Car Head Units - What NOT to buy!! Chinese Android Radio or Known Big Brand?
Vložit
- čas přidán 11. 06. 2024
- In this video, I explain how to identify quality Android car radios.
I do a basic comparison with a couple of quality Android units against a Kenwood head unit with Android Auto and Apple Car Play
Quick elaboration of the term "Open Source" as I wasn't clear in this video. Open-Source refers to software code that has been made available for free so that other developers can further develop and make use of it. In this case, Google made Android an open-source platform and this enabled many manufacturers to use Android as a base operating system for free, essentially maximizing their own profits. This is what lead Android to become the most used mobile operating system in the world.
The term Open-Source does not have any relevance to the ability to install apps ect, that is just the benefit of having an operating system with that functionality.
Links for 2024's Comparative Radios -
USA Links
Kenwood DMX8020DABS - ebay.us/RenAoW
Joying 10.1 inch Single Din with 8gb RAM - amzn.to/3V24yJc
Mekede M6 Pro Plus 8gb RAM - amzn.to/3OTRpOQ
UK Links
Kenwood DMX8020DABS - ebay.us/RenAoW
Joying 10.1 inch Single Din with 6gb RAM - amzn.to/3UPCZmx
Xtrons 7inch Double Din with 2gb RAM - amzn.to/48sjvY9
I now earn a small commission when you use my eBay and Amazon links to make a purchase, so thank you in advance.
New for 2024 - Check my favourite head unit brands here:
• 2023's Top 7 Android H...
4:04 Customer Support
6:31 Look and Feel of the Dashboard
7:29 Boot-up Time
8:17 Screen Responsiveness
8:46 Apple Carplay & Android Auto
9:25 Sound Quality
12:55 Customisable Background
13:18 Steering Wheel Controls
13:48 Quality of Phone Calls
14:35 Reverse Cam
14:46 Buttons
15:19 Audio Output Connections - Věda a technologie
Check out my Top 7 most recommended Android head unit brands czcams.com/video/ZbMPUTVCBKw/video.htmlsi=jf2IfeJay6G7DsJx
Check out my Top 3 Android head unit brands here: czcams.com/video/Ty6BB59E_HY/video.html
Wooow, you're really great!, I was struggling to find a good aftermarket stereo for my Mazda 3 2011 and you totally convinced me and opened my eyes!!. That analogy between android and iphone was great!, I was thinking about getting a Kenwood, but there's no need!, after watching this video and the other one where you're reviewing an Eonon stereo, I am totally convinced I'll go with Eonon, they have a model right for my car and need to stop looking for more, Thanks a lot dude!!, this was extremely useful for me!!! You're very clear and detailed on explaining, congrats and greetings from Mexico City!!! By the way, what do you think about Eonon Q63PRO? 😁😁😁😁
These are by far the best vids I've ever seen on this particular corner of auto tech. You clearly put a great deal of thought and effort into producing them. People like you are what make CZcams truly useful. Great job, thank you, and please do keep up the good work.
I'm humbled by this. You're actually the first person to ever tip, and it is very much appreciated. Have a great new year!
@@SaabUnleashed First person ever?! That's incredible. And kinda sad -- people are forever bitching about the dreck on CZcams and other social media but won't pay a dime for quality content.
Aftermarket navigation system is horrendous please mention this!@@SaabUnleashed
Dude, you are a Legend. Great guide for first time buyers as I didn't have a clue what to buy until I saw this Informative Video. : )
I believe the Xtrons equalizer depends on which unit it is. Their head unit for BMW e9x that didn’t come with iDrive has an equalizer and has more options for music, but costs around $650USD
This was an awesome introduction to exactly what I was looking for 👍👏
One year later ! Nope I wasn't looking BUT as I watched you got me thinking..
So now I am looking!
Great video, you covered a WIDE range of important topics. Thank You
Very useful and thanks. Bought a Joying previously and had zero issues with it. Still going strong many years after installation. Paid more but got what i paid for.
how’s your joying going? just bought one recently and seems to be working good
@@kermitthetiger5697 the Joying never missed a beat. Sold the car to my son about 2 years ago and he sold it about 1 year later. Still worked as new.
How does one go about joying? Does one have to do something to be able to go joying?
Very comprehensive. This guy knows his stuff
Love how u broke it down, hit the hot topics, good points, and a calm clear voice hit home. POV was good. Really hope to see you do more.
