

Even though this is a nice convenience, it’s not entirely necessary, since many phones already offer hands-free digital assistants. You can also hold this button down for two seconds to trigger Siri or Google Assistant, depending on your phone (the Anker models we tested couldn’t do this, either).



The large multifunction button in the center of the Besign lets you pause and resume music or end a call, and it’s easy to find and press by feel, even when you’re keeping your eyes on the road.
BLUETOOTH ADAPTER FOR CAR BLUETOOTH
Two clearly marked buttons on the front of the unit offer track-forward and track-back control-which may sound like an obvious feature, but it was one that we found lacking on several models, including the Roav by Anker Bluetooth Receiver and the Anker Soundsync A3352. If it connects to the wrong phone-or doesn’t connect, for some reason-you can disable the Bluetooth on the other phone, or re-pair by simply holding down the large center button until you hear a long tone (you might need to press the multifunction button one more time to actually reconnect it can be a bit finicky). The only drawback is that it’s mildly inconvenient if you share a car with another person-the BK01 reconnects to the last device it was connected to. Many models promise this kind of automatic connection, but the Besign actually pulled it off consistently in our tests. Once the Besign is paired with your phone, it will immediately reconnect each time you turn the car on. When you first plug it into your car’s 12 V port, it automatically turns on in pairing mode other models we tested require you to push a combination of buttons for pairing (this can also increase the chance that you’ll accidentally hit those buttons during use, setting you back to pairing mode while on the road). The Besign BK01 is also easy to set up and use. Owner reviews: We eliminated anything with an overwhelming number of negative owner reviews, or any model that had accumulated a suspicious number of reviews over a short period of time.With that in mind, we limited our most recent sweep to brands that have a reputation for good quality and service and that offer a reliable warranty. Amazon sells hundreds of no-name brands that offer their own take on these products. Reputation: These kits are cheap and plentiful.We didn’t consider any kit that didn’t include at least one USB-charging port that you can use while the transmitter is plugged in-if you’re using your phone for streaming and conversations, it stands to reason that you will want to charge it, too. Power: Most kits rely on USB adapters to plug into your car’s 12 V accessory power (aka “cigarette lighter”) outlet.Ease of use: We specifically looked for models that automatically reconnect with a paired phone when you start the car, and for those with clearly labeled buttons and other controls.We didn’t consider any kit that lacked either of these features. Music and phone-call functionality: If you want to replicate a native Bluetooth experience, you need a model that can play music as well as make phone calls.(Because Bluetooth speakerphones are designed specifically for phone calls, with those models we focused less on music capabilities and more on sound quality for calls.) There’s no point in having the ability to listen to music and podcasts from your phone or to take phone calls unless you have clear, functional, and enjoyable sound-both for listening and for speaking. Audio quality: This is by far the most important factor in purchasing a Bluetooth car kit.
