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Older car? This genius gadget streams tunes and charges your phone — and it's down to $14

What is it?

Older car? No problem! This little device makes it easy to connect your phone to your vehicle, even if your phone is brand-spanking-new and your ride is not. 

$18 at Amazon

If you own an older car, chances are there's nothing on its dashboard that can stream music or charge a phone. But we discovered a brilliant little gadget that'll allow you to bring your jalopy into the 21st century. Amazon has a bunch of high-quality USB car chargers, but we found a particularly great one that’s currently on sale. The Imden Bluetooth 5.0 FM Transmitter — now just $14 — comes with two USB-A ports, and we're willing to bet that it's speedier than the wall charger that came with your phone. And shoppers seem to agree; more than 20,000 reviewers have given it a five-star rating.

What makes this a good deal?

The Imden Bluetooth Transmitter is more affordable than it's been in a long time, and it's a lot cheaper than buying a new car that's Bluetooth compatible by default! Oh, and it's over 50% off.

Why do I need this?

As its name makes clear, this unit isn't just about charging. The Imden Bluetooth 5.0 FM Transmitter plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter and instantly enables it for Bluetooth via your phone. Once plugged in, you can tune it to an unused FM radio frequency to pair it to your car (use RadioLocator.com to find one in your area).

Then just pair your phone to the car charger ... and that’s it! Now you can stream your favorite music and podcasts from your phone to your car’s speakers from an unused broadcast frequency. Best of all? It's in complete surround sound without any radio static or interference. You can even use it for hands-free phone calls thanks to its built-in microphone.

Have I mentioned that this USB car charger is fast? Its two USB-A ports deliver speeds up to 80% faster than traditional car chargers, and one of them uses quick-charge 3.0 technology, so it's even faster. Now your phone can go from zero to fully juiced in minutes instead of hours.

It even protects against over-charging, short-circuiting, over-voltage, over-discharge and more. Translation: Your phone won’t get fried. This car charger is ideal for Android and Apple smartphones and can also be used for topping-off power battery banks, tablets and GPS devices.

Convert your car into a smart car instantly. (Photo: Amazon)
Convert your car into a smart car instantly. (Photo: Amazon)

What reviewers say:

"Need a quick charger for my phone," one reviewer said. "I wanted to hook up my phone for music in my car, but didn't want to tear out the radio and go through the expense of buying a new radio. Those cassette radio adapters look goofy and never seem to work, and they don't charge your phone. So I got this little device, and I am glad I did. It sticks in your cigarette lighter and has a USB port to plug in your phone charge cord."

"I have gone through quite a few on these transmitters as I have always had older cars, and this one is by far the best one I've had. It's very easy to use and has great features. The quality is great when the service is there. Would definitely recommend!" said one five-star fan.

One shopper warned, "Works well—the Bluetooth signal is strong and works great for music. The only downside is it says 'CONNECTING' very loud when you turn on your car, so need to remember to turn the volume way down or you'll blow your eardrums."

At just $14 (was $30), the Imden USB Car Charger is a hidden gem. Get it while you can.

Enjoy all the beauty of Spotify without the need for one of those weird cassette adapters. 

$18 at Amazon

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)

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