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
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 TH-cam truly useful. Great job, thank you, and please do keep up the good work.
@@SaabUnleashed First person ever?! That's incredible. And kinda sad -- people are forever bitching about the dreck on TH-cam and other social media but won't pay a dime for quality content.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
@@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.
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.
@@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?
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$
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 $650USD
I'm an E.E. in the U.S. and I design electronic equipment in the defense industry. I can tell you that "cheap" is not always indicative of low quality because most manufacturers source their component parts from the same outlets. However, there can be differences in the design of the "mechanical envelope" that can be deficient due to cost cutting, e.g. heat sinks and cooling but generally speaking most manufacturers are diligent and do adequate field testing, even the cheaper brands because they realize suppliers will shun them if consumers are complaining about reliability. Warranties and support is a whole different subject and I agree that usually the more you spend the better the warranty and service.
Very good explanation. Wish I saw this before I bought my first android head unit, I had to find out myself that there are low quality units like I bought. The biggest flaw I discovered was the lack of screen brightness on the cheap units. I bought a more expensive unit, which works well.
I bought a Hikity Android 9.1 9' head unit, it was 155$ 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.
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.
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.
@@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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
i've been using my xtrons head unit for 2 years on my toyota GT86. I'm so happy with it: it's perfect. So much functionalities, and i even have torque pro on it, for engine ECU interactions. And i can have a movie or youtube video on it on long drive for the passenger in the rear seat to watch.
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!
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!
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.
I bought a CHEAP 10.1 inch Windows CE unit for $35 bucks. as far as the unit goes it's just fine for 95% of the consumers out there.. these really inexpensive units are more tailored to video playback then they are for audio use. there's something nice to have in your car basically. for audio quality? the joying make sense for the sole reason it has a digital output. it also means you now have an additional cost of setting up your system if you choose to go that route. however if you're only interested in audio quality and you want to have the best you can possibly have for the least amount of money? You don't need a headunit. In fact? Why bother? you already have a phone so use that. most people use their phones anyways just for directions or navigation and they usually have a windshield mount. if you really need navigation simply get yourself a large tablet and get a tablet holder in your done. chances are you probably already have a tablet to use. if that's the case? You now have an ultimate audio system. all you need to do is add an external amplifier and for 98% of you? Walla! finished with your car audio install from at least the electronics source standpoint. many amps on the market today that support Bluetooth support apt-x, so that's it. You are done. some of you have phones that actually work really well with a three-and-a-half millimeter Jack and you're still able to make phone calls with the built in phone microphones . Xiaomi is really good at this. _For the Basic Ultimate S.Q. System_ Phone> USB Dac ( *Topping AD-10* ) > Amp(s). [Free] [ $10 ~ $100 ] [ $63 ] Add some great DIY speakers, and sound treatment, Custom mount the drivers, And you are done! All the problems, noise, etc are gone. Its the best simple system you can do. Nothing can touch it for simplicity, S.Q. & Cost. again, if S.Q. Is your MAIN want? This is it. Bar none.
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
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.
I would recommend simply getting a regular, non-touch screen head unit with an auxiliary port for 3.5 mm (maybe also bluetooth and a usb port if you think you might use them) plugs, buy an adapter for your phone, and plug your phone into the aux port via the adapter and cable. You can use your phone as the touch screen unit. You will not have to worry about whether the head unit has enough memory or will correctly run your applications. If applications are needed, they can be run on your phone. Your head unit, in this setup, serves the purpose of allowing you to play music from your phone.
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.
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.
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 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.
@@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.
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.
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!
While I generally think the poster of this content has the best intentions for his audience, I would have to disagree with the warning not to buy the Chinese Android headunits with under 2gb of RAM. I’ve had the same sub-$100 Android headunit (MTK8777- mekede is the “brand” 16g rom 1gb ram ) for over 3 years installed in my archaic ‘94 Cadillac and it’s been working well since. I think my stereo has been tricked into saying it’s running Android 6 or 8 but when I did some digging I found it’s running 4.4. No worries- still connects to the play store and has been reliable. Had some issues installing the wiring correctly due to one or two mislabeled wires but once that was sorted, it was smooth sailing. I live in upper New York State and so we see hot muggy summers and cold blistering winters. It’s worked fine in all conditions! I use a seperate $40 dongle I bought over a year and half ago for CarPlay and that works fine too!