I have a MB, bus system. 09 AMG and considering one of these head units. Would like to see your input, experience, and other manufacturers and models as relatively good or better than joying (if any)
I thought this was just going to be a product review of the 3 stereos but figured I would watch anyway. Lucky I did- this video is a game changer, especially since I’ve been looking to upgrade my radio with the android style stereos. This video just saved my ass
In terms of music quality, I imagine the more expensive units will also have a superior DAC (Digital to Analog Converter). This is often something that gets overlooked in reviews.
Yes absolutely!!
I have a Chinese car radio for two years and it is great. It was only 90 Pounds it is an Android system, DAB+, SAT NAV , steering wheel control etc etc. and it is great
Confirmed joying customer service is professional and helpful one.
Firstly thank you for an awesome video!
I'm looking to get an android unit for my wife's car and struggling to choose a reliable and trustworthy brand with out breaking the bank! So far I've been looking at the erisin, but the reviews suggest the components aren't great and aftercare is poor. After watching your video, I'm considering the joying, but wanted to know your thoughts on the other Chinese brands (eonon, erisin, xtrons, pumpkin etc) as they're slightly cheaper. Looking at only the 4gb ram octacore version. Would be grateful for any advice. Thanks
Hi what did you buy after? I always have had Erisin in the past with no issues.
I am very happy with the build quality and performance of my Atoto F7 XE 8 inch head unit. Great picture, features (including wireless android auto and wireless car play), sound, and responsiveness. Since it is linux based, not native android,, like other units, its interface is not as configurable, but this is a small gripe, since the UI is pretty decent.
F7 is junk...it is a Linux based system, not android, and therefore you can't download apps or customize...root it and put android on it.
@@Monkeybizness707 Android is simply a specialised distro of Linux. Linux is a darn good O/S.
@@boldford except that a straight Linux based system cannot add programs without specialized programming and software not normally available to the average user. Also, because it is a proprietary system, you cannot override it without rooting the entire system.
hows call quality and microphone tho cause that's the only thing stopping me pulling the trigger. It's like some weird lapel mic you have to attach? What has your experience been like?
I added a Lexion unit with a larger touchscreen over the summer, in my 16 Lexus IS 200t. Now I have CarPlay (and Android Auto, which I don't use, of course, with my iPhone). It always connects seamlessly and quickly. Pricey, but worth it. No overheating. Other people like the Grom v2. Customer support was an issue at some point, though personally I haven't had any issues. Currently the actual manufacturer in China is communicating, which is great. Lexion is a Koren company that sells Lexion. The units are made by Binary. The Binary guy is on the Lexus forum I'm on, plus Lexion is coming to the US, he says. Grom has excellent customer support, people on the forum say.
Great video.
Would you list Android head unit brands based on quality? Such as Joying, Xtroms, Eonon, Teyes, Atoto, Hokity, etc.
great video, it did answer some questions I had. Have you had the android units in a vehicle with safety features and lighting controls integrated into the OEM infotainment? I'm wondering if I would lose important functionality by swapping my 2018 Mazda 3's infotainment system for one of the android units, because the stock software is just unbearably bad.
Very useful thanks for sharing, I do have one question can you splice video cables.
I newly have an Atoto S8 Standard (2nd generation), which I really like a lot. It has 3 gigs of RAM and 32 gigs of memory (plus a micro SD card slot for more memory), and is plenty zippy. Sounds great too. But looking at your video, it looks like they might have copied the settings interface of the Joying? At 10:20 on the Joying, that's pretty much the same as the Atoto. Not exactly though. Does anyone know the history between these two companies? Did Atoto copy Joying?
Cool and useful comparison. Could you give a summary in the description giving the model numbers of the units?
I'm looking to replace the stock CD unit in my 2010 9-3x and have watched endless hours of your videos trying to make a decision! I would have liked a unit with physical buttons and a volume knob but they seem few and far between and some of them are slow. I'm guessing for the Saab I will need a Connects2 adapter and a frame too. Looks like it's going to be an expensive job! It the cheaper Xtrons in this video up to the job, in your opinion?
Thank you for your very informative video. I'm very interested in a Joying unit. I'm hoping you can answer two questions for me.
First, does the unit dim automatically when you turn the headlights on, and does it get brighter and dimmer as you adjust the brightness of the dash lights?
Second, I drive a noisy old Jeep Cherokee. When making phone calls, I use a one-ear headset. Is there a headset/earbuds jack on the Joying unit, or can one be added?
Thanks
AWESOME 💪
GREAT TOPIC AND INFO 👏😁
I REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO 👍
PEACE ✌️
Wish I knew this before I bought my unit.
