own SIM or phone hotspot | Its own SIM or phone hotspot | Its own SIM or phone hotspot | Its own SIM or phone hotspot | Its own SIM or phone hotspot | Its own SIM or phone hotspot | Its own SIM or phone hotspot |
| SIM card / 4G | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes + Cloud SIM | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, 5G |
| Wi-Fi | Not published | Dual-band 2.4 / 5 GHz | Dual-band 2.4 / 5 GHz | Dual-band 2.4 / 5 GHz | Not published | Dual-band 2.4 / 5 GHz | Yes | Dual-band 2.4 / 5 GHz | Dual-band 2.4 / 5 GHz | Dual-band 2.4 / 5 GHz | Dual-band 2.4 / 5 GHz | Dual-band 2.4 / 5 GHz | Dual-band 2.4 / 5 GHz |
| Bluetooth | Not published | 5.0 | 4.2 + 5.0 | 5.0 | Not published | 4.2 + 5.0 | Yes | 4.2 + 5.0 | 4.2 + 5.0 | 4.2 + 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| GPS | From your phone | From your phone | From your phone | From your phone | From your phone | Built-in | Built-in | From your phone | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in | Dual GPS (L1+L5) |
| Compatibility & installation | |||||||||||||
| Your car needs | Factory wired CarPlay | Factory wired CarPlay | Wired CarPlay / Android Auto (not BMW or wireless-CarPlay cars) | Wired CarPlay / Android Auto (not BMW) | Factory wired CarPlay | Factory wired CarPlay or Android Auto | Factory wired CarPlay | Wired CarPlay / Android Auto (not BMW) | Factory wired CarPlay or Android Auto | Factory wired CarPlay | Wired CarPlay / Android Auto (not BMW) | Wired CarPlay / Android Auto (not BMW or Geely) | Wired CarPlay / Android Auto or factory wireless CarPlay (incl. BMW) |
| iPhone | iPhone with iOS 10 or later | Not published | iPhone 6 or later, iOS 10+ | iPhone 6 or later, iOS 10+ | iPhone with iOS 10 or later | iPhone 6 or later, iOS 10+ | iPhone with iOS 10 or later | iPhone 6 or later, iOS 10+ | iPhone 6 or later, iOS 10+ | iPhone 6 or later, iOS 10+ | iPhone 6 or later, iOS 10+ | iPhone 6 or later, iOS 10+ | iPhone 6 or later, iOS 10+ |
| Android phone | Android 11 or later | Not published | Android 11 or later | Android 11 or later | Android 11 or later | Android 11 or later | Android 11 or later | Android 11 or later | Android 10+ (some need 11+) | Android 11 or later | Android 11 or later | Android 11 or later | Android 11 or later |
| Installation | Plug & play in the CarPlay USB port | Plug & play in the CarPlay USB port | Plug & play in the CarPlay USB port | Plug & play in the CarPlay USB port | Plug & play in the CarPlay USB port | Plug & play in the CarPlay USB port | Plug & play in the CarPlay USB port | Plug & play in the CarPlay USB port | Plug & play in the CarPlay USB port | Plug & play in the CarPlay USB port | Plug & play in the CarPlay USB port | Plug & play in the CarPlay USB port | Plug & play in the CarPlay USB port |
| Software updates | Not published | Not published | Over the air | Over the air | Over the air | Over the air | Over the air | Over the air | Over the air | Over the air | Over the air | Over the air | Over the air |
| Power use | Not published | Not published | 5W | Not published | Not published | 5W | Not published | 5W | 3W | Not published | 6W | 5W | 5W |
| Size | Not published | Not published | 79.8 × 79.8 × 14.7 mm | 77 × 49.5 × 12.8 mm | Not published | 79.8 × 79.8 × 14.7 mm | Not published | 79.8 × 79.8 × 14.7 mm | 79.8 × 79.8 × 14.7 mm | Not published | 90 × 84.9 × 17.1 mm | 90 × 84.9 × 17.1 mm | 85.5 × 85.5 × 13.6 mm |
| Extras | Watch It built in | 4K H.265 video, Shahid and Watch It | YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, TikTok built in | – | – | – | Remote control, CloudSIM | RGB ambient light | – | Built-in 1080P dash cam, 148°, emergency recording | USB port for a mouse or flash drive | – | 1.8" touch screen on the box, touchpad mode |
| Warranty | Not published | 12 months | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Our verdict | |||||||||||||
| Best for | YouTube & Netflix at a low price | Smoother apps, more storage | The cheapest way to video | Entry AI Box for video | Wireless CarPlay + YouTube & Netflix, no setup | A full Android box with a SIM at a lower price | SIM + HDMI for rear screens | 8GB + split screen at a mid price | The popular all-rounder | AI Box + dash cam in one | Rear-seat screens over HDMI | Android 15 power at a lower price | The newest and most powerful, works with BMW |
| Price (EGP) | 3,400 | 3,490 | 4,769 | 5,379 | 6,239 | 9,869 | 10,799 | 11,909 | 11,909 | 11,909 | 15,519 | 22,389 | 24,429 |