Of course. The fact that you're using a CarPlay dongle means that you are not limited to the specification of your head unit because you are effectively streaming all apps from the iPhone - the limitation is with the specification of your iPhone. 1gb of RAM would have problems running the latest versions of mainstream apps if they were running directly from your head unit. Generally, these head units also skimp on CPU power too. Not to say they wouldn't work, but they would most definitely run slower than intended.
@@SaabUnleashed fair enough. I didn’t initially consider the CarPlay aspect you informed me about. I just am happy with my two headunits similar to the ones you’ve covered in this video that I ordered in the cheapo spec. Granted, mostly using only with Bluetooth audio and CarPlay when I need directions. For that, I see the single gig performing well on these little buggers.
@@Haffmatthew it's the Bibo2. It's the software that I haven't got my head around yet, what I need to install and how I can convert files I download so I can print them. I bought the printer a while ago but I just haven't had the time to educate myself on it's use :)
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.
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
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?
hi bud thanks for resting my mind i have just got a junsun 4 gb ram android 10 cost me £ 250 .. a lot of money but it is a very good unit mine is made for the 2003 Peugeot 307 only as it uses the cars stick control as well thank you michael
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?
I too have the pioneer head unit, its laggy and at times wont even connect to my iphone which means its useless … not buying one of them again for sure !
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.
@@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.
I just bought a Chinese Android unit, with only some connectors. Yes it works, but I can't control it from the Steering wheel controls, or use the car's inbuilt mic (fortunately it came with a lapel mic that connects via a standard 3.5mm jack). Yes it was sub £200, but it does me fine. Chinese Android units have dominated the market, meaning you have to go to Halfords to look at branded units
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 TH-cam when vehicle is in motion ?
@@1548kk the unrestricted apps is the number one selling point to me. I listen to podcasts on TH-cam all the time while drive. I don't look at the screen of course. And another nice bonus is can use TH-cam Vanced and get ad free TH-cam.... 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.
I wish more people would look closely at their "quality branded" electronic goods and the country they were manufactured in. Some of the initial designs may have been Western World Wonders (WWW) such as Apple products, etc, but the manufacturing is usually in China (such as Apple, Amazon, Google, Sony, Samsung, LG, etc) and quality is very good. The Chinese brands will expand on the initial WWW offering (just as Japan did many decades ago) by offering new & pioneering features which make them an interesting proposition to consider. I have recently purchased & installed a Chinese/HK Erisin android/carplay head unit in a BMW convertible and was a very simple install and the 4GB/64GB,WiFi, 4G & additional SD storage works wonders for me up till now. Read all reviews before you buy and you should not go wrong. Great video btw.
I have on my Audi S4 a xtrons with 8gb ram and 128gb storage wireless apple play and the screen is 12.3 running android os 12 …The unit is very well made I also have a SIM card on it the wireless car play pairs super fast and the data from the sim works flawlessly running on 4LTE.. I do agree 100 percent if you buy a head unit try to buy one with 4gb or higher of ram ..I also install the unit everything was plug and play and the unit work nice with all the factory settings that came with the car ..👍🏽👍🏽
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
Great description, Ive been trying to find a video by somebody who understands enough to seperate the BS marketing voodoo to what the actual product is your buying.
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 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.
@@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.
I'm replacing one of my Factory Nav Systems & *Why Why Why* is it so hard to find a decent Double DIN with Nav, a CD/DVD Slot (Which I have no intentions to use but I *expect it there!* ) & a *Physical* Volume Knob?! Any suggestions? Airplay/Droid whatever means nothing to me; I'm a grown man & have no reason to be doing anything but making calls on a Cellphone. I see that's how most companies are getting away with NOT having Navigation though. "JuST UsE YoUR PHoNe." I was quite excited to buy the ATOTO S8 (Mostly for the OBD/TPMS Stuff) until I thought about the Volume Controls (No, a 3rd Party USB Volume Knob pasted to my dashboard or a remote velcor'd to the steering wheel will not suffice. lol)
I have a cheap unbranded Android headunit, I have never had any issue with it. It doesn't slow down, crash, freeze frames etc. I have had it in two different cars. Even the gps works flawlessly.
@@SaabUnleashed I agree, but I paid £45.00,and yes, i wasn't expecting much, having built installs for sound offs back in the day, as well as using Nakamichi for my other vehicles, but i was genuinely surprised at how good the unit is.