I've been out of the car radio installs for a very long time. Never herd of some of the brands you're showing so I appreciate your evaluation. I'm only familiar with the Kenwood/Sony/JVC/etc. essentially those that also used to make hoe stereos. Now I want to upgrade my 2007 4Runner so I'm learning.
My experience goes back to Radiomobile :-)
This video helped me a lot. I had just purchased one of those android head units without knowing the difference between that and a proper stereo head unit. Thanks for saving me the hassle of installing/uninstalling. I cancelled the purchase right away and will be buying a proper head unit in the future.
One thing you are missing is that the new Joying units that came out this year have a lot more audio settings. They have a built in DSP chip with time alignment, 16 band EQ with Q factor adjustment, and independent front and read speaker EQ adjust. They also have digital audio outputs which are basically the gold standard when it comes to sound quality.
Are they compatible for a 93 Cadillac DeVille sedan?
@@godchosenson5891 I don't see why not. They have a lot of different configurations available, I'm sure you can find one that would work.
@@godchosenson5891 does it take a single or double - din? If it does it might only just need the wiring harness which is just plug and play. Your car has a specific plug and the head unit has one as well. You would just look for the match.
hi i have a junsun same as the joying BUT NO WIRES TO SPEAKERS it a all round blue tooth speaker connect
@Rob Roy I connected up an iPad (aux-in), to see if it is worthwhile as a source. Meh. The Mark Levinson radio outperforms.
I think the real benefit of these ever evolving Android head units is keeping the big brands honest. I have been using a Kenwood DDX9906XR for a few years now and it was an incredibly expensive head unit. It has been fine and I don't regret my purchase. However, there are simple improvements that they could address via firmware but they don't because they don't have to. One can hope that these up and coming Android based companies force them to be more competitive.
I had an EISA Award Winning DNX7150dabs Kenwood unit and it died within 5 years. Overpriced shit.
@@PT-Marum I have a USB drive with music on it connected to my Kenwood. Periodically, I will notice there are tracks missing from an album. I will bring the USB drive inside and connect it to my PC. The tracks are there. Bring it back out to my vehicle and test it out. Nope, tracks still not there. I will then bring the drive back to my PC again and modify the folder structure. Those missing tracks now appear, but then others that weren't an issue before are now missing. I've tried other drives and it makes no difference. Obviously, it's a firmware problem, but they won't fix it. Honestly, I'm just tired of it.
Highly interesting to me, thank you. Have an ancient 2012 double din Kenwood (VERY laggy, buggy touch screen sensitivity), pre-Apple CarPlay era. Looking to perhaps upgrade to modern large screen, wondering if any or all will have same or similar connectors for 4 speakers, outboard amp, and whether the larger screen(s)/ above 7" will fit my vehicle. Ideas? Thanks for knowledge, liked and subscribed!
Great comparison to pick the one that suits you.. I have a joying headunit myself and I like it.
minimum is 4GB of Ram, 2GB boots very long and lags a lot. Have 6GB now and it‘s perfect
which one did u get. I have the 1 GB one and it's shit
No, 2GB is enough. Depending on what processor and Android version. I'm using Autopica T5 2/32GB. Fast boot, multitasking, support 360° ,built in DSP, QLED Monitor. It is below 100$
@@illyasvielgoddenflash2340 do you have a link
2gb is not enough.. unless your running Android 9
What kind did you buy how much and where can I look at it please.? Thank You 🙏🏻
I almost turned off when I got to the Apple good-Android bad bit, but I'm glad I didn't because there is hell of a lot of good advice and information after. I've got a Passat B7 and I think I'll go for one of the Xtrons heads which seem to have all the bits I need. Thanks!
I would never say Apple good Android bad :D
@@SaabUnleashed Because you would be lying if you did 😀
Good video and info. I looked on Aliexpress for the brands you have suggested but neither sells units for a Dodge Journey (2013). Do you have a recommendation?
Hey there ! Thanks for the review. Which one do you think it's more suitable for a w124 ?
When I looked at replacing my headunit the one key thing I looked at was the outputs. I found the android HU were pretty low compared to the named branded ones unless you spend a fair amount like that of the Joying. This isnt to say that theyre bad, but for me the amplifier in a car is a key feature. Yes you can have a HU which plays videos, games, reads emails etc.. but ultimately what CORE features are you needing a new HU for? For me it was maps, music, BT and radio. Yes I bought a reverse cam and wired that in too as it supported it and was a cool feature to have, but the night and day comparisons come when I turn my HU up. The Joying here is probably the only one I would go for if I was to choose again. It has some awesome options. Having said that Ive had ICE installs in the past with multiple subs and speakers so know what to trust, albeit expensive. The main issue I had with the android options was the many chinese options which makes it a total minefield. Very good video, appreciated!
