Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are excellent interfaces to have when driving. If you have an iPhone, you can hook it up to your car’s stereo system to enjoy CarPlay. That being said, if you have an older car, chances are that it doesn’t support CarPlay. In such a case, the best thing to do is to get an Apple CarPlay head unit.
SJOYBRING Car Stereo
- Size: Double Din
- Display: 7-inch
- Wireless CarPlay: No
If you’re looking for a basic CarPlay head unit at an affordable price, you cannot go wrong with the SJOYBRING stereo. Make no mistake, the inexpensive price doesn’t mean you miss out on functionality. What’s more, this head unit also includes a backup camera in the package.
The 7-inch screen on the SJOYBRING car stereo is accompanied by physical controls on the left. This is a nice addition since media controls are better with buttons and knobs. To fire up CarPlay, all you have to do is connect your iPhone to the stereo using a USB-A to lightning cable and you’re good to go.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
BOSS Car Audio System
- Size: Double Din
- Display: 7-inch
- Wireless CarPlay: No
This audio system from BOSS also has an SD card slot, just like the one from SJOYBRING. So, when you don’t want to connect your phone, you always have the option to play your offline playlist. If you want to use CarPlay, you just have to connect your phone to the USB port onboard.
Connecting your phone to the USB port gives you the ability to control media, use navigation, and make/take calls — all via the screen in your car. There’s FM Radio built-in too. So, if you want to listen to your local stations, you can do so.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
JVC KW-M560BT
- Size: Double Din
- Display: 6.8-inch
- Wireless CarPlay: No
The audio output from the JVC KW-M560BT is quite rich, thanks to expert tweaking by JVC. There’s also a 13-band equalizer to further fine-tune the music to your tastes. While you get to groove to excellent music, you also have to make certain compromises with the JVC CarPlay head unit.
For starters, you miss out on an SD card slot so you’ll have to resort to a USB drive to play offline media. But that would take up the sole USB port and can’t charge your phone. But overall, if you’re willing to put in the effort for better audio, you should consider the JVC KW-M560BT.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Sony XAV-AX3200
- Size: Double Din
- Display: 7-inch
- Wireless CarPlay: No
Similar to the JVC Head unit mentioned above, the Sony XAV-AX3200 focuses primarily on audio quality. The unit comes with 2V front and rear pre-amp outputs for excellent sound. However, despite its high price, it misses out on some handy features like wireless Apple CarPlay.
However, if you have a good set of speakers and a sub-woofer in your car, the Sony XAV-AX3200’s true capabilities come to life. But it’s important to note that Sony has made some compromises to accommodate better audio drivers. The main area where Sony has cut corners is in terms of the display. It houses a resistive touch screen instead of a capacitive one which is a bummer.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Pioneer MVH-AV251BT
- Size: Double Din
- Display: 7-inch
- Wireless CarPlay: No
Pioneer is another brand that specializes in audio equipment. So naturally, the audio output from the MVH-AV251BT is excellent. The best part is you won’t have to compromise on the screen or other features for it.
The bottom of the Pioneer head unit has physical controls for media volume, skipping tracks, or even launch various menus without interacting with the display. Speaking of the panel, the MVH-AV251BT has a matte texture display for better visibility under direct sunlight.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
ATOTO S8 Ultra
- Size: Double Din
- Display: 7-inch
- Wireless CarPlay: Yes
The biggest USP of the ATOTO S8 Ultra is its convenience. It’s one of the few head units at this price point that supports wireless Apple CarPlay. Thanks to this, you don’t have to plug your iPhone into your car every time you drive.
Wireless CarPlay is not only easier to use but it also prevents your iPhone’s battery health from deteriorating. Apart from this, there are several features unique to the S8 Ultra. For starters, it runs on a native Android OS. So even if you don’t want to use Apple CarPlay, features like navigation and media playback will still be available. And if you’re not impressed yet, the ATOTO S8 Ultra has a QLED display, hand gesture controls, dual Bluetooth device support, and to top it all, a built-in LTE modem.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
FAQs
It depends on the head unit installed in your car. For instance, all the above-mentioned head units also support Android Auto alongside Apple CarPlay. That being said, there are other products in the market that support Apple CarPlay only.
Both wired and wireless CarPlay have their own pros and cons. While wireless CarPlay is more convenient, it drains your phone’s battery quicker. Wired CarPlay on the other hand requires you to plug your iPhone in all the time. This is stabler but it can also end up damaging your iPhone’s battery health in the long run.
Natively, Apple CarPlay doesn’t allow you to stream content or mirror your iPhone’s display onto your car’s head unit. However, if you pick up an infotainment system like the ATOTO S8 Ultra which supports screen mirroring, you will be able to watch videos on your car stereo.
Was this helpful?
Last updated on 22 May, 2024
Read Next
Top 6 Apple CarPlay Head Units For Your Car in the UK
If you often take long drives and rely on your phone's maps app, you might want to consider upgrading to a smart unit for a better driving experience.
5 Best Portable Apple CarPlay Units For Your Vehicle
In today's tech-driven world, staying connected while on the road is more important than ever.
14 Cool Gadgets to Buy Under Rs 500 In India
We, at Guiding Tech, have been scouring the internet for the last few days.
5 Best Scanners for Documents Under $500
Finding a good scanner can be a challenging task -- especially if you're on a budget.
OnePlus 12R Review: Best Phone Under $500?
Alongside the flagship OnePlus 12, its little sibling, the OnePlus 12R also broke cover recently.
6 Best Soundbars Under $500 in 2024
If you're buying a new TV getting the audio right is an essential part of the decision-making process.
How to Convert Units, Time Zones, and Currency on iPhone
The iPhone has a few features that don't blow your mind at face value but integrate so well into our daily lives.
7 Best Apple CarPlay Lightning Cables for Your iPhone
Short and durable lightning cables work best when connecting your iPhone to your car for CarPlay.
The article above may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. The content remains unbiased and authentic and will never affect our editorial integrity.