I have a 2015 Camry, the headunit has bluetooth, USB ect, but no GPS, no Android Auto or Apple carplay. Would like to upgrade, but concerned the new unit won't last very long.
I am on my third kenwood head unit,in eight years,ALL THREE of them have eventually got a red light of death,one of the circuit boards de-solders over time,because of the heat from the heater.I have also had one of the three repaired,it cost me £300 !! The only reason I have kept buying the kenwood is because it fits direct into the dashboard.The start up is ridiculous,it takes forever(DMX525DAB)..You said it took two days for your replacement to arrive from China?! WHAT !! Where do you live??china!! My next unit will certainly NOT be a 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.
this was helpful, thank you. i wasn't aware joying was a trusted brand, i just thought it was one of those amazon cheapies that broke quickly, good to know i don't have to pay the exorbitant prices of kenwood / pioneer.
@@mrman8856 it works as expected, but the main reason i bought it is to benefit from the offline maps, which i can't use, as there are no offline maps available for my location, so i feel like i wasted my money. the hardware itself is fine, it's just extremely disappointing that i can't use it as a GPS. i could use it for apple carplay / android auto, which i tested and found to be working, but i wanted a standalone GPS so that i didn't have to use my phone all the time. i'll probably still use it to store music on so that i don't have to connect my phone all the time, but i could have probably found a cheaper way to do that. what are you intending to use it for?
@Murtagh653 GPS, Music, For show, Camera's, and probably tinker with to make it compatible with idata link maestro. That's about it. I can get all those things in a more reputable brand but there screen sizes are always under 7 inches for around $500-700 then to 8 inches and up is around $800-$1200. So the 10 inch fits my dash nicely and that price seems reasonable.
@@mrman8856 @Mr Man Music and camera should work well, the unit seems to be well built, though i cannot speak for long term use as i've only had it a few months. i suggest you email them. I cannot post their email as I have tried twice and it keeps deleting my comments, but if you google joying auto, you should be able to find it. and ask them if they have offline maps available for your location. if you live in Australia, I can tell you that they do not have them available, unfortunately.
@Murtagh653 Thanks. And I'm in the states so I'm sure I'll be able to integrate an offline map... Well it's down to the Joying and Tecc ( spellcheck ) models.
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
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? 😁😁😁😁
Love the video thank you....I have a BMW Z4 (E85 model) what Android unit would you recommend. Ideally I'm only intending to use it for Navigation and Call (apple car play). What unit would you recommend? Im based in the UK. Thank you for a great video.
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 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 😉
My Kenwood head unit was crap, they did not update their software. I have had a pumpkin for 10 years now and it is 1gb ram, it works fine for what it is supposed to do. It all works fine. Good after sales service too
Hey, thank you for your videos. I recently inherited a 07 H3 hummer with the Monsoon sound system. I need to replace the 6cd double din unit....i would like something that is data sim compatible so the kids can hotspot/wifi. Being able to sideload apps would awesome, but idk if that is even a thing with Android car stereos. I also have the pull down rear monitor. So if it could mirror or run its own apps that would kool. Obviously because its a hummer, i'd like to install a backup camera also. Ive already replaced my factory speakers w/ 3 way 6.5" 75 watt pioneer door speakers along with a 8" 700 watt pioneer slim mount subwoofer to use with the 300 watt factory-installed amp. It does have an external mic mounted above the drivers side. Any suggestions as to double~din units in the $200~$300 range? I noticed some Boss, Pioneer, & even one or two Alpine units fit this price range on Amazon, but they appeared to maybe be older models. Idk there are so many features & nuances these days its hard to decide what is best an my concerns with the cheaper units from china is quality and spyware. Either way, ill keep watching & learning.
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.
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.
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
I've had a Carjoying headunit in my VW ute for years (2016). I've had to replace it once as the first one died. The wifi no longer works on my current unit. I'm looking to replace it again. Wondering if there are better options these days. One thing that has always annoyed me with the Joying unit is the VW climate control overlay that pops up on the screen. It comes up and down and you can't press anything or see anything under the overlay. So when I hop in and load up Google maps, I can barely type the address in because this stupid overlay pops up. I have to wait for it to go away then quickly type some letters in before it pops up again and hope I get enough letters in for the auto suggest to give me the address I'm looking for. Ad a side note, don't get the touch screen only model. I had that first. Touch screen volume adjust is terrible while driving. I replaced it when it died with a model with physical control knob. Much better.