Yeah the voltage output on 99% of them honestly just makes me laugh. No Bueno if you like to bump
@@noahkb80 I was curious about that (rca voltage)
@@anthonyrichmond6834
Whys that will be industry standard line level signal to your amps? -3db = about 0.775V same as you'd expect from any RCA.
@@noahkb80
Whereas what makes me laugh is your lack of understanding of Audio in general
Did you mean 12V like every other car stereo Because in a car that's all you've got available. Unless you're running a power inverter.
Watt (Pun intended) you're interested in is the amount of Current it can Sink as V x I=W Ohm my god you should know that!. And we also need to quote our power in RMS rather than Little boys watts (Peak Power)or worse Music power. 50W RMS in a car will rattle the fillings out of your teeth and blow the windows out. A 300W car speaker is actually about 20W RMS.
Still Laughing?
@@noahkb80 thats why you use a dap to increase the rca voltage output.
I was looking at one of your videos recommending stereo head units and you mentioned the Xtrons. At around 150 quid this is more my pricepoint than the Joying. I was all set to order one but I noticed the reviews on Amazon were very mixed. People either thought they were great or they had reliability issues, dying after 18 months etc. and finding the customer support not great at all. I got the impression that your long term experience was with the Joying which is a bit pricey for me. Any comments?
If you or anyone else is still interested (probably already bought one), I just bought and built in a high spec Xtrons unit with 8 core, 64Gb+4Gb, DSP and to be honest it's quite disappointing and frustrating:
- 4G is unworkably slow and unstable despite having the antenna ON the dashboard
- I can't run any apps or even launchers on it unless I am in the BT/phone mode because this unit doesn't have a brake bypass, so no Spotify, launchers or most other apps, which are all blocked with "dont'watch video while driving". I should connect the brake wire but I'm not that technical with wires.
- a LOT of static noise that I will have to find out where it's coming from
- Something smells burnt, not sure if it's the unit overheating already at 20c outside temperature or something else
- touch is laggy and unit is a bit slower than I expected for this price point
- unit has too much dashboard spacing on top and bottom
- hardly any customization settings
- it's Android 12 (which it says in the system info) but looks a lot older
I think I'll returning it for something more reliable like a 2DIN Joying unit with a seperate 4G dongle or so.
@@thefunkybassist9916 do u still have that xtrons? or obd for car data shown on screen?
@@joeyallcock1011 no I returned it cause it was impossible to fix the issues, it was all hardware related. But they were supportive within the return policy.
I ended up buying Joying which has up to date hardware.
Thank you for the great video . Very informative, what do you think about the brand seicane for a 2018 Toyota Corolla?
I got an Atoto S6 Premium 10.1" radio in January and I love it. I use Android Auto every day. With Iheartradio or Tunein radio I have access to hundreds of radio stations and with Google maps, Waze. And Tom Tom Amigo, I have several GPS options. And a huge screen foe my reverse camera.
Thank you for sharing your insight. One general question I have about Android is how it performs after 2 years. In the past even my top of the line galaxy smartphone will slow down dramatically after two years of use. Is that an issue with the well specked android car units as well?
That's why memory and CPU is a big deal. It's not that your phone is slowing down, it's that apps are recieving updates and are utilising more system resources
@@SaabUnleashed thank you. Another safety related question if you don’t mind. Will android head unit restrict video apps like CZcams when vehicle is in motion ?
@@1548kk Only if you want them to. They all have a setting to restrict video in motion or not
@@1548kk the unrestricted apps is the number one selling point to me. I listen to podcasts on CZcams all the time while drive. I don't look at the screen of course. And another nice bonus is can use CZcams Vanced and get ad free CZcams.... Beats the hell out of Android auto.
@@SaabUnleashed actually this is untrue: the hardware simply gets slower, as it will depreciate over time. Especially with intensive use.... which is the case with smartphones. But not necessarily for an Android head-unit.
Your inbuilt storage can get slower, the CPU etc. It's not only the apps which might get heavier over time. I had an Nexus 7, which actually the cause of it getting so slow was the inbuilt storage. That's why it's perhaps better to not store to much files, on your headunit as it's unnecessary and might slow it down.
Not sure if they have improved recently. But Joying have had problems with their soldering and dead boards. I bought one of their top of the range units some years ago and it died after 2 years of very occasional use. The issues were well known and starts with the screen occasionally going black and or restarting. Sadly no help with replacement unit or even a discount on one. While it worked it was a good unit however.
