Cheap android tablet as a head unit
Discussion
The HU in my car is archaic. There are a few options ranging from adding Carplay through an MMI box with a screen overlay for "touch", to OEM looking direct replacement of the HU with an android-based device.
These options range from £800 to £1200, even via Alibaba, which is a bit strong for me right now.
I have a road trip to the south of France coming up, so I'm wondering could I get a thin, cheap 9" tablet, with 4G and GPS, and use Google for Nav with a cheapo data only sim? I could fashion a temp mount to sit the tablet in front of the existing HU (binning the HU is problematic as it DIS no longer works and all sorts of CELs are thrown)
In the glovebox there is a USB and 3.5mm jack AUX input where I have a cheapo USB powered Bluetooth dongle plugged into the 3.5mm, so connect audio from tablet to this?
Am I making this massively overcomplicated?
These options range from £800 to £1200, even via Alibaba, which is a bit strong for me right now.
I have a road trip to the south of France coming up, so I'm wondering could I get a thin, cheap 9" tablet, with 4G and GPS, and use Google for Nav with a cheapo data only sim? I could fashion a temp mount to sit the tablet in front of the existing HU (binning the HU is problematic as it DIS no longer works and all sorts of CELs are thrown)
In the glovebox there is a USB and 3.5mm jack AUX input where I have a cheapo USB powered Bluetooth dongle plugged into the 3.5mm, so connect audio from tablet to this?
Am I making this massively overcomplicated?
I have a generic 10-inch double DIN Android head unit in my boat.
It has built in GPS and I run an offline system of charts (maps!) on it.
External GPS antenna, built in 4 channel amplifier.
Runs straight off the 12V.
There were loads on ebay for about £70 two years ago.
Around here, it's worth having offline maps IMHO.
It has built in GPS and I run an offline system of charts (maps!) on it.
External GPS antenna, built in 4 channel amplifier.
Runs straight off the 12V.
There were loads on ebay for about £70 two years ago.
Around here, it's worth having offline maps IMHO.
I recently bought a Carpuride W3 for 90 odd of Amazon to go in my Mini. Seemless carplay from iphone. Power from a 12v socket or hardware and connect to head unit via an AUX cable.
Every bit as good as the OEM carplay in my BMW. Only addition is a external hidden mic as i have installed the screen at the base of the centre console so the built in mic is a bit feint.
Every bit as good as the OEM carplay in my BMW. Only addition is a external hidden mic as i have installed the screen at the base of the centre console so the built in mic is a bit feint.
Thanks all, seems like a purpose made CarPlay screen could be the most cost effective and fit-for-purpose solution. I just want carplay as everything is hosted on the phone. And at under a hundred quid, it's a cheapish temp solution. Will update.
Annoying, the HU isn't a standard double DIN and losing the factory HU causes all sorts of errors on the DIS so not a straight replacement. Folks on the internet have installed double DIN HUs and relocated the OEM HU to the boot.
Annoying, the HU isn't a standard double DIN and losing the factory HU causes all sorts of errors on the DIS so not a straight replacement. Folks on the internet have installed double DIN HUs and relocated the OEM HU to the boot.
I picked up one of these to use as a reversing cam in my camper van not expecting the smart functionality to be any good but it's great value for money and actually works really well as a carplay/android auto head unit. Music comes out via FM which is fine for the crap speakers I have. I think I paid about £30 at the beginning of the year although being a cheapo jobby from Alibaba the product could be totally different now. The touch screen can be a little laggy and it's dropped the connection on the odd occasion.
Anyway point being even that cheap one works OK and probably better than a tablet.
Anyway point being even that cheap one works OK and probably better than a tablet.
Scrump said:
Rather than use a generic android tablet, maybe something like this may be better - it is at least designed specifically for this purpose (lots of others for sale on Amazon)
If you get one then let us know if it works (I have been wondering about getting one for my van).
I have one, ordered for pennies from Temu or AI (cant remember which, but paid less than £10 for it) - works perfectly well - they are capactive screens so arent sensitive like a modern touchscreen mobile etc. and if replacing it I would opt for a model that bluetooths to the car rather than using FM transmission, just for consistency but yeah, not bad for the price I paid.If you get one then let us know if it works (I have been wondering about getting one for my van).
The reason you would want to use an Android Tablet for this is that you want an Android Tablet in general and you don't want to buy two devices when you don't need to. Those cheapo Carpuride things are perfectly fine and great value for what you want, but if you upped the budget and got a decent tablet instead that might be more useful all-round.
