Android car head units

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Android car head units

dean0

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#228965 31-Jan-2018 22:34

Hi all,

I'm looking to buy a double din head unit, running Android OS. There doesn't seem to be a lot of options on the market, and one of my biggest concerns is with reversing cameras. I'd expect the OS to take 30 seconds to a minute to load, so if a reversing camera is connected to one of these units, I'm guessing you can't view the camera until Android has fully booted up? Or are there units that exist that handle the reversing camera independently (outside of Android)?

Units such as the Chinavasion CVAIY-C516 sound good specs-wise, but the jury is still out on how the reversing camera side of things is handled. I can see these are carried by iGadgets: https://igadgets.co.nz/products/7-inch-2-din-car-stereo-cvaiy-c516?variant=5425335140381

Any opinions or people with personal experience using Android car head units would be much appreciated :)

lxsw20

2403 posts

Uber Geek

#1949776 31-Jan-2018 23:43

Not interested in getting something running Android Auto and plugging your phone in?

jpoc

874 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1949779 31-Jan-2018 23:53

I have one of the cheapo rubbish ones from AliX and, while it is not perfect, it does not have to boot android every time I start the motor.

michaelmurfy

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#1949782 1-Feb-2018 00:42

Look at getting a head unit with Android Auto + Apple Carplay. I have one and they're great.

Don't have to wait for it to boot, don't have to mess around with it and take your eyes off the road, it just works.

Quoban

37 posts

Geek

#1949809 1-Feb-2018 08:06

Helped my friend install a Joying 7" Double DIN headunit (from AliExpress) in his car. Main concern I had was with the boot up time and build quality, however the unit seems to stay in low-power or standby mode for a few hours after booted from 'cold'. Bezel buttons and the volume knob have a nice, solid feel - was half expecting cheap 'clacky' buttons for the price.

The startup from low-power mode is 1-3 seconds... Just instantly on, showing the android home screen (no startup screen or splash screen). We picked a Subaru logo to suit the car when it does boot up from cold, but have been 'disappointed' each time it starts up so fast - we never see it!

He was away for ~1 week, when it did power off completely. Booting the full system takes maybe 10-15 seconds, where the custom-chosen boot logo (car manufacturer) is shown, then an android logo, before going to the home screen.

He hasn't purchased any cameras for the system, however it does support reverse and DVR through the Joying system/OS.

hairy1

2915 posts

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#1949810 1-Feb-2018 08:08

I have a Joying unit. The reversing camera is some sort of separate system. As soon as reverse is selected the reversing camera is active. Once you deselect reverse Android will continue booting (which takes around 15 seconds)

Cheers.

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

dean0

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1950389 1-Feb-2018 22:53

Thanks for the replies! The Joying unit is the way I'm starting to think I'll go... while Android Auto sounds really good, you still need to manually connect your phone with a cable to run it. I hear wireless Android Auto is coming, but the units will also be quite expensive when released.

@quoban @hairy1 How was the install process? I currently have an "Eclipse" AVN-V01 unit installed in my Japanese imported Mazda Atenza 2011: https://www.croooober.com/en/item/7892597# . I'd be looking to hook up steering wheel controls as well as the reversing camera of course.

michaelmurfy

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#1950399 1-Feb-2018 23:43

@dean0 If the setup if anything like mine I've got another USB port on the car of which I've wired in to one of the head units back USB ports. I have an Apple Lightning cable around there and just plug it in and done. It charges your phone, messages etc come through the head unit and calling etc works too. To me, Wireless is a battery hog and doesn't charge your phone. This is the cleanest solution if you want your phones music, maps etc to display on the head unit in a driver friendly manner and as a bonus always stays updated as your phone updates.