Same experience for me with Joying
If it's breaks after two years, than you wouldn't get any warranty in Europe either. The amount of use doesn't really matter, but I have been running a Viofo dashcam for years in my car already. I guess if it also was running during parking, than it might already have stopped working.
Same here , got for my highlander , the touch screen broke in less than year and then unit dead in less than 2 year so back to original one.
Glad i found this. Was struggling to find a better android player but my brain keep thinking the “branded” which might gives better spec. But price review all low spec from branded ones very expensive while no brand or unknown ones with highly specs with very cheap price. Now i have better view in no branded china android player already. Thanks mate for your review and clarifications. Thumbs up and followed u 👍 keep it up
Very good explanation. Wish I saw this before I bought my first android head unit, I had to find out myself that there are low quality units like I bought. The biggest flaw I discovered was the lack of screen brightness on the cheap units. I bought a more expensive unit, which works well.
I bought a Hikity Android 9.1 9' head unit, it was 155$ 2Gb of ram and 32Gb of rom and it can multitask with two screens running at the same time. Hikity is a known brand and so far it has gotten good reviews. Thanks for the info about the 2Gb of ram looks like I got lucky on that.
9 feet is quite large for a head unit
How is the Hikity radio holding up? Have you had any issues with it?
@@mr.q8822 It's ok, but the Canbus stopped working which sucked now
how is the Hikity unit holding up? if no response then i guess i will just assume it failed and you moved on to something else.
@@jieiku It sucks, Lol
Nice review, but I do have to say that in contrast of what you are saying you can actually add CarPlay and Android Auto to the Xtrons with a separate module. There are also units with hardware buttons, usually the OEM models that are fitting a specific car model. And their modern units also have more extensive equalizer options.
Agreed.
I've got an Xtrons in my old Rav4, with the CarPlay module and a Joying in my Tiguan - the CarPlay isn't as good in the Joying, despite being built in. But the sound quality of the Joying is MILES better, so it makes up for it.
@@johnny_gtr I agree that the sound quality of the Xtrons is not that great. I've tried to attach a USB DAC but it doesn't work, so I guess I'm stuck with the built in DAC.
@@ThomasLobker I'm afraid so. I wouldn't use the RCA outputs for anything on the Xtrons. I had to return mine because of the poor circuitry in it. The signal had huge noise interference, caused by the adjacent USB ports. When I had no USB plugs in use, the signal was clean. When I installed ANY USB item, the interference came. A hub, or extension wouldn't work - just a poor design.
I'm just about to try a Teyes in my third car, this looks very promising!
@@johnny_gtr How's it going? I'm still shopping.
@@Shalmaneser1 I’ve gone with a Signal Processor and taken the digital signal out of it instead :)
Hi mate, just seen your well done video. I own a Ford mondeo mk4 business edition 13 plate. Which android head unit do you recommend and if possible, could you please send me a link. Thanks
Do you have a full review or fitting video for the Xtrons featured here? Or any idea how I'd find out whether it'll fit my car, a GolfV? I mean are all 7" ones pretty much interchangeable?
Hi, thank you for the review, what is the standby current? Bought a used car with a fancy Android stereo, standby current was 470ma, drained my battery very quick... Lucky the seller gave me the original radio. Since then I don't buy generic chinese android stereos as they do not specify standby current
Just wire to acc so power is off when key ign is off
What are your thoughts on the Dasaita? +Saab Unleashed
what do you think of the V-Grome vs a Kenwood, joying head screen unit?
Great video - Im looking for a stereo mid range for my T5 transporter 2008 , many ive seen state there only compatible with Transporter 2010 onwards so T5.1 which XTRONS OR JOYING do you suggest?
I have the Joying 10.1 and it's a great deck. My biggest gripe is that you can only use bluetooth with a phone and odb2 reader. I have a DSP that I would love to be able to manage directly from the deck. Other than that its a no brainer compared to big box brands like Pioneer and Alpine. Big box brands do sound better on stock wiring but if your using a aftermarket amp with a DSP it sounds great as well.
💯
I had same brand, was driving and quit working
I saw some DSP that has a separate BT module, also app on google play or App strore so you could connect and adjust your settings through your device.
May you should check your DSPs specs and see if it's an option for you.
What does DSP mean and what are the advantages of it?
@@bodeine454 dsp mean Digital Signal Processing, some of HU have this facilities on it, but more better quality if you have it separately stand alone dsp.
