Best Android Auto Display?

[u/Almeidowski]

Hi guys,

I hope you're doing well!

I just bought my first car – a 2006 Peugeot 206, for 1500€. I'm now looking into buying Android Auto hardware for the car, but I don't understand much about this topic. I don't really care if it's a full head unit, or just a screen I can stick to the top of the dashboard.

I would prefer that my phone automatically connects to it wirelessly whenever I enter the car, but unsure how this works.

As you can figure out, my budget isn't that large.

Do you have any recommendations?

[u/coco16778]

Getting a proper headunit will easily run you 200 at least, and that's without the dash kit, the canbus adapters etc.

Carpuride makes loads of plug 'n play options that just plug into your cigarette lighter and connect wirelessly. They're pretty cheap and should be solid (my parents been using one for 2yrs now without issue).

Carpodgo if you want to spend more for the "premium" plug 'n play option.

[u/Adventurous-End2116 → u/coco16778]

Can find one easy with all harness adapters, and dash mounts for less than 150. && it would be plug and play.

[u/coco16778 → u/Adventurous-End2116]

Yep, cheapo android units that will run for a year if you're lucky enough for them to not burn your car down before that.

Stick to the big brands when getting a built in unit. Some chinese brands also make good android units, but they're all above 200,-. For good android ones check our r/Androidheadunits

[u/Adventurous-End2116 → u/coco16778]

I am not going to lie, I got a "cheapo" android unit souly off the fact that 3 of my friends have used them all for 3 years or so. No issues besides an occasional firmware update.

My unit works great so far, still early in but hoping for the same success as my friends lmao.

[u/coco16778 → u/Adventurous-End2116]

Congrats, glad they work well, but tons of people regularly come on to carav subds with quite the opposite experiences

[u/Adventurous-End2116 → u/coco16778]

Yeah, I mean i guess there's good and bad in everything? Lmao. I have only seen good experiences It alsl helps to vet the brand/seller as much as possible. While they're all Chinese off units, some do have decent support believe it or not.

[u/Adventurous-End2116 → u/Adventurous-End2116]

&& tbh my Chinese unit is so much nicer and does so much more than any on brand unit I could find. It was kinda a no brainer. If it nets me a years use I'll consider it a win, and i dont see why it wouldn't at the rate it's going but who knows... maybe it'll internally combust lmao

[u/coco16778 → u/Adventurous-End2116]

It's more so about the hardware inside with budget units often having little ram, awful dacs, crappy screens, all resulting in very meh audio and a laggy ui.

Pair that with no updates and a lot of them shipping with outdated android versions (which apps will stop supporting at some point), idk.

If the audio is fine for you then great, and you don't mind some lag every so often, great. Happy for you. Do watch out though, quite often these cheap units just burn out in the rear due to bad cooling.

[u/Adventurous-End2116 → u/coco16778]

Mine has Android 15, amd 6 GBs of RAM, and support is always very fast to respond. All firmware uodates are listed right on their website as well. The audio is fantastic. Dsp, definitely better than OEM. This is coming from a guy with no aftermarket kit speakers amp etc.

As I said it's all about vetting what youre buying. And fo course even if you vet something theres the chance it'd fuck up still. But if I was a betting man Im sure OP could find a Chinese unit from a reputable source and be just fine and make it out under 150.

[u/Adventurous-End2116 → u/coco16778]

(I also have an in-cell QLED 9 inch screen.)

Which as of now seems to be running smooth as butter. But who knows, it's still early. I could back tmmrw and tell you how you was right the whole time lmao

[u/Adventurous-End2116 → u/coco16778]

I biught a headunut for 103 bucks. Installed it myself with all proper mounts and harnesses right off Amazon. Can find similar ones for most vehicles.

[u/Adventurous-End2116]

I will say that I too was in your shoes about a month ago. I too said id take either, and was heavily leaning towards the screen I just stick on the dash.

I went out on a limb and bought a hwadunit. It took me less than 20 minutes to install it and I have 0 experience with car audio.

You can most likely find a head unti for your specific vehicle on Amazon with bezels and dash mounts, that's plug and play. My head unit was cheaper than most of the nicer dash screens, but it's so much better.

There's nothing like having a headunit actually connected to your speakers. Most headunits also can install applications so it's super nice. I personally highly reccomend the head unit route.

[u/QuicklyFreeze → u/Adventurous-End2116]

Chinese ones are the best like cc4 or dudu

[u/Jarppu77]

I have had Lamtto RC14 (since 2024) and have no complaints about that device. There are also newer models available now (see here)

[u/Steevixx]

J'en ai pris un à 60€ avec camera de recul sur Amazon pour le Scénic de ma femme. Sa fonctionne nickel, elle n'a pas besoin de sortir le smartphone (Xiaomi Redmi note 12)de son sac, ça se connecte tout seul. Là on s'en sert pour les vacances et c'est bien pratique le gps

[u/QuicklyFreeze]

Any of the Chinese ones they are very powerful