12 Best Android Auto Head Unit in 2024

Modern automobiles are extremely advanced in terms of technology. Most cars today come with features like Android Auto or Apple CarPlay built in. But what if you own an older vehicle which perhaps didn’t have the option for Android Auto. Well, there are plenty of third-party head units that you can get from the online marketplace. In fact, Android Auto head units have been around longer than most would imagine. This includes offerings from giants like Pioneer, Alpine, and Sony. But given the amount of choices available, the search for a decent Android Auto head unit can be quite exhausting.

This is why we decided to compile a list of some of the best Android Auto head units available in 2024. You may recognize a few of these offerings, while we’ve also made sure to include underrated head units. So without waiting any further, let’s have a look at our list.

12 Best Android Auto Head Unit in 2024

BOSS Audio BVCP9685A

This head unit comes with a 6.75-inch display and uses an array of capacitive buttons for controls. This is a good move away from hardware buttons, which can be annoying at times. The design is pretty similar to most Android Auto consoles, and this includes a 6.75-inch LCD touchscreen panel. The best part about this head unit is that it works with Android Auto as well as CarPlay. So if you have someone at home with an iPhone and Android device, switching between the two platforms should be seamless.

Android Auto users can benefit from Google Assistant and other features like “Ok Google” voice detection to support voice guided controls of the head unit. This is by default a part of Android Auto and CarPlay to keep drivers undistracted while driving. You can use all the music apps that you can think of including Play Music. Since Maps is a Google product, expect this to be front and center during navigation. However, you can also use other navigation apps if you see fit.

Icons that appear on the homescreen can be rearranged according to your convenience, allowing you to keep only those apps that matter. Apps like WhatsApp, Spotify, Radio Disney, iHeart Radio, CBS Radio and several others are supported currently with more services joining the fray. This head unit also comes with a USB port allowing you to play music through a flash drive or even charge your phone using the onboard 1A charger.

Pioneer AVH-2300NEX

There’s no doubt that Pioneer is one of the world’s most popular manufacturer of car audio systems. The AVH-2300NEX is an exemplary Android Auto head unit with all the features that you could ask for and more. For starters, this head unit comes with a large 7-inch touchscreen display, giving you more display real estate to play around with. Moreover, it comes with Spotify built-in, allowing you to control music directly from your phone. Of course, you also get voice assistant features here with Google Assistant.

You get all the standard bells and whistles of a standard Android Auto head unit here, including support for myriad apps. This head unit includes SiriusXM by default, giving you access to 140+ radio stations ranging between genres like music and comedy. Pioneer is touting the addition of AppRadioLIVE, which brings together a bunch of features that are relevant to you during your drive. This may include music, navigation, and so on.

You can also plug in your iPhone or iPod directly to enjoy music via the head unit, although the company doesn’t specify if it supports charging. While it’s hard to differentiate between comparable Android Auto head units, what makes this offering stand out is Pioneer’s NEX user interface, which is fluid and a refreshing change from conventional head units. The user interface will change depending on what platform you choose, while it is also possible to use this as a standalone unit devoid of Android Auto or CarPlay.

Eonon Android Auto Head Unit

This is one of the newer offerings on the market, which means you get all the latest hardware and software on board. It runs Android 9 Pie and comes with Bluetooth 5.0, offering seamless connectivity with compatible devices. While iOS devices can connect wirelessly, Android users will require a USB connection for this to work. In terms of features, Android users are favored heavily here with features like bidirectional control between your phone and the head unit, something that’s missing with iPhones.

Internet may be required for some of the features of this head unit to work. However, since you can always setup an internet connection (mobile hotspot), you can theoretically have data on your car all throughout the road trip. Android Auto also includes a large number of Android apps, making this an incredibly attractive offering. The head unit consists of a 7-inch display and 32GB of onboard storage, allowing you to store music or media natively.

Since Android Auto offers Google Maps, navigating through tough roads is no longer a concern. Users can alternatively try out other Maps services that they like, which basically means that there are no restrictions on the kind of apps you want to use, something that CarPlay owners cannot often say. Given data restrictions during travel, it is recommended to download offline maps for navigation before you head out on your journey. The head unit comes with a dedicated USB slot and a slot for a GPS card (maps subscription services).

PUMPKIN Android Auto Head Unit

This is yet another new Android Auto head unit which comes with a large 7-inch LCD touchscreen panel. There are hardware buttons on the side, along with slots for USB connectivity as well as a GPS card. Most notably, this head unit runs Android 9 Pie by default, giving you the best of Android on your automobile. Using the company’s USB AutoPlay Dongle, customers can mirror their Android smartphone’s screen on the head unit. This also supports 3D games that can be downloaded from the Play Store. However, the fact that this requires a wired connection may be inconvenient in some cases.