Can you please review, if possible, the yulbro unit for Hyundai Genesis coupe? I realize that you don’t typically do an auto maker specific review but there are very limited reviews of these and I trust how you review. Thank you
@@mrlogansace I went with the T’eyes cc3 as they had good reviews and a kit that makes it look almost factory install. Only problem is terrible (zero install guide/instruction) and difficult to get it to sound great. I do need more power and speakers to find the quality I’m looking for and someone who can instruction on ALL the features would be very helpful. My current workload is preventing me from having a couple days to just dive in. I do love the looks, just need to get everything working properly. Thank you for reply
@@lawrencesilva8689 your issue seems to be the case with most androids for our car. id love to get the T'eyes but my pockets might not be deep enough atm 😭. Would love to see a quick video of it on the r/genesiscoupe subreddit if you get it working properly. Havent seen one yet.
i think the kenwood radio is much better. (is my opinion) 1. it boots much faster (when the android radio is shut down instead of standby where it eats battery, in standny it is there immediately). 2. (was the case with my android model) I drove on a bumpy road with a hard suspension (dampers etc.) or it was the temperatures. that usb devices were suddenly no longer recognized (dab+ adapter / smartphone) and that the radio just restarted like that, or even got stuck during booting. (i guess cold solder joints on the circuit board, but i sold the radio as defective) 3. the sound of the original radio was not so good. the sound on the android radio was much better, but the kenwood really got a very good sound from my standard speakers with the right settings. i have already saved the money for the speakers in my car, sure, it's not as good as high quality premium speakers, but it's getting there. 4. in my experience, good close source products are better than open sorce, but you may be more limited, but the system just works 5. how often do you actually use the additional functions that an android radio can do? close source vs open source i don't see any reason for/against it, you can see it on apple and android smartphones, or on windows and linux.
I was checking your video reviews reference head units. And surprise you haven't mention DMP CarDesign Android touch screen units. I installed the DMP Cardesign Android touch screen 12.3 inch on my 2016 E400 Mercedes. It was super easy plug and play, apple carplay features, keeping original OEM interface and with a simple touch switch over to Android with tons of features, Keeping steering wheel and toggle knob features. Would be nice to get your take on that headunit. Thanks
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’m looking for an android unit to put into my Mercedes sprinter camper 2015 and wondered if you’d have recommendations? The joying one in the vid sounds good? Also, do any of them have an option of a wireless reversing camera and your thoughts on them please? Due to the camper interior, running a cable camera will be a nightmare, look forwards to your reply and any links for suppliers please? 😊
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.
Thanks. I was considering an android head unit a while back. I bought an Alpine W650, but I was considering. The only problem was I couldn't find any opinion on their sound quality
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 88 | คู่เอก "ป้อมเพชร vs อัสลามจอน"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1ZqTVVbMgbo/mqdefault.jpg)
Check out my Top 7 most recommended Android head unit brands th-cam.com/video/ZbMPUTVCBKw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=jf2IfeJay6G7DsJx
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
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 TH-cam 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 TH-cam and other social media but won't pay a dime for quality content.
Aftermarket navigation system is horrendous please mention this!@@SaabUnleashed
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.
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!!
Right, or at the very least they'll have good connectivity like optical out which will let you use your dedicated amp's DAC
@@phantomflame0658 Optical out would be great!
if you don't use the integrated amps you could use an external DAC over USB
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?
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
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 comprehensive. This guy knows his stuff
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.
8
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. : )
Confirmed joying customer service is professional and helpful one.
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?
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 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 $650USD
I'm an E.E. in the U.S. and I design electronic equipment in the defense industry. I can tell you that "cheap" is not always indicative of low quality because most manufacturers source their component parts from the same outlets. However, there can be differences in the design of the "mechanical envelope" that can be deficient due to cost cutting, e.g. heat sinks and cooling but generally speaking most manufacturers are diligent and do adequate field testing, even the cheaper brands because they realize suppliers will shun them if consumers are complaining about reliability.
Warranties and support is a whole different subject and I agree that usually the more you spend the better the warranty and service.
Very good explanation. Wish I saw this before I bought my first android head unit, I had to find out myself that there are low quality units like I bought. The biggest flaw I discovered was the lack of screen brightness on the cheap units. I bought a more expensive unit, which works well.