Honestly I used to think name brands were better but the stuff you can do with the android radios is crazy the customization you can do are endless
You say endless but I can't seem to find any, especially like dark mode or night mode cause the brightness settings are too dim during the day and too bright at night.
@@Mrkouman darker is pretty good
There is no android deck with the sound quality as alpine, kenwood, jvc and pioneer
@@brianbelcon8723 Absolutely true, If you want Hi-Res sound forget the Android units for now.
The build quality of the Chinese Android HUs are awful. If you get 2 years out of it, you are lucky. Also the vast majority of the cheap Android HUs spoof their specs. They will advertise 2-4gb of ram, but really only have 1gb ram. The brands like Joying and Dasaita have better software and customer support, but the same trash build quality.
Excellent. Thank you. Do you know much about seicane? Are they on a par with Joying?
Great video! What camera would you recommend to the Kenwood device?
My pioneer head unit was $800
I bought it assuming it had the better components but it's actually really really laggy low res crap haha 😆
Joying support is terrible.I bought a HU from them that listed android auto several times in the listing.mine didn’t have it, when I contacted them about it and they said specifications changed go pound salt.
I bought an Xtrons for my old Mercedes and it works wonderfully. It has Apple CarPlay and everything.
Great stuff, explains a lot but what you think about Junsun brand double din for Outlander??
The "HeadUnit Reloaded" app should allow any android radio to connect android auto(wired/wireless). It is a paid app tho but for the feature its worth it.
no updates for it in 2 years though...
@@Wingnut353 ??? It's worked just fine and as intended without any updates for me. "If it ain't broken..."
It is the best app I've used because it uses your phone resources and it's much faster. It's so good no need to update
1 st off great video! I'd rather custom build my own with Raspberry Pi with 4 or 8 gb ram/ whatever touchscreen size/ whatever internal storage size/Custom pre-amp/ Custom open source software/ Custom housing for your screen and addons/ the list goes on and on. Remember the day's when recording software was exclusive and cost an arm and a leg? Now there is open source to record for free. Same for vehicle radio's Manufacture's are losing again to open source! So I say, see you at the finish line and to all the sucker's who over paid for useless garbage.
A really useful video, thank you very much indeed, i am currently watching some other of your videos as i am looking to upgrade the unit in my car, well done indeed!
I have recent experience with adding both a branded unit (Pioneer) and an Android head unit to two different cars. I was able to install a Pioneer unit into my wife's Fiat 500x after cutting a bit of plastic and it's a seamless integration. It's also reliable. It boots up and Android Auto is connected with music started by the time we have our seatbelts on.
The other unit is a random Android screen that replaced the dash storage tray in my BWM E84 X1. It connects to the OEM radio via an Aux cable. It looks great and adds a backup camera as well as working with steering wheel controls. What it is NOT, however, is fast, user-friendly, or reliable. Phone calls only work right if I connect media to the head unit and calls to the car's OEM head unit. It will work with Android Auto and Carplay (wireless even), but it takes forever for everything to boot up and one needs to learn rituals and incantations to make it work. It uses Zlink5 and requires both Bluetooth and WiFi or a cable. It launches Zlink5 and fails to connect. I need to go to the bluetooth section in the software and "connect" the phone. It says "connection failed" and then Zlink5 opens and launches Android Auto. I've learned a way to get it going within about a minute, but it's not ideal. What's also not great is that updates from Google and screw this thing up, which has happened. An Android Auto update caused an audio bug wherein the music quality becomes muffled the assistant speaks. I've just manually installed an older Android Auto 10.x version onto my phone and I hope that fixes it.
The Android units are cool in the way that they're customizable, but they're not practical if you just want to drive with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. If a branded and supported option were feasible for my car, then I'd choose it. Kenwood, JVC, Pioneer, whatever.
I agree. The branded head units have better sound and outputs for amplifiers.
I have a Pumpkin headunit and its a pretty good headunit
Can you play mobile games on it
Will second anyone who says avoid Joying. I had a unit that died after 2 weeks. To get a replacement, they required me to take a video of myself using alligator clips to connect the unit directly to the car battery. It was an incredibly sketchy procedure to ask a customer to do.
Lol what ?
Glad they didn’t ask you to wear a specific shirt to authenticate the video 😂😂😂
Love that you put the time stamps in the description. Saved a lot of time!!!! Thanks!
my oem stereo stayed in the car for like 1 month, mind you this is back in 2001. around 2007 I got a kenwood double din display with nav and is still working till this day- 15 years!