This head unit comes with 32GB of onboard storage for apps and other content. Naturally, you can also play music or videos directly via the USB connection using a flash drive. All the Google Assistant features are available here, and can be launched with a quick voice command. This will also help you navigate the apps on your system without taking your eyes off the road. The company is using 2GB of RAM with this offering, which should greatly improve app opening and device boot time. This product also comes included with components like a Wi-Fi antenna, GPS antenna, and some cables for connectivity. This head unit will reportedly fit most cars, but make sure to check before you purchase the product.

Alpine iLX-207

This is a beautifully designed head unit that works with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This unlocks wireless capabilities with your smartphone, while voice assisted guidance is also available ensuring that your eyes never get off the road. It comes with a 7-inch touchscreen display, with hardware buttons located on the side. In terms of onboard features, you get services like SiriusXM Satellite Radio built-in, giving you access to hundreds of channels based on news, talk shows, comedy, music, and more.

The head unit also comes with AM/FM and HD radio tuners, making it easy to access local radio stations across you. Given the amount of features that the device is packing, it’s no surprise that there’s no dedicated CD player here. Naturally, there’s a USB slot here to setup Android Auto between your smartphone and the head unit. Once activated, core features such as navigation and calls can be done using just your voice.

While it may not have the the features that we saw on other head units, this offering by Alpine is a great product and is ideally suited for those seeking a no frills Android Auto head unit for their car. It should be compatible with most automobiles sold in the market today.

Sony XAV-AX5000

Sony is no stranger to car audio systems, and it’s quite apparent when we look at this head unit. This packs a big 6.95-inch display, which appears to be the norm among car head units today. Sony has managed to keep the design of the console neat and stylish. While there are two USB 2.0 ports on this head unit, they are located at the bottom, which basically means that the front remains clean. There are hardware buttons to skip tracks, increase/decrease volume, and so on. Although the head unit is Sirius XM Radio ready, you will need a radio satellite tuner for this to work.

When connected to your Android smartphone through Android Auto, the console will automatically initiate hands-free mode, allowing you to navigate, make or receive calls, or change music tracks only using your voice. The navigation on an Android Auto head unit is unparalleled in the market thanks to the presence of apps like Google Maps and Waze. You can also choose to use another navigation app that you see fit. With features like built-in 4 x 55 W amplification, music has never sounded better at higher volumes.

Given its minimalistic design, this head unit will blend perfectly with any automobile decor. While it should work with most cars out of the box, we recommend checking with your car manufacturer to see if it will fit well. Features like the automatic display dimming can help reduce the strain on your eyes while you drive, especially during the night.

Kenwood Excelon DDX9905S

Kenwood has produced innumerable car audio equipments and accessories over the years. So it was only natural for the company to make its way to the Android Auto fold. This particular unit packs a 6.75-inch display, so it’s not as big as some of the other Android Auto offerings we’ve discussed today. However, given the fact that there are very little bezels, the display covers almost the entirety of the unit. It comes with two USB ports, including features like Android Rapid Charge. The Excelon also comes with a DVD/CD player on board, something that we haven’t seen on modern day car head units. This makes it capable of playing music as well as videos.

Adding to the audio features are features like Sound Excellence DSP which ensures that users get high quality audio each time without compromises. Android Auto works like a breeze on this head unit, and the large icons surely help making the right selection. However, it is always recommended to control the Android Auto head unit with your voice rather than hands as taking your hands off the wheel even for a second might be dangerous.

With built-in radio, you get access to hundreds of local radio channels at your fingertips. You can also setup Waze, YouTube, Yelp and Next Radio via WebLink. Given the features it offers (DVD player), it’s no surprise that the Kenwood Excelon is not the cheapest Android Auto head unit out there.

Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX

The second Pioneer offering on this list, this head unit comes with a 6.94-inch WVGA resistive multipoint motorized touchscreen, offering you smooth touch features while navigating the UI. The faceplate of the head unit is detachable, allowing you to add DVDs or CDs as you see fit. This puts the W4400NEX in elite company as not too many Android Auto head units come with DVD/CD receivers. While having a DVD receiver is a welcome feature, given how most of the music is now available on smartphones, this feature seems slightly redundant.

This head unit also comes with Wi-Fi and is compatible with Miracast for wireless mirroring of your phone onto the head unit. You can pair your Android smartphone with the head unit for Android Auto compatibility. This can be done both wirelessly as well as with a USB interface. Since this is a Pioneer unit, you will also find features like AppRadio on board, which offers contextualized recommendations based on what you need on your dashboard/screen.