I bought a Hikity Android 9.1 9' head unit, it was 155$ 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 😀
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.
i've been using my xtrons head unit for 2 years on my toyota GT86.
I'm so happy with it: it's perfect. So much functionalities, and i even have torque pro on it, for engine ECU interactions. And i can have a movie or youtube video on it on long drive for the passenger in the rear seat to watch.
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)
@@noahkb80 thats why you use a dap to increase the rca voltage output.
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!
This was an awesome introduction to exactly what I was looking for 👍👏
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 😂😂😂
I bought a CHEAP 10.1 inch Windows CE unit for $35 bucks. as far as the unit goes it's just fine for 95% of the consumers out there.. these really inexpensive units are more tailored to video playback then they are for audio use. there's something nice to have in your car basically.
for audio quality? the joying make sense for the sole reason it has a digital output. it also means you now have an additional cost of setting up your system if you choose to go that route.
however if you're only interested in audio quality and you want to have the best you can possibly have for the least amount of money? You don't need a headunit. In fact? Why bother?
you already have a phone so use that. most people use their phones anyways just for directions or navigation and they usually have a windshield mount.
if you really need navigation simply get yourself a large tablet and get a tablet holder in your done. chances are you probably already have a tablet to use.
if that's the case? You now have an ultimate audio system.
all you need to do is add an external amplifier and for 98% of you? Walla! finished with your car audio install from at least the electronics source standpoint.
many amps on the market today that support Bluetooth support apt-x, so that's it. You are done.
some of you have phones that actually work really well with a three-and-a-half millimeter Jack and you're still able to make phone calls with the built in phone microphones . Xiaomi is really good at this.
_For the Basic Ultimate S.Q. System_
Phone> USB Dac ( *Topping AD-10* ) > Amp(s).
[Free] [ $10 ~ $100 ] [ $63 ]
Add some great DIY speakers, and sound treatment, Custom mount the drivers, And you are done!
All the problems, noise, etc are gone. Its the best simple system you can do. Nothing can touch it for simplicity, S.Q. & Cost.
again, if S.Q. Is your MAIN want? This is it. Bar none.
Wish I knew this before I bought my unit.
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
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
Great Info..i just bought a Android for my Toyota hilux ..thank God it came with a 4 gig ram ..can't Waite to install it...new subscriber
Great video.
Would you list Android head unit brands based on quality? Such as Joying, Xtroms, Eonon, Teyes, Atoto, Hokity, etc.
I would recommend simply getting a regular, non-touch screen head unit with an auxiliary port for 3.5 mm (maybe also bluetooth and a usb port if you think you might use them) plugs, buy an adapter for your phone, and plug your phone into the aux port via the adapter and cable. You can use your phone as the touch screen unit. You will not have to worry about whether the head unit has enough memory or will correctly run your applications. If applications are needed, they can be run on your phone. Your head unit, in this setup, serves the purpose of allowing you to play music from your phone.
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.
Love that you put the time stamps in the description. Saved a lot of time!!!! Thanks!
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.
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 :-)
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 :)
While I generally think the poster of this content has the best intentions for his audience, I would have to disagree with the warning not to buy the Chinese Android headunits with under 2gb of RAM. I’ve had the same sub-$100 Android headunit (MTK8777- mekede is the “brand” 16g rom 1gb ram ) for over 3 years installed in my archaic ‘94 Cadillac and it’s been working well since. I think my stereo has been tricked into saying it’s running Android 6 or 8 but when I did some digging I found it’s running 4.4. No worries- still connects to the play store and has been reliable. Had some issues installing the wiring correctly due to one or two mislabeled wires but once that was sorted, it was smooth sailing. I live in upper New York State and so we see hot muggy summers and cold blistering winters. It’s worked fine in all conditions! I use a seperate $40 dongle I bought over a year and half ago for CarPlay and that works fine too!
Of course. The fact that you're using a CarPlay dongle means that you are not limited to the specification of your head unit because you are effectively streaming all apps from the iPhone - the limitation is with the specification of your iPhone. 1gb of RAM would have problems running the latest versions of mainstream apps if they were running directly from your head unit. Generally, these head units also skimp on CPU power too. Not to say they wouldn't work, but they would most definitely run slower than intended.