I have used my Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra for navigation before and it is superb! It works fine if you setup the nav at home where it's on WiFi as it prompts to download the route as it knows it won't be able to once you leave home, but it will also tell my phone to turn on it's Hotspot automatically anyway, so it just works really.
Android Auto devices have a better UI than the Car Mode that's built into Google Maps, though the latter is fairly decent. The main limitations are that Car Mode doesn't show any music controls in Landscape mode - WTF - and because Amazon and Google hate each other Audible doesn't show up in the Music player app list. If you fire up Audible and have it playing when you open Maps, it loads up what you're playing with controls though, so it does work well enough.
I have a cheap bluetooth to Aux device wired behind my dash and into the back of the stereo and I have a bluetooth media controller button stuck on my arm-rest too, so everything just connects up nicely when the car is turned on.
I have used my Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra for navigation before and it is superb! It works fine if you setup the nav at home where it's on WiFi as it prompts to download the route as it knows it won't be able to once you leave home, but it will also tell my phone to turn on it's Hotspot automatically anyway, so it just works really.
Android Auto devices have a better UI than the Car Mode that's built into Google Maps, though the latter is fairly decent. The main limitations are that Car Mode doesn't show any music controls in Landscape mode - WTF - and because Amazon and Google hate each other Audible doesn't show up in the Music player app list. If you fire up Audible and have it playing when you open Maps, it loads up what you're playing with controls though, so it does work well enough.
I have a cheap bluetooth to Aux device wired behind my dash and into the back of the stereo and I have a bluetooth media controller button stuck on my arm-rest too, so everything just connects up nicely when the car is turned on.
Scrump said:
Rather than use a generic android tablet, maybe something like this may be better - it is at least designed specifically for this purpose (lots of others for sale on Amazon)
If you get one then let us know if it works (I have been wondering about getting one for my van).
I wasn't even aware these things existed! But in hindsight, it's pretty obvious. My GTV has a bluetooth/DAB 1-slot head unit and it's driving me nuts. One of these, or a new head unit with pop-out screen may be a good replacement.If you get one then let us know if it works (I have been wondering about getting one for my van).
Follow up to this - I bought the very item Scrump posted and just fitted it in the GTV. Took about an hour, most of which was faffing about re-routing the power and rear camera cabling already in place from my dashcam from the top of the windscreen to the bottom, then trying to get the A-pillar trim back in place.
Neat bit of kit, and doesn't have the irritating 'feature' of the DAB/Bluetooth head-unit of automatically starting the music playing with no way to disable it
Neat bit of kit, and doesn't have the irritating 'feature' of the DAB/Bluetooth head-unit of automatically starting the music playing with no way to disable it
It has a bare-bones OS, but nothing that you would recognise as being Android, ie no apps. It's just a shell with a bunch of config options to control its behaviour when a phone is connected. At least as far as I can tell. Whether it's flashable with a full version of Android is anyone's guess...
I'm also looking at this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Carpuride-Steering-Contro...
....and this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CG68H2MY/ref=sspa_dk...
....and this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CG68H2MY/ref=sspa_dk...
Depending on the car, but I usually prefer a solid place to mound a phone.
It's always up to date, never feels archaic and the OP already has a way to play phone audio.
I've bought Brodit proclips for two of my cars, they mount solidly but eventually removable.
https://www.brodit.com/en
I don't bother with their phone mounts as I want some flexibility for the other members of the family, so I buy these "tripod adaptors".
It's a neat and non-intrusive solution that works well as long as you have the means to connect your phone's audio to the car.
It's always up to date, never feels archaic and the OP already has a way to play phone audio.
I've bought Brodit proclips for two of my cars, they mount solidly but eventually removable.
https://www.brodit.com/en
I don't bother with their phone mounts as I want some flexibility for the other members of the family, so I buy these "tripod adaptors".
It's a neat and non-intrusive solution that works well as long as you have the means to connect your phone's audio to the car.
Brodit stuff looks good, but their website and product images are appalling! As for the prices, it would be just short of £100 for the clip, holder and integrated charger for my phone (Z Fold 5) - that's about what I paid for the CarPlay/Android Auto unit. For my phone, I'll stick with my Spigen magsafe charger, though technically it could just stay in my pocket, or the centre console now with a short USB cable to keep it charged 
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