Atoto make the best ones. They also have high end Toshiba Class A amplifiers. So have great sound quality too.
I love my Atoto S8. I just wish their subwoofer output wasn't so ridiculously low voltage. Other than that, love it.
@@wrybread get line drivers with android stereos and issue solved
I was really hoping for you to speak on the most important part of any car stereo unit, which is the power output. While branded units like Pioneer, Sony, Kenwood etc give standard max output of 4 x 55 watts, while some pioneer and sony units even give 4 x 75 watts output, almost all of the branded and non branded chinese units go only to a max of 4 x 47 watts max..this should be discussed any any car stereo review and i am sure, among the above 3, only kenwood provides better total power.
Very seriously the most important thing if you like your music loud.
@@andrewhigdon8346 If you don't want to take comments, that's fine mate. When there is no power, distortion starts....that is why power is one of the important criteria, if not the only one.
Very interesting video, thanks, Stuart! I was wondering if you have compared standby power consumption? I presume that the Saab factory radio has hardly any. But do these touchscreen units consume significant standby power, so they might drain the car battery if the car isn't used for a week or two? And, is there a list of recommended/suitable double DIN units for the Saab 9-5, depending on the model year?
Thank you! Over early lockdown, my cars had a period of time where they were totally unused for about a month, they started without issue and have Android units. Standby usage is minimal. With regards to the 9-5, the default answer is double din. The 9-5 also has resistive steering controls, so the android units won't need the extra expense of a canbus decoder
Also, the later "Dame Edna" 9-5s have loads of empty dash space so you can go for a big screen. I have a 10.1 inch in mine
@@SaabUnleashed yes, unless you want to continue using the cup holder, if I understand right. And that cup holder is quite a cool Saab feature, isn't it?
@@arndtmitwer9485 you are correct, the 10.1 prevents the cup holder from opening when installed normally over the dashboard, although I have mine behind the dashboard (which is a pain) and my cup holder works fine. 8inch one should be fine
My Atoto says it uses power all the time in the background, which does put a small drain on the battery, but that it will shut itself off automatically if the car isn't started for seven days. So the battery will be protected at the trade-off of a longer boot time the next time you start the car.
At last an informative video. Thank you.
My Android Headunit (Teyes cc3) has far better sound settings than that Kenwood
You must know how to access the settings on the Kenwood.
@@danwhitaker9168 uuhhhm... from what Ive observed here and the experience I have with them... I dont have to..
just have a look at the Teyes CC3 or even the older CC2.
Opinión on it please
The problem is, the big brand head units are trash, hell, most built in infotainment units are trash, they have no idea or car about refresh rates, smoothness, they all seem laggy and have bare minimum specs, the Chinese Android head units can also be super trash, I usually go for the 4+GB of RAM
They also fail at the same rate as the no-names.
I'm a total newbie in this space....so please excuse the basic questions...I have an older Toyota and want a more modern "screen" type unit but all I need is the FM radio plus (preferably) on-board GPS in the unit. Nothing more. I believe there are other units that "use" and process the GPS signal from your cell phone ( that you have in the car with you, either via wired or wireless connection)...but I would like GPS to be stand-alone. That said, would then prefer the GPS maps to be upgradable over time. Would the best bet be to find a later-model Toyota unit that has these features ( say, from an auto parts recycler?)...to install? And do you know if such "car-brand" unit GPS can be updated over time with latest maps?
I found your video very useful and I want to ask you a question, i have a golf 6 and I want to apgrade the headunit without losing any of the features that came with the original headunit such as parking sensors, back camera... Etc.
The well known brand such as pioneer, kenwood.. Does the job but u lose this features, in the market there's a brand called Dynavin D8-DF31 Premium Flex, that is completely compatible with original unit, but i don't know if i can trust it to do the job without problems!
Can u please help me out 😉
Great video.
Looking forward to more!
Hi buddy just a quick question iam looking to buy one for my Berlingo but I need quite a few adaptors for my steerling wheel and park sensors but will they work on these units
Can you please advise on the best (or compatible or relevant) android head unit to fit Nissan Qashqai J11 N-connecta Dci 2017?
I have upgraded to an Xtrons unit for Honda crv 2012. Love the unit but hate the boot up time. I know there are issues with the car battery draining and thus it looks like android has narrowed the standby time to max 60 Minutes. Surely if I drive daily, then a standby time of 24hours makes sense. Effectively the unit will be in standby for max 12 hours from the time of me parking at 8pm and driving next morning at 8am. Is there a way to increase the standby time?