@@SaabUnleashed fair enough. I didn’t initially consider the CarPlay aspect you informed me about. I just am happy with my two headunits similar to the ones you’ve covered in this video that I ordered in the cheapo spec. Granted, mostly using only with Bluetooth audio and CarPlay when I need directions. For that, I see the single gig performing well on these little buggers.
@@Haffmatthew it's the Bibo2. It's the software that I haven't got my head around yet, what I need to install and how I can convert files I download so I can print them. I bought the printer a while ago but I just haven't had the time to educate myself on it's use :)
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.
I paid about 350 for a Pumpkin (Chinese brand) it has been completly amazing! 10 years later it's still running fine!
That's hard to believe as 10 year old hardware would be running an ancient version of Android, and would be insufficient to run most of today's apps
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 bought an Xtrons for my old Mercedes and it works wonderfully. It has Apple CarPlay and everything.
Cool and useful comparison. Could you give a summary in the description giving the model numbers of the units?
My $120 Chinese Unit is fantastic and has been flawless for years now.
link?
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?
hi bud thanks for resting my mind i have just got a junsun 4 gb ram android 10 cost me £ 250 .. a lot of money but it is a very good unit mine is made for the 2003 Peugeot 307 only as it uses the cars stick control as well thank you michael
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?
Brilliant work on this review! You helped me out greatly. TY from America. JT
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 😆
I too have the pioneer head unit, its laggy and at times wont even connect to my iphone which means its useless … not buying one of them again for sure !
I ordered a joying 10.5 head unit for my bmw E90 and I can't wait for it to get here . Glad I ordered it
Can't go wrong with a Joying
How is it working out for you ?
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.
I just bought a Chinese Android unit, with only some connectors. Yes it works, but I can't control it from the Steering wheel controls, or use the car's inbuilt mic (fortunately it came with a lapel mic that connects via a standard 3.5mm jack). Yes it was sub £200, but it does me fine. Chinese Android units have dominated the market, meaning you have to go to Halfords to look at branded units
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 TH-cam 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 TH-cam all the time while drive. I don't look at the screen of course. And another nice bonus is can use TH-cam Vanced and get ad free TH-cam.... 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.
I wish more people would look closely at their "quality branded" electronic goods and the country they were manufactured in. Some of the initial designs may have been Western World Wonders (WWW) such as Apple products, etc, but the manufacturing is usually in China (such as Apple, Amazon, Google, Sony, Samsung, LG, etc) and quality is very good. The Chinese brands will expand on the initial WWW offering (just as Japan did many decades ago) by offering new & pioneering features which make them an interesting proposition to consider. I have recently purchased & installed a Chinese/HK Erisin android/carplay head unit in a BMW convertible and was a very simple install and the 4GB/64GB,WiFi, 4G & additional SD storage works wonders for me up till now. Read all reviews before you buy and you should not go wrong. Great video btw.
What are your thoughts on the Dasaita? +Saab Unleashed
I have on my Audi S4 a xtrons with 8gb ram and 128gb storage wireless apple play and the screen is 12.3 running android os 12 …The unit is very well made I also have a SIM card on it the wireless car play pairs super fast and the data from the sim works flawlessly running on 4LTE.. I do agree 100 percent if you buy a head unit try to buy one with 4gb or higher of ram ..I also install the unit everything was plug and play and the unit work nice with all the factory settings that came with the car ..👍🏽👍🏽
I'm actually going to be reviewing that one soon
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
Great description, Ive been trying to find a video by somebody who understands enough to seperate the BS marketing voodoo to what the actual product is your buying.
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.
Great video, thank you. Just cancelled the cheap head unit i bought off Amazon and am going to get an Xtrons.
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.
I'm replacing one of my Factory Nav Systems & *Why Why Why* is it so hard to find a decent Double DIN with Nav, a CD/DVD Slot (Which I have no intentions to use but I *expect it there!* ) & a *Physical* Volume Knob?! Any suggestions? Airplay/Droid whatever means nothing to me; I'm a grown man & have no reason to be doing anything but making calls on a Cellphone. I see that's how most companies are getting away with NOT having Navigation though. "JuST UsE YoUR PHoNe." I was quite excited to buy the ATOTO S8 (Mostly for the OBD/TPMS Stuff) until I thought about the Volume Controls (No, a 3rd Party USB Volume Knob pasted to my dashboard or a remote velcor'd to the steering wheel will not suffice. lol)
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 have a cheap unbranded Android headunit, I have never had any issue with it. It doesn't slow down, crash, freeze frames etc. I have had it in two different cars. Even the gps works flawlessly.
