The iCar Pro 2S is Vgate's newer Bluetooth adapter, built with electric and hybrid cars in mind. It sleeps at a few milliamps, wakes itself on EVs where the older iCar Pro could not, and works with iPhones, Android and Windows.
Here is a problem hybrid and EV owners run into with older adapters. You leave the dongle in the port, it goes to sleep as it should, and then it never wakes up because the car's electrical behaviour does not look like a gasoline car starting. Vgate's older iCar Pro Bluetooth 4.0 carries exactly that warning. The iCar Pro 2S fixes it.
Vgate says the 2S supports auto sleep and remote wake-up on all vehicles, and names electric and hybrid cars specifically. So you can open the app in a plug-in hybrid and the adapter answers, without reaching under the dash to reseat it.
For gasoline owners the wake-up improvement matters less, since the older model already wakes normally on those cars. The 2S still suits them as a newer, faster Bluetooth adapter. The iCar Pro BLE 4.0 remains the simpler choice for a gasoline daily driver.
Either way, the 2S reads the generic OBD2 data every adapter handles: stored codes, readiness monitors, freeze frame and live sensor data. Vgate does not name the chip inside, but the 2S speaks the ELM327 command set, which is why the usual OBD2 apps recognise it.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Vgate |
| Model | iCar Pro 2S BLE |
| Wireless link | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Data rate | Up to 3Mbps, as quoted by Vgate |
| Operating systems | iOS, Android, Windows |
| iOS connection | No Bluetooth pairing; connect in the app |
| Sleep current | As low as 3mA |
| Sleep and wake | Auto sleep and remote wake-up, including EVs and hybrids |
| CAN filters | Up to 208 groups of pass, block and flow control filters |
| Vehicles | OBD2-compliant domestic, Asian and European vehicles sold in the US |
| Diesel | 12V light diesel, 6.5 t or less, 1996 onward |
| Not supported | 24V diesel vehicles |
| Compatible apps | Torque, Car Scanner, Dr. Prius, OBD JScan, BimmerCode (app fees apply) |
| Power | From the vehicle's OBD2 port |
| In the box | Adapter and instructions |
EV data is busy. A battery pack reports cell voltages, temperatures and state of charge as a stream of CAN messages, and an app that wants to watch them has to pick the right messages out of the traffic. That is what CAN filters do, and Vgate says the iCar Pro 2S supports up to 208 groups of pass, block and flow control filters.
In plain terms, pass filters let wanted messages through, block filters drop the noise, and flow control handles the back-and-forth needed for long multi-frame replies. Basic adapters offer few filters, which limits how much an app can monitor at once. More filters give EV apps room to track more data without the adapter choking.
| What you want | App to try | What decides it |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid battery health on a Toyota or Lexus | Dr. Prius | The app's support for your model |
| EV battery and charging data | Car Scanner | A connection profile for your car |
| Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler data | OBD JScan | Model year and module coverage |
| BMW and Mini coding | BimmerCode | BimmerCode's model list |
Vgate notes that apps may charge fees for these features. The adapter unlocks the hardware side; the app decides what you see. A hybrid that shows full battery data in one app may show only basic engine values in another.
The ELM327 programs and apps page compares the main ones, and ELM327 car compatibility shows which brands need which kind of adapter.
The 2S keeps setup simple. On an iPhone you do not pair it in Bluetooth settings at all; you turn Bluetooth on and connect from inside the app. Android and Windows are supported too, so the adapter can follow you from phone to laptop.
Bluetooth 5.2 is a step up from the Bluetooth 4.0 in the older iCar Pro, and Vgate quotes data transfer up to 3Mbps. More headroom helps when an app polls many values at once, such as a live EV battery screen.
Because it is Bluetooth rather than Wi-Fi, your phone keeps its internet connection while you scan. Wi-Fi adapters take over the phone's Wi-Fi, which breaks maps and music for as long as the app is connected.
Vgate makes no MS-CAN claim for the 2S, so Ford owners who want FORScan body modules should read the FORScan adapter explainer first. Setup snags that apply to any Bluetooth adapter are covered in how to use an ELM327.
Plenty of Bluetooth LE adapters work on iPhones, so the question is what the 2S does better for your car. Its strengths are EV wake-up, the large filter count and the newer Bluetooth. Here is how it compares with the adapters most often cross-shopped against it.
| Adapter | Bluetooth | EV wake-up | Windows |
|---|---|---|---|
| iCar Pro 2S | 5.2 | Yes | Yes |
| iCar Pro BLE 4.0 | 4.0 | May need reinserting | On one version |
| Veepeak OBDCheck BLE+ | LE plus Classic | Not stated | No |
| LELink BLE | LE | Configurable auto on/off | No |
The Veepeak BLE+ is the one to consider if a household Android app needs Classic Bluetooth, or if you want paid ABS and SRS access on a supported car. LELink stands out for Nissan Leaf owners, since LeafSpy Pro is on its app list, and for its configurable zero-power standby.
Both versions of the 2S are the same Bluetooth 5.2 adapter; one is simply described with EVs and hybrids in mind.
Make sure of two things. First, that the app you want to run has a profile for your exact model, since EV data varies so much between makers. Second, that your truck or van is a 12V vehicle, because the 2S is not built for 24V systems.
A wider look at Vgate against OBDLink and the budget clones is in ELM327 vs OBDLink vs Vgate.
The 2S moves to Bluetooth 5.2, supports remote wake-up on EVs and hybrids, and offers up to 208 CAN filter groups. The BLE 4.0 may need reinserting to wake on EVs and hybrids.
Yes. No Bluetooth pairing is needed on iOS; connect from inside the app.
Vgate rates its sleep draw as low as 3mA with auto sleep. On a car parked for weeks, unplugging it is still sensible.
BimmerCode is among the apps Vgate lists for the 2S. The app is paid separately.
No. It suits 12V vehicles, including light diesels of 6.5 tons or less, but not 24V diesel systems.