This head unit has a wide array of hardware physical buttons at the bottom of the display, including an eject button for DVDs/CDs. Additionally, you also get 2 USB ports here to play media from external HDD/flash drives or to simply charge your phone. There’s also an SD card slot on board for media playback, rounding off what appears to be a very comprehensive set of hardware features.

Sony XAVAX210SXM

The second Sony offering on this list, this Android Auto head unit comes with a relatively smaller display. While this may not be ideally suited for bigger vehicles with larger dashboards, there’s no doubt that there’s definitely a market for a product like this. In terms of features, users have access to Android Auto as well as Apple CarPlay, making this a versatile offering. Sony has also paired with Spotify and Pandora, allowing you to control the playback with your smartphone app.

You will also find a CD/DVD receiver here, allowing you to play music as well as videos on the display. Since this is only packing a 6.4-inch display, the quality may not be on par with bigger displays that we’ve discussed in this article so far. However, I feel this product will be ideally suited for hatchbacks that don’t have a long dashboard. It is highly recommended to check for compatibility with this product from your car manufacturer.

Sony is also offering a SiriusXM tuner bundle along with the product, which otherwise requires a separate purchase. While this bundle does shoot up the price a bit, it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re an existing subscriber of SiriusXM. There are a wide range of control buttons located on the left, including the eject button for DVDs/CDs etc. The user interface here is very similar to other Sony products, and is reminiscent of what we’ve seen on the company’s smartphones and tablets in the past. Be sure to check out this product.

JVC KW-M740BT

Although not many will be aware of JVC as a company, it has been around for a long time serving as one of the premier manufacturers of consumer electronics. The company also has its own Android Auto head unit with a sleek exterior and a touchscreen display for smooth operations. The company is touting visual features like El Kameleon, which turns the display entirely black when the car’s ignition is turned off. Bear in mind that this doesn’t completely turn off the console and may drain your battery.

The best part about this particular product is that JVC is also bundling a reverse backup camera with this product. This can be attached to your license plate while the head unit can be used as the viewfinder while backing up. This is a handy freebie to get with the console, although most modern day cars come with a backup camera. The head unit also supports MP3 ID3 Tag to identify tracks that are not officially listed.

It’s also listed as SiriusXM ready, although you may require a separate radio tuner to go along with it. This head unit works with a variety of cars available today, including some older models. We suggest you to check with your car manufacturer if this unit will fit your dashboard perfectly. This console is WebLink compatible as well.

Pioneer AVH-X390BS

As you probably guessed, Pioneer is one of the primary manufacturers of car consoles, which is why the company’s products feature thrice on this list. While there are multiple Android Auto head units out there, are are barely any from reputed manufacturers. This makes Pioneer’s offerings one of the most sought after products in the industry. As for the AVH-X390BS, you get a 6.2-inch WVGA touchscreen display, which is slightly smaller than some other Pioneer offerings we’ve discussed today.

It can provide power output at 50 watts x 4 channels, making it a very capable offering especially if you have a comprehensive speaker setup in your car. This player comes with a CD/DVD receiver, giving those with large disc collections a chance to showcase their music tastes. You also have two USB slots here, with the ability to charge up your phone if need be.

If you’re tired of the stock display screen, you can customize it thanks to a collection of 13 backgrounds and a splash screen. You can also control the brightness of the display, which can be handy depending on the time of the day. One caveat here is that this is a resistive touchscreen display and not capacitive. This basically means that the display works on the pressure of your finger rather than just touch. However, this shouldn’t take very long to get used to. Given the kind of features it’s packing, this offering is certainly one of the best out there. Be sure to have a closer look on Amazon.

Kenwood Excelon DDX6905S

Just like Pioneer, Kenwood too is a popular brand in the Android Auto consoles market. This particular offering is a slightly variation over the Excelon DDX9905S, thanks largely to the slightly larger 6.8-inch display panel. This console is SiriusXM ready, although you will require a tuner and a subscription to access its radio frequencies. While Android Auto is front and center here, you can also access most of Android’s features via KENWOOD WebLink. This is an app that can be downloaded on your smartphone to have apps like Waze, Google Maps, and YouTube without depending on Android Auto.

However, Android Auto is the preferred choice for most users here given that it also comes with its own suite of Google apps like YouTube, Maps, Waze etc. Naturally, you can use Apple CarPlay on this console with the Siri voice assistant, making this a pretty versatile offering overall. This offering also comes with a DVD receiver, so you can view media or play music using DVDs or CDs. This is a beautifully designed product, and the simplistic color combination will appeal to most users. Bear in mind that this product doesn’t support wireless Android Auto.