It's all about the spec :)
@@SaabUnleashed I agree, but I paid £45.00,and yes, i wasn't expecting much, having built installs for sound offs back in the day, as well as using Nakamichi for my other vehicles, but i was genuinely surprised at how good the unit is.
AWESOME 💪
GREAT TOPIC AND INFO 👏😁
I REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO 👍
PEACE ✌️
I have a 2015 Camry, the headunit has bluetooth, USB ect, but no GPS, no Android Auto or Apple carplay. Would like to upgrade, but concerned the new unit won't last very long.
I have a Pumpkin headunit and its a pretty good headunit
Can you play mobile games on it
I am on my third kenwood head unit,in eight years,ALL THREE of them have eventually got a red light of death,one of the circuit boards de-solders over time,because of the heat from the heater.I have also had one of the three repaired,it cost me £300 !! The only reason I have kept buying the kenwood is because it fits direct into the dashboard.The start up is ridiculous,it takes forever(DMX525DAB)..You said it took two days for your replacement to arrive from China?! WHAT !! Where do you live??china!! My next unit will certainly NOT be a kenwood!!!!
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
this was helpful, thank you. i wasn't aware joying was a trusted brand, i just thought it was one of those amazon cheapies that broke quickly, good to know i don't have to pay the exorbitant prices of kenwood / pioneer.
So did you get one? How is it
@@mrman8856 it works as expected, but the main reason i bought it is to benefit from the offline maps, which i can't use, as there are no offline maps available for my location, so i feel like i wasted my money. the hardware itself is fine, it's just extremely disappointing that i can't use it as a GPS.
i could use it for apple carplay / android auto, which i tested and found to be working, but i wanted a standalone GPS so that i didn't have to use my phone all the time.
i'll probably still use it to store music on so that i don't have to connect my phone all the time, but i could have probably found a cheaper way to do that.
what are you intending to use it for?
@Murtagh653 GPS, Music, For show, Camera's, and probably tinker with to make it compatible with idata link maestro. That's about it. I can get all those things in a more reputable brand but there screen sizes are always under 7 inches for around $500-700 then to 8 inches and up is around $800-$1200. So the 10 inch fits my dash nicely and that price seems reasonable.
@@mrman8856 @Mr Man Music and camera should work well, the unit seems to be well built, though i cannot speak for long term use as i've only had it a few months.
i suggest you email them. I cannot post their email as I have tried twice and it keeps deleting my comments, but if you google joying auto, you should be able to find it.
and ask them if they have offline maps available for your location. if you live in Australia, I can tell you that they do not have them available, unfortunately.
@Murtagh653 Thanks. And I'm in the states so I'm sure I'll be able to integrate an offline map... Well it's down to the Joying and Tecc ( spellcheck ) models.
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 just ordered a 8gb ram joying 9 unit for my Honda civic 2013 and honestly I'm quite hyped to get it. Tired of having to use my phone all the time
At last an informative video. Thank you.
Check out my Top 3 Android head unit brands here: th-cam.com/video/Ty6BB59E_HY/w-d-xo.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? 😁😁😁😁
Love the video thank you....I have a BMW Z4 (E85 model) what Android unit would you recommend. Ideally I'm only intending to use it for Navigation and Call (apple car play). What unit would you recommend? Im based in the UK.
Thank you for a great video.
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.
Excellent presentation, thank you
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 explanation. Really worth while video.
My Kenwood head unit was crap, they did not update their software. I have had a pumpkin for 10 years now and it is 1gb ram, it works fine for what it is supposed to do. It all works fine. Good after sales service too
Hey, thank you for your videos. I recently inherited a 07 H3 hummer with the Monsoon sound system. I need to replace the 6cd double din unit....i would like something that is data sim compatible so the kids can hotspot/wifi. Being able to sideload apps would awesome, but idk if that is even a thing with Android car stereos. I also have the pull down rear monitor. So if it could mirror or run its own apps that would kool. Obviously because its a hummer, i'd like to install a backup camera also. Ive already replaced my factory speakers w/ 3 way 6.5" 75 watt pioneer door speakers along with a 8" 700 watt pioneer slim mount subwoofer to use with the 300 watt factory-installed amp. It does have an external mic mounted above the drivers side. Any suggestions as to double~din units in the $200~$300 range? I noticed some Boss, Pioneer, & even one or two Alpine units fit this price range on Amazon, but they appeared to maybe be older models. Idk there are so many features & nuances these days its hard to decide what is best an my concerns with the cheaper units from china is quality and spyware.
