Best Android Auto head unit 2025: upgrade your in-car entertainment

The best Android Auto head unit is designed to bring an element of modernity to ageing vehicles that perhaps don't possess the latest all-singing, all-dancing infotainment systems.

While we can't guarantee these aftermarket options will be able to offer games from an app marketplace, like you can in a modern Porsche or Tesla, the tech is designed to allow you to pair a favoured Android smartphone… and that's the next best thing.

The Android head units we've featured on this list all allow for seamless Android compatibility with a large touchscreen display, which provides access to navigational tools, such as Google Maps and Waze, as well as seamless integration of your preferred playlists on Spotify and other streaming services.

Similarly to the best sat navs and best dash cams, Android Auto units can be retrofitted into cars with little fuss or fabrication. Even those ancient vehicles with a thin sliver of a stereo system can now be finished with phone-friendly tech and a large, easy-to-read screen.

If you fancy yourself as a bit of a DIY mechanic, most of the head units listed below are essentially 'plug-and-play' devices, so long as you are comfortable with potentially removing vehicle trim and locating some wiring.

Otherwise, retailers like Halfords will fit the technology for you in a couple of hours for around £99, depending on the vehicle and the ease at which your chosen head unit can be installed.

T3's top 3 Android Auto head units

The best Android Auto head units you can buy

After testing dozens of Android Auto head units, the current pick of the bunch is the Sony XAV-AX4050, thanks to its true wireless Android Auto capabilities, rapid start-up time and sharp colour display. What's more, the physical buttons are easy to locate when driving and the compact chassis make it easier to install.

Sony is also one of the few to offer faster device charging via a provided USB-C connection and plenty of inputs at the rear for steering wheel remote controls, cameras and other parking assistance features.

Best overall

Sony has been gradually upgrading its XAV series for years now, and this wireless CarPlay and Android Auto model is really an evolution of all of those that have come before it.

Design-wise, it features a clever compact chassis that, despite fitting into Double-DIN spaces, the technical gubbins are all neatly stashed into a metal box that’s not much larger than a Single-DIN unit.

This allows plenty of room to house cables behind, which are all neatly bundled into a very self-explanatory loom anyway. DIY fitters will likely have very little problem installing this one, as the instructions are clear and the wiring relatively simple.

Sony’s systems have long been quick and responsive, with the latest XAV-AX4050 firing up in around five seconds after vehicle ignition. Thanks to its wireless Android auto compatibility, the system will automatically recognise the last paired device and activates Android Auto in less than 10 seconds.

If you don’t want to run things wirelessly and need to top up a smartphone, Sony has provided a USB-C charging port at the rear, complete with an extender cable, so you can hide it in the glovebox or a space of your choosing. 

The touchscreen display is good, but dealing with head units like this always makes me realise how sharp and responsive modern infotainment systems are on the latest crop of passenger cars. 

Similarly, the display is bright and easy view in most conditions, despite suffering from some glare, but it falls some way behind the tablet-like technology that is found in any current Renault, Kia or Volkswagen. But hey, if you’re fitting an aftermarket head unit, it’s likely going in an older car anyway and beggars can’t be choosers.

The physical buttons that run along the bottom of the unit are a nice touch and make skipping tracks, jumping back to a home screen and dialling down the volume relatively easy. On that last point though, the volume buttons are quite small and, seeing as I tested this in a right hand drive car, are positioned a good reach away from the driver.

If your vehicle has remote controls mounted to the steering wheel, it is well worth digging out the wiring and making sure you can connect it all up. It will save a lot of stretching. 

Sony ensures its tech is compatible with rear-view cameras, steering wheel mounted controls and DAB radio, so it will plug into existing vehicle tech with few problems. Although some owners might find they need to purchase additional adaptors and fascias to ensure everything works and the screens fits flush to their dashboard.

Best premium

Thanks to its seven-inch, motorised touchscreen display, this impressively grand infotainment system neatly stashes away inside a single DIN chassis, meaning users can get a sizeable tech hit without the need for masses of real estate.

With the ability to stand fully upright, or tilt back slightly, it can also be mounted in multiple locations, as not all vehicles have the single DIN chassis slot in the same place.

Once installed, this premium Pioneer unit offers bags of Android Auto functionality, including beaming your favourite car-friendly apps to the sharp display.

Annoyingly, there's no wireless Android Auto here, but there are physical USB inputs, as well as connectivity for reversing cameras. There’s even a CD player, should you still prefer listening to your favourite tracks via that decidedly retro format.

What’s more, the neat mix of touchscreen and physical buttons makes it easy to locate and adjust the volume when driving, open and close the unit, as well as navigate back to home screens without excessive swiping.

Best budget

Road Angel might be better known for its passenger car and commercial vehicle dash cam and sat nav systems, but it also offers a line in simple, plug-and-play head units that are compatible with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

There are few bells and whistles here, just a sharp capacitative 7-inch touchscreen display that mirrors all of your favourite, automotive-enabled apps from an Android smartphone. Said smartphone will require plugging in via the USB cable, which is at the rear of the unit, so will require an extension cable and mounting in a glovebox or central cubbyhole, which is a bit of a faff but a decent installer will sort this for you.

There is an aux input around the back too, while AV inputs also allow for reversing cameras and others tech to be neatly plumbed in.

It features a double DIN chassis, so make sure your vehicle has the required space before committing, but this is a relatively low cost yet top quality way of freshening up a car’s interior.

