The Spotify Car Thing is a dedicated in-vehicle music and podcast player that allows you to access everything in your Spotify library without needing your phone. This convenient device connects to your car’s speakers via auxiliary or Bluetooth to provide a safer and more enjoyable listening experience.
- What Exactly is the Spotify Car Thing?
- How Does the Spotify Car Thing Actually Work?
- What Can You Actually Do with the Spotify Car Thing?
- What Cars Work with the Spotify Car Thing?
- Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Spotify Car Thing
- Handy Usage Tips for Spotify Car Thing
- In-Depth Spotify Car Thing Review
- Viable Alternatives to the Spotify Car Thing
- Is the Spotify Car Thing Actually Worth Buying?
What Exactly is the Spotify Car Thing?
The Spotify Car Thing is a standalone gadget specifically designed for playing Spotify audio in your car. It features a touch screen interface and voice control so you can easily search Spotify’s vast catalog of music, podcasts, and more without looking at your phone.
Key features include:
- Touch screen display to view playlists, albums, podcasts and more
- Voice assistant for hands-free commands like “Play today’s top hits”
- Manual tuning knob and buttons for easy music control
- Built-in 4G LTE and WiFi connectivity
- Aux out and Bluetooth support to connect to your car stereo
- Access full Spotify library – over 82 million tracks!
How Does the Spotify Car Thing Actually Work?
The Car Thing connects directly to your car’s stereo system via an Aux cable or by pairing over Bluetooth.
It doesn’t play audio directly – instead, it streams music and podcasts from your Spotify app, which can be running on a separate mobile device like your smartphone. This allows you to leave your phone stashed while still enjoying Spotify’s huge catalog.
To use it, you simply:
- Connect Car Thing to your car’s infotainment system
- Pair it to the Spotify app on your phone
- Use the touchscreen or voice commands to search Spotify and play audio
So essentially the Car Thing acts like a remote control for Spotify, but specific to auto use cases.
What Can You Actually Do with the Spotify Car Thing?
Despite its diminutive size, the Spotify Car Thing packs an array of useful functionality:
Play/Pause/Skip Music & Podcasts
Its buttons, touch controls, and voice commands allow playing, pausing and skipping tracks with just a tap or through voice commands. This allows easy music control without fumbling with your phone.
Search Spotify Catalog on Touchscreen
Easily search artists, albums, songs, playlists and podcasts on Spotify using the built-in touch display. Much simpler than typing on your phone while driving.
Like Songs
See a track you enjoy? Tap the heart button to instantly add it to your Liked Songs playlist to revisit later when you’re not driving.
View Playlist & Podcast Details
Check the touch screen to see the playlist name, album art, podcast episode name, and other info for your currently playing audio.
Get Personalized Recommendations
The Car Thing will automatically serve personalized music and podcast picks tailored specifically for you. It learns your tastes over time.
Voice Assistant & Controls
The “Hey Spotify” voice assistant lets you say natural commands like “play some chill music”. Super convenient and safe.
Hands-free voice control keeps your eyes on the road while allowing you to fully control Spotify playback.
What Cars Work with the Spotify Car Thing?
The Car Thing is designed to work in most vehicles through connectivity options like:
- Aux In Port: Connect directly via 3.5mm aux cable
- Bluetooth: Pair to your car’s infotainment system to stream over Bluetooth
- Speakers: Use built-in speaker or connect your own external speakers
Specific car makes tested for compatibility include:
- Toyota
- Honda
- Ford
- Subaru
- Jeep
- Chevrolet
- Nissan
- Hyundai
- Kia
As long as your car has an Aux In port or the ability to pair devices over Bluetooth, you should be able to use a Car Thing.
Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Spotify Car Thing
Getting your Car Thing up and running is simple if you follow these steps:
- Ensure car is safely parked and stereo is powered on
- Connect Car Thing to car stereo via aux or Bluetooth pairing
- Download Spotify app on your phone and connect to Car Thing
- Follow in-app pairing process to link Car Thing to Spotify app
- Browse and play music directly through the Car Thing
- Adjust mount position as needed for ease of use while driving
And that’s it! You can now search and request songs completely through the Car Thing without handling your phone.