Either way, ill keep watching & learning.
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.
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.
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
Ironically I have the exact Kenwood model you’ve got in my 93 convert 😁
I've had a Carjoying headunit in my VW ute for years (2016).
I've had to replace it once as the first one died.
The wifi no longer works on my current unit.
I'm looking to replace it again.
Wondering if there are better options these days.
One thing that has always annoyed me with the Joying unit is the VW climate control overlay that pops up on the screen. It comes up and down and you can't press anything or see anything under the overlay.
So when I hop in and load up Google maps, I can barely type the address in because this stupid overlay pops up.
I have to wait for it to go away then quickly type some letters in before it pops up again and hope I get enough letters in for the auto suggest to give me the address I'm looking for.
Ad a side note, don't get the touch screen only model. I had that first. Touch screen volume adjust is terrible while driving.
I replaced it when it died with a model with physical control knob. Much better.
Can you please review, if possible, the yulbro unit for Hyundai Genesis coupe? I realize that you don’t typically do an auto maker specific review but there are very limited reviews of these and I trust how you review. Thank you
I second this! Looking for a new radio and can't find many videos for our cars. Have you made a decision on a radio yet Lawrence?
@@mrlogansace I went with the T’eyes cc3 as they had good reviews and a kit that makes it look almost factory install. Only problem is terrible (zero install guide/instruction) and difficult to get it to sound great. I do need more power and speakers to find the quality I’m looking for and someone who can instruction on ALL the features would be very helpful. My current workload is preventing me from having a couple days to just dive in. I do love the looks, just need to get everything working properly. Thank you for reply
@@lawrencesilva8689 your issue seems to be the case with most androids for our car. id love to get the T'eyes but my pockets might not be deep enough atm 😭. Would love to see a quick video of it on the r/genesiscoupe subreddit if you get it working properly. Havent seen one yet.
i think the kenwood radio is much better. (is my opinion)
1. it boots much faster (when the android radio is shut down instead of standby where it eats battery, in standny it is there immediately).
2. (was the case with my android model) I drove on a bumpy road with a hard suspension (dampers etc.) or it was the temperatures. that usb devices were suddenly no longer recognized (dab+ adapter / smartphone) and that the radio just restarted like that, or even got stuck during booting. (i guess cold solder joints on the circuit board, but i sold the radio as defective)
3. the sound of the original radio was not so good. the sound on the android radio was much better, but the kenwood really got a very good sound from my standard speakers with the right settings. i have already saved the money for the speakers in my car, sure, it's not as good as high quality premium speakers, but it's getting there.
4. in my experience, good close source products are better than open sorce, but you may be more limited, but the system just works
5. how often do you actually use the additional functions that an android radio can do?
close source vs open source i don't see any reason for/against it, you can see it on apple and android smartphones, or on windows and linux.
Very useful thanks for sharing, I do have one question can you splice video cables.
I was checking your video reviews reference head units. And surprise you haven't mention DMP CarDesign Android touch screen units. I installed the DMP Cardesign Android touch screen 12.3 inch on my 2016 E400 Mercedes. It was super easy plug and play, apple carplay features, keeping original OEM interface and with a simple touch switch over to Android with tons of features, Keeping steering wheel and toggle knob features. Would be nice to get your take on that headunit. Thanks
I'll see if I can get one to have a look at
@@SaabUnleashed awesome! I’ve had mine almost 2 yrs and it’s been working perfectly.
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!
Many questions answered, thank you.
I’m looking for an android unit to put into my Mercedes sprinter camper 2015 and wondered if you’d have recommendations? The joying one in the vid sounds good? Also, do any of them have an option of a wireless reversing camera and your thoughts on them please? Due to the camper interior, running a cable camera will be a nightmare, look forwards to your reply and any links for suppliers please? 😊
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.
Thanks. I was considering an android head unit a while back. I bought an Alpine W650, but I was considering. The only problem was I couldn't find any opinion on their sound quality
That's what my channel is for, I review them
I prefer a physical knob for volume control. Touch screen is fine for everything else.
I agree, although I'm not overly fussed because I only ever control the volume via the wheel