After 23 years of use, the factory infotainment system in my 2002 Tacoma stopped working. I began looking for an extremely simple replacement radio as I did not intend to upgrade speakers or add an additional subwoofer. After lots of reviews, this stereo kept showing up in my recommended items from Amazon. I figured for the price it would be hard to go wrong. I ordered the vehicle specific within harness adapters for my year/make/model and this head unit. Wiring was extremely easy with the adapters. Installation is very vehicle dependent, but once the dash was apart and the old radio was out the factory radio brackets bolted right to the unit. I dot not need a bezel around the receiver as it fit perfectly. I requested the updated files and a new boot image. Customer support was extremely quick to respond and provide all of the needed files. They recommend not using a USB drive that is larger than 32 gigs, and the 32 gig drive I used worked fine. Files updated quickly and I have a new boot screen. The backup camera is crisp and works well. If there is a single warning I would provide anyone considering this unit it would be to measure the length of the backup camera cord if you own a pickup. I routed mine through the firewall and then followed the frame to the center of the rear bumper. I only had a few inches of excess wire to spare - so a full size long bed truck might be a stretch (02 Tacoma Crew Cab for reference.) Apple car play works flawless and is Bluetooth. No need to connect via USB. So far the functionality has been flawless. I cannot speak to longevity as it’s only recently installed, but if I get several trouble free years out of this unit I cannot imagine a better bang for the buck. I wouldn’t anticipate audiophiles flocking to this as an option, but if you are looking for a fantastic replacement radio that drops into a double din and gives you a backup camera I sincerely doubt you can do better for the price than this unit. Read more
Writing an unbiased review about this head unit – no strings attached. I believe an important review can provide others with feedback and clarity about the product they're buying. With that being said, my overall impression of this unit was very good. While this brand might seem subpar compared to big names like Pioneer, Kenwood, and Alpine, it offers about 90% of the functionality you'll need, including front and rear camera capabilities, radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. For me, the main attraction was wireless CarPlay for my Apple iPhone. Occasionally, I use the radio to adjust sound quality and settings; I don't need navigation since people nowadays prefer using their phones for that. Another cool feature is the mirror functionality. Unexpectedly, I found myself watching Netflix or YouTube on the screen during road trips to keep passengers or my kid company, despite the potential danger of watching movies while driving. Sound quality was exceptionally crisp – noticeably better than my factory head unit. The screen is ridiculously bright, even at half brightness, which is cool for navigating during the day but can be uncomfortable to adjust at night. I wish it had an auto-dim feature. There's a very small lag when swiping or pressing, though most users won't notice or care. It's not as fluid as Pioneer or Alpine, but it doesn't bother me. Customer service was unexpectedly on point. I contacted them about a custom boot logo, wallpapers, and firmware update, and they had everything sorted within a day – the easiest process I've experienced for any head unit updates and custom boot logos. I'd give this head unit a 8.5/10. It's affordable, has all the functionality I need, and even came with a backup camera that I haven't installed yet but desperately need for my car. Would I buy this head unit again? Most definitely and I would recommend this to others who are looking for a budget unit for their cars. I will try to provide another follow up in a few weeks to see how things fair up to daily usage. 1 mo update: So far, I have had zero issues, and it works great. It instantly connects to the phone upon ignition, and the radio works flawlessly, and functions as expected. However, I can't say the same for the backup camera because I have been super lazy to install it so I can't comment on that part. Honestly, it still feels like a new car, at least compared to what I had with the old nostalgic retro buttons. It truly feels revamped. Read more