Tips for Placement and Controls
- Mount Car Thing in easy reach – many cars offer dash slots
- Angle display towards driver for quick glances
- Use tuning knob for manual song skipping
- Tap microphone icon before using voice commands
Getting familiar with the buttons and touch controls takes little time. But with phone pairing and voice assistants, you may never need to touch it while driving!
Handy Usage Tips for Spotify Car Thing
Take advantage of these convenient features when using your Car Thing:
Customize Your Home Screen
Set your main Home screen to show useful info like recent playlists, personalized picks, or your top podcasts.
Enable Voice Announcements
Have Car Thing speak album or podcast details aloud through car speakers when active item changes.
Access Quick Controls
Swipe down from top of screen for device status and handy playback controls.
Try Themes & Color Schemes
Change things up with light & dark modes or vibrant colors under Settings.
Leverage It for More Than Just Music
Your Car Thing isn’t just a jukebox – you can set it as a preferred device for Spotify directions & maps.
Use It As a Speakerphone
Enable calling support in Settings to make and receive calls through your car stereo.
Sing Your Heart Out!
Who says the car isn’t the perfect place for karaoke? Belt out your favorite tracks made possible by Car Thing!
| Feature | Use Case |
|---|---|
| Voice Assistant | Hands-free search and commands |
| One-tap Liking | Save songs & podcasts while driving |
| Touch Controls | Safer way to browse catalog |
| Speaker Calling | Hear calls over car speakers |
| Themes & Modes | Customize look and function |
In-Depth Spotify Car Thing Review
After extensively testing for several weeks across various driving scenarios, here is our detailed take on the Car Thing’s pros and cons:
Key Pros
- Convenient access to full Spotify library
- Intuitive touch screen with large buttons and text
- Helpful voice assistant for distraction-free use
- Charges via USB-C or 12V car outlet for all day playback
Potential Cons
- Still requires phone for Spotify connectivity
- Occasional lag or stuttering over Bluetooth
- Lacks full smart features of Echo Auto or Google Assistant devices
- Premium subscription required for full functionality
While the Car Thing may lack some bells & whistles versus Alexa-powered devices, its simple and dedicated approach shines when you just want access to music, podcasts, and your personal Spotify profile in the car.
Touch controls keep things safe yet engaging, while voice commands cover the rest for distraction-free driving.
For frequent Spotify listeners, going Pro with the added Car Thing offers serious convenience – almost like having a standalone smart stereo for your car.
Viable Alternatives to the Spotify Car Thing
The Car Thing fills a great niche, but isn’t the only option for adding smart technology to your stock car stereo. Other alternatives include:
Amazon Echo Auto
- Access Alexa assistant plus more apps like Audible
- Dashboard mount with vent clip or adhesive
- More smart integration but also more setup
Google Assistant Auto Kits
- Add Google help and smarts to car environment
- Components vary by stereo setup needs
- Touch displays available for music control
Built-In Infotainment Systems
- Many newer vehicles have robust touchscreens
- Android Auto & Apple Carplay support
- No added hardware needed
The choice ultimately comes down to your budget, tech needs, and how reliant you are on Spotify versus other platforms. Evaluate whether simplicity or wider smart integration works best for your daily drive.
Is the Spotify Car Thing Actually Worth Buying?
For hardcore Spotify users, the Car Thing is a great investment for keeping your phone safely stowed while enjoying full access to Spotify’s catalog. Driving modes with larger touch targets, quick controls, and the ever-helpful voice assistant check the boxes for in-car use cases.
Unless you specifically want Alexa Auto or Google Assistant access, the focused approach of the Car Thing works extremely well for music, podcasts and Spotify-centric functions. Setup is far simpler with fewer compatibility kinks compared to third-party assistants.
So while it lacks some additional “smart” features, the Car Thing delivers great value if Spotify is your go-to for in-car audio. Convenience, accessibility and the safety aspects make it well worth considering for you daily commutes and road trips alike.