Review
13/07/2026
(4.00)
I chose this unit mainly because it has physical buttons for the actions you need while driving.
Focusing on the head unit itself, ignoring android auto and carplay specifics:
Good:
- The audio settings (EQ, balance, delay, cross-over, subwoofer control) are decent.
- The menus are well organised, even if they're a little on the simpler side.
- Sony actually updates their software
OK:
- The screen resolution and CVBS camera are fine from a driving position. The screen resolution doesn't compare to a modern phone up close, but I've used this unit for 12+ hours of driving and navigation since installing and can conclude that the resolution/density doesn't affect the usability in any practical way except for the layout it forces in Android Auto. I'm someone who loves high DPI screens, but there are other factors that are way more important in this application.
- The only physical button missing is play/pause, which can only be performed through steering wheel controls input. You can wire a custom button directly across "steering wheel ground" and "steering wheel signal 1" to get this if you don't have actual steering wheel controls.
- Wired and Wireless Android Auto work, though annoyingly you need to plug in before starting the car to run in ired mode. I prefer to plug my phone in for long trips, but it's nice that it just works wirelessly from my pocket if I'm doing short errands. Occasionally disconnects, but sorts itself out again quickly.
Annoying:
- Dimming seems to be all or nothing. If the illumination wire has a signal (headlights on), the unit goes to the one screen brightness you've configured for dim mode. If there's no signal, the screen is always full brightness. I want to experiment with what signals the unit will accept on the illumination wire, but from reading online it looks like it may be binary. Turning on park or headlights during the day makes the screen almost unreadable, and full brightness at night is completely blinding. This would be better controlled by a cabin brightness sensor or wired to an external switch (or both).
- The middle "customisable button" can only be set to mute or change source, which is a missed opportunity to support play/pause. The mute option mutes everything including the navigation voice.
- "Customisable" steering wheel controls are limited to media and call controls. There's no support for arrow keys, enter or back to navigate around UIs. Only play/pause, skip back/forward, call controls and a voice button - essentially the same controls you get on the head unit itself. I want to test
- The only way to do most actions is to touch the screen. If you want to select a couple of items down, you have to touch the screen. If you want to hit ok on the prompt that's shown up, you have to touch the screen.
I hate touch screens in cars, but being able to see navigation on my dashboard and having a reversing camera make it a necessary evil. I'd like a non-touch AA/CarPlay head unit, but I've never seen such I thing. I prefer this understated design rather than some of the gaudy touchscreen head units around.
- Stephen H
Sign up successful!