Best for responsive touchscreen

Ignore the ridiculously complex names, but Pioneer’s SPH-EVO950DAB features on our best Apple CarPlay stereos feature, thanks to its massive screen and the compact Single-DIN chassis.

The SPH-DA77DAB is an altogether cheaper Android Auto option but it borrows some of the technology from its more expensive siblings, including the ultra-responsive capacitive touchscreen, which is a good thing.

Said display is fast to response and even accepts pinch-to-zoom gestures, but everything is committed to capacitive buttons, including the volume and app control hard keys. This can be a tad annoying to locate, especially as they are housed on the far left of the screen - the furthest point from right hand drivers.

The body itself also isn’t as curved and shapely as the unit we recommended for Apple CarPlay users, instead going for a more squared off approach, but the screen is super bright and it doesn’t suffer from daytime glare like some others we have tested.

There’s also an excellent amount of connectivity on offer here, with inputs for reversing cameras, DAB+ digital radio, as well as the option to purchase a separate Vehicle Bus adapter that allows things like vehicle gauges, heated seats and parking assist systems to be viewed on the screen.

However, this sort of technology is typically the reserve of newer cars, but owners of older vehicles can rest assured the wireless Android Auto works seamlessly, firing up quickly and establishing a solid connection with recognised devices in a matter of second.

Best for high-tech features

This might be one of the most expensive Android Auto-compatible head units on the list, but its is by far one of the most technologically accomplished. Bluetooth pairing for up to five phones, alongside the ability to control two of those at once, as well as a HDMI input for Amazon FireSticks and whatnot are just a couple of highlights.

It's also an absolute beast of a system, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen display adding luxury automotive levels of infotainment to pretty much any car with the space. The "floating panel" display can be set to three different heights, ensuring it works in most dashboards, although those heights aren’t electronically adjustable like some rivals.

The double DIN design means this won’t be compatible with all vehicles, but the extra chassis space houses inputs for up to four external cameras, which can be triggered when initiating reverse gear, for example.

Kenwood has long been a brand associated with booming audio quality and the DMX9720XDS Stereo offers a 13 band graphic equaliser and a Time Alignment feature to really dial in your favourite sounds.

Best for audiophiles

While the JVC KW-M785DBW looks like many other aftermarket head units on sale today, you have to peek around the back to see how it differs. Rather than a bulky chassis that sticks out, it features a slimmer design that’s particularly good for cramming in shallower spaces.

You will still need the full Double-DIN slot to house it (and likely a fascia at the front to make it fit nicely) but it leaves plenty of space at the rear for stashing wires, which can sometimes prove a pain-point of any install.

Performance-wise, it’s up there with some of the more premium units from Pioneer and Sony, with the full wireless Android Auto experience on offer. Volume is consigned to a couple of small and fiddly touch buttons, but this head unit will allow a circular motion traced on the touch panel to control volume, which is easier.

There are a couple of downsides, though. The screen catches glare, particularly if installed at a slight upward angle, and even on its dimmest setting, the screen is very bright at night. 

These are minor quibbles, because JVC does a great job of offering excellent control over audio settings, from a 13-channel equaliser to specific options for individual speakers dotted around the car. 

Best for small spaces

Who needs a big touchscreen when you can simply attach your smartphone? Of course, fiddling with your device on the move is frowned upon (and massively illegal), so Pioneer offers four dedicated hard key buttons for your favourite app access.

This one-touch access to favoured apps (such as Waze, Google Maps etc.) makes it safer to use, while voice commands are arguably the best way to interact with the unit. Above all else, it’s a very affordable and clever way of achieving Bluetooth streaming, hands-free calls and neat phone charging on a slim budget. Sure, it isn't real Android Auto comparability, but it is a very cheap option for this on much tighter budgets.

Best operating system

Easy to install and boasting an extremely thin 75 mm installation depth, this double DIN unit from JVC is great for those with a cramped dash area. Granted, you'll still need a large aperture to house this, but the lack of heft means it can sit where other existing wires also reside.

Once set up, it is quick and slick to operate, with lots of control over menu functions, sound quality and much more. However, there's only one USB input at the rear, which means you'll have to run a wire into the glove box or out of the dash to plug in. This is fairly standard, but other head units mentioned here feature a secondary USB slot at the front, making charging additional devices a little easier.

How to buy the best Android Auto head unit for you

As previously mentioned, there is a new car stereo or head unit to suit most budgets and to fit most vehicles. So long as you have the existing wiring for some sort of stereo device, prices range from around £200 for the most basic unit with Android Auto compatibility, while the most expensive can easily tickle the £1k mark if you opt for built-in maps and other jazzy features.

This, in our eyes, is a little bit pointless because the whole point of this endeavour is to bring your smartphone into the car, meaning you can hook up and charge while using Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze to deliver you to a destination - much better than the ageing sat nav rubbish found on many infotainment systems. In reality, you shouldn't have to part with any more than £500 to get something utterly brilliant.

If you simply want a Bluetooth connection to play Spotify or listen to Podcasts, then it is very easy to shop at a much lower end of the budget (£90-£150). But true Android Auto requires a touchscreen, and that means parting with more cash.

On the subject of fitting, this can be done fairly easily for those with a bit of car-related knowledge, some tools and plenty of patience (check out the numerous YouTube How-To videos if you fancy a spot of DIY), but buy from Halfords, for example, and they will offer to fit it for you. This usually takes a couple of hours at the most, and costs around £70/$90, depending on how complicated the fitting process is.

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