Budget Android Auto units now rival the expensive ones
Budget Android Auto units now rival the expensive ones
Publish Date: 2026-03-28 15:45:00
Source Domain: www.howtogeek.com
Dealing with an older car’s infotainment system is incredibly frustrating. Whether it’s an ancient, basic stereo from the era of CDs or an early touchscreen setup, the lack of Android Auto severely limits what you can do with it. So, you’re probably thinking about upgrading to an aftermarket head unit, but you’ve heard mixed things about their quality and reliability.
At the same time, you might not be able to justify spending hundreds of dollars on a brand-name Sony, Pioneer, or Kenwood unit. I had the same doubts, but after upgrading to a $100 Android model, it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made all year.
Even the cheapest head units now get the basics right
They’re way better than you think
The market is flooded with cheap aftermarket head units from unknown brands that advertise Android Auto (and, quite often, Apple CarPlay) support. They come with varying amounts of RAM and storage, different processors, displays, and even other goodies like backup cameras and a CAN bus decoder with the correct wiring harness for your specific model.
Many of these aftermarket models are priced around $100 to $200, which begs the question: are they actually any good?
Speaking from my experience, the $100 head unit I have in my E46 BMW completely transformed the car’s aging interior. It’s nothing like those older Android head units you’d come across six or seven years ago. It’s pretty responsive to my inputs, albeit with occasional hiccups.
One of my main concerns before I got it was sound quality. Fortunately, the built-in amplifier and DAC sound just as good as the original stereo, if not better, and there’s also the option to add a subwoofer. The model I bought was specifically designed to fit my E46 BMW and included all the cables needed to hook it up. If you can find a model designed for your…
