Understanding Android in-car hardware

[Tommie38]

I am looking at Android head units but must admit to struggling a bit with understanding which hardware platforms/CPUs are better than others.

Is there some kind of benchmarking resource that will give me an indication of how they will perform in use? Processor probably most important.

Using storage capacity/RAM is one way of getting a feel for it, but knowing how to compare the raw processor performance would be good.

[joropug]

My experience after shopping around for both an Astra and a much more advanced W204 Android unit is:

-Many lie about processor and RAM and the UI is hacked to show a higher number.
-You will want as much RAM as possible, if there is a 6 and 8gb go for the 8.
-Get as new an Android version as possible
-If you're replacing a screen (i.e. BMW, Mercedes) the unit will not provide audio unless its via AUX.
-If you're replacing the existing radio itself it will probably be an amplifier also.
-Get one that has a CANBUS adapter for your car it will integrate far better than self wiring it as a standalone stereo. (i.e. steering wheel buttons will work etc).

I had a great experience with a cheap Pumpkin unit in an old Astra that did everything I needed to well, however I had a nightmare with my W204 android unit which could have been epic, but my car did not have an AUX input instead it has a MMI Port for the audio which runs through the existing system. The unit came with an adapter and a software script to activate AUX on the MMI (Very clever) however it did not work and I wasted hours and hours of dismantling and fitting.

Edited by joropug on Tuesday 4th January 11:33

[Tommie38]

Thanks for this. Sorry, I should have said that I have already installed two similar devices in other cars. In both cases I eventually came to the conclusion that I should have bought more powerful units.

The second one was converted to CarPlay with an aftermarket adapter. That helps but the actual device is painful when running apps natively.

Yes, I did see that a number have been hacked to report better hardware. Shocking really. Coming from the cosy world of Apple iPhones that was a surprise!

[joropug]

Tommie38 said:

Thanks for this. Sorry, I should have said that I have already installed two similar devices in other cars. In both cases I eventually came to the conclusion that I should have bought more powerful units.

The second one was converted to CarPlay with an aftermarket adapter. That helps but the actual device is painful when running apps natively.

Yes, I did see that a number have been hacked to report better hardware. Shocking really. Coming from the cosy world of Apple iPhones that was a surprise!

Ah I see ! CPU can probably be benchmarked yes but to be honest I don’t know if it will tell you much as the unit may use it ineffectively.

I used video apps and sat nav (offline and Waze/Google) without issue on the Pumpkin one. That was 4gb ram at the time running Android 8. Although looking on their website now they only seem to do a 2gb one so maybe I got done.

[untakenname]

For those struggling with low specced headunits using an android auto/ apple carplay usb adaptor which offloads the heavy lifting onto the phone can make the units a lot more functional.

I've had good results using a cheap 2 core 1GB RAM no name £50 Chinese headunit which would take an age normally to do anything and would struggle with multitasking but using Android Auto via the phone the setup works pretty seamlessly the phone apps such as waze, whatsapp, spotify etc...