Android Auto units - what am I actually looking for? What makes one better than another?

JustAnotherSaver

Pretty much in all the time I've been driving I've been on Alpine units. the 103BT, 126BT and 178BT.

The sound output was good and more importantly to me - it had connection for iPod at the rear. I could run this cable wherever I wanted, leave my iPod in the car and I could control it from the unit and it would be kept charged at all times. The 178BT was slightly different in that it wasn't a dedicated iPod cable, it was a USB cable that you could connect any USB to it.

FFWD to today and I'm considering a double DIN unit with Android Auto. I contacted an online retailer with my budget and they gave me these:

Sony

Pioneer

Kenwood

Grundig

Why would one be better than another? They all look just about the same to me.

Any touch screen responsiveness comparison you wont know because you're not going to buy the lot of them and try it out.

Everyone likes to stream things these days rather than having something dedicated. My preference would be to have that rear cable once again to leave my iPod in the car and kept charged. I'd prefer to not have to load my phone with music to then have to play it via Bluetooth or whatever.

As far as maps go, does the phone need to be physically connected to the unit or not for this to work on the unit itself?

There's £150 difference in those units. I'm just wondering what one really gives over another to justify the pricing and how this Android Auto actually works - along with how I would ideally like to play my music?

Jenni_D

Regarding Android Auto itself ... in my car AA capability is already built-in to the head unit. The phone is plugged in via USB to a specific socket and the unit recognises that the device is AA-capable. (Remember that you'll need the AA app installed on your phone, but you are usually prompted to install it when you connect to a AA-capable head unit). I can't say whether any of the units you've listed provide a direct cable interface, or connect via another means. (My only experience with AA - in a few different cars but in all cases AA has been built-in - has been that the phone is connected by cable, so meeting your "charge" requirement).

Once the phone is connected then you press the AA button on the head unit and it shows you a car-friendly display of the apps on your phone which are compatible with AA. (Not all are). Such apps won't install themselves - you'll need to install them, but there are lots of such apps available. For internet radio you can try TuneIn or Radioplayer; Amazon Music is AA-compatible, as is Spotify, plus there are several other streaming music options but I've not tried them.

HTH  

*j*

Grundig was declared bankrupt in 2003.  The well respected name seems to have since been taken over by other companies, but the original Grundig sadly no longer exists.

born_again

Jenni_D said:

Regarding Android Auto itself ... in my car AA capability is already built-in to the head unit. The phone is plugged in via USB to a specific socket and the unit recognises that the device is AA-capable. (Remember that you'll need the AA app installed on your phone, but you are usually prompted to install it when you connect to a AA-capable head unit). I can't say whether any of the units you've listed provide a direct cable interface, or connect via another means. (My only experience with AA - in a few different cars but in all cases AA has been built-in - has been that the phone is connected by cable, so meeting your "charge" requirement).

Once the phone is connected then you press the AA button on the head unit and it shows you a car-friendly display of the apps on your phone which are compatible with AA. (Not all are). Such apps won't install themselves - you'll need to install them, but there are lots of such apps available. For internet radio you can try TuneIn or Radioplayer; Amazon Music is AA-compatible, as is Spotify, plus there are several other streaming music options but I've not tried them.

HTH  

Note from Android 10 it is built into the O/S 👍

Jenni_D

Is it? I have an Android 10 phone, although I can't remember if it came with 9 and then upgraded. I certainly do have the AA app on it though.

born_again

https://support.google.com/androidauto/answer/9468382?hl=en-GB#:~:text=Starting with Android 10, Android,Auto with your car display.

Starting with Android 10, Android Auto is built into the phone as a technology that enables your phone to connect to your car display. This means that you no longer have to install a separate app from the Play Store to use Android Auto with your car display.  

Jenni_D

That same page also says:

If you're upgrading your phone from Android 9 to Android 10, make sure that your phone already has Android Auto installed before you upgrade. If so, the app icon will carry over to your newly upgraded device

 

oldagetraveller1

Would it depend on make/model of phone whether Android Auto is pre installed?

I have a Xiaomi Poco F3, Android 11 with MIUI. It is most definitely not built in. Nor was it in a Poco X3 NFC using Android 11.