The biggest confusion about these in my experience is understanding if they have a built in amp or if they will interface with my stock most optical amp. I have a BMW and a Mercedes. They both have harmon kardon amps that are connected to the factory head unit over MOST optical connection.
I would prefer to retain the factory amp because it's excellent quality. But I can't get any clear answers about this.
I would like to know as I have the same issue.
nice! i found this video just as i have bought a jvc unit.
are there any 2din android radios with a dvd player? i have loads of dvds and i just want to throw one in from time to time.
So the Kenwood or branded do not allow for installation of Android apps from Google store ?
Very informative video. Congratulations! What model do you recommend for a Mercedes Benz E350 2009 Elegance? I checked the Joying website because you think it is a trusted brand, and I found a very good one but it says this. 9" Android car radio upgrade for Mercedes-Benz E-Class/W211/CLS/C219 1999-2007. My car is W211 type, it is late model production., any advice will be appreciated.
I tried to replace the HU on my Renault (a Fluence or the sedan version of the Megane 3), and I struggled to make it work it with the car's system. Highly frustrating.
Really helpful video! I just got a SAAB 93 (2003), would I be able to install the XTRONS 2dins on it?
Hi Saab Unleashed, I'm looking to put something similar into my Range Rover classic (1980 2-door) but I want it to retract/be hidden when not working, I plan to positon it so it's totally hidden when the car is off. Do you suggest (or know of) any solutions? I have seen the Pioneers and other such brands which have the simple head unit still seen when the scrren retracts but I am looking for something super minimal/hidden. Thoughts? cheers
Saab Unleashed, Good day, Sir. I would like to ask a question and it may sound (or it is) conspiratory. How likely is it that the manufacturer (Joying) is using their Android devices that are installed in autos as a way to gather personal information about the owner of the auto? I only just now thought of this and I am considering getting a stereo for my car to swap out the OEM stereo. I do like the functionality of these newer stereo replacements, but I am just curious what we give up in return for that great customer service.
Hi, what's your view on Erisin? I was considering one for my 2005 Porsche Cayenne.
I wish one of these brands would build an 07+ gm Saab radio. It’s the same basic gm plug in with different canbus for steering wheel controls. Is it too much too ask for?
I have a 2013 Toyota Sienna. I want to get the biggest screen and I want to buy all of the optional accessories. Mainly I want to know which harness and trim kit I need, to make the install easier.
What are the power output ratings for each radio? Most stock units are around 25 watts per channel, so switching to one that pushes 45 watts may require a speaker upgrade sooner rather than later
Not really. Just need to be careful not to turn it up too loud. Most speakers are capable of more than what the stock unit has to offer anyway
Thanks. This is very useful and informative video. One question, Can I use Android unit for my 2108 Suburu outback that seems to be an Apple system, since it had Apple CarPlay? I am considering MekedeTech Android Car Radio Stereo GPS Navigation.
Hi mate. What would you recommend for a 2011 sprinter. Bluetooth music and handsfree phone is the Maine thing. Budget of around £300. Great vid and just subbed, regards John.
Loved the video but the choices in the market confuse me. I would be doing international shipping from US amazon, so returning is not an option for me. Thus, i need to be absolutely certain of what i purchase. I was wondering if you could recommend the best 'Android head unit with a reverse camera' that would fit into a Jeep wrangler JK 2009 model. Many thanks
If ur still looking, joying or pumpkin android (other then stinger or name brand style alpine) but u may need new clips for the dash, right hand drive u have to cut
Great video. Soo.. How much i need to pay for 2 din radio with android when I want build my custom audio system in car? After watch this video, now I know that, buying cheap android is not good for that. What androids are recommended for car audio
and do they actually exist? I want android because i want to use google chrome on radio, but i want the same level of quality for example like Kenwood radio. Of course i want to do this in Saab 9-3.
Great info from your videos thankyou..am currently wanting to fit out work van with new unit and have been quoted to use SONY XAV-AX5650 MECHLESS DOUBLE DIN STEREO APPLE CARPLAY ANDROID AUTO.
I cant find any reviews on this and would like to ask if you have an opinion on this unit.
Will be adding JBL nano sub also and finding this is turning out to be a mine field of options with companies piling on the costs.
If its relevant it will be going into a fiat doblo maxi 2016
Thanks in advance
any units in particular you could recommend for a first generation hyundai i10, im having an issue deciding on flat/curved and android version/features, its so complex
Awesome video, very helpful. Thanks
What would you recomment to replace an RDS 510 mine gave up after 6 years hard drive gone was told its not wruth fixing very disappointed