The Android Head-Unit buying guide

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The Android Head-Unit buying guide

Why an Android HU?

A lot of car owners are now considering an Android Head Unit for their cars, mainly due to the features that an Android OS brings along with it and more importantly the pricing is very attractive.

+Price
+Perfect Fit and Finish (for car specific models)
+Choice of configuration
+Huge display size options for some cars
+Feather(Capactive) Touch
+Unmatched Features
&#;CANBUS
&#;WiFi
&#;4G/LTE Connectivity (Optional)
&#;Android Auto and Apple Carplay support (Optional)
&#;A-GPS Navigation
&#;OBD diagnostics(Optional)
&#;Tyre Pressure Monitoring System(Optional)
&#;USB Dashcam support(Optional)
&#;DAB+ support (for applicable countries,Optional)
&#;Steering Controls support
&#;Support for manufacturer's parking camera and sensors.
and the list goes on...

-Reliability
-Generally, poor out of the box audio output
-No known brands
-Generally, poor FM reception
-Cheap and low spec HUs' are known to lag and completely hang.
-Cheap HUs' also have very poor displays, with pathetic brightness and contrast levels.

Where to buy an Android HU?

Almost all Android HU are manufactured in China. Some brands in India re-brand these head units and sell it with a limited 6 months to 12 months warranty. So we have two choices, either to buy locally or to import directly from China.

Buying locally:
+Quickest and easiest way to get an Android HU in India.
+Generally, comes with at least a repair warranty.
+No customs duties

-Choices are very limited when it comes to specifications.
-For some cars, only generic head units are available.
-Pricey when compared to similar models in available in China, but with duties in mind, it more or less comes to the same amount.

If you have a popular car, chances are you might get a decent HU locally. Though there are many brands like MyTVS, Woodman etc., I would personally recommend HyperSonic. Not that they have excellent quality products or anything, just that they have a good range of products, and support wise, they are a bit better than the other brands. A lot of shops sell HyperSonic HUs' for a premium, so I recommend you directly contact Prince from HyperSonic, his contact number is

Importing from China:
+Price
+Number of choices
+Availability of car specific HUs.

-No warranty. Though they mention 6 months or 12 months warranty, it is just not feasible as you have to ship the unit back and wait for another unit, for which again, we would have to pay duties.
-Shipping time
-Customs Duty

When importing from China, it is very important to choose the right product. All the products look exactly the same, but the specifications and the quality of the product varies a lot. It is very important to know what you are buying. Recommended sites to purchase from:

Points to consider while choosing an Android HU

• I highly recommend getting a HU with good specifications. We generally do not change our car's HU every few years like our mobile phones, so it is better we get the top of the line HU available for a hassle free experience.
  
• It is better to get model specific HUs' if available as the fit and finish is OE and does not look out of place at all. Also, these head units support CANBUS, thus giving us all the necessary information.
  
• Try to avoid units which come with a custom dashboard frame as in a few months/years time, the clips in these frames break and causes rattling noises. A lot of customers who had initially opted for these units are now regretting as the frame cannot be bought separately.
  
• If you cannot find a model specific HU for your car(highly unlikely), then consider a generic HU. People with very low budget also have to consider a generic HU as the model specific HUs' are a bit more expensive than generic ones.

Display - Size and Type

Type of display:

• There are LCD and LED displays available. Though the color accuracy and saturation levels are better with the LED display, I would any day prefer a LCD unit as some LED units are know to have burn in issues after prolonged use.
  
• The LCD displays on the other hand, though might looked a bit washed out, serves the purpose of a HU perfectly.
  
• An IPS LCD display would be my recommendation as viewing angles are very important for a car HU and an IPS panel makes a lot of difference.

Size of the display:

• Though this depends on your car's provision, most HUs' are 7"-8.x".
  
• There are some generic HUs' that are 10"+ in size and in my honest opinion, looks out of place in most cars.
  
• For some models there is an availability of Tesla style vertical displays. These units replace the controls for the A/C and other functions and integrate these controls inside the HU itself. Again, I would not recommend as I would not want to replace OEM controls with a Chinese HU. But that is just my personal opinion.
  
• Again, my recommendation would be to go for a HU which fits snug in our existing HU area.

The Internals

The Processor

• The general options are Dual Core/Quad Core/Octa Core.
  
• Quad Core and Octa Core, are okay in my opinion, DC processors are very laggy. Only god knows what exact processor is used, but each manufacturer seems to use a different processor. As far as the internals go, only after getting the unit, CPU-Z can be used to confirm the exact internals.

Internal Memory (ROM)

• The general options are 8GB/16GB/32GB/64GB.
  
• Personally, I would recommend you at least buy a 32GB ROM HU. Though 16GB might seem sufficient, with just a few applications installed and overtime as they get updated, you will not have sufficient internal memory, which causes lags and reboots. The internal memory is something that you cannot expand later, so better you buy a HU with 32+GB of on-board storage.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

• The general options are 1GB/2GB/3GB/4GB.
  
• 1GB/2GB RAM models are the ones that are mostly available in the local market. These units tend to crash often and units with 4GB of RAM are snappy and fluid from my persronal experience.

DSP

• This has been a very controversial aspect when it comes to Android HUs'. Some say it makes no difference and it is just a waste of money. From my experience, it absolutely does make a difference. Yes, I agree one can tinker with the sound output using V4A(Viper4Android), but that requires root and honestly, I would not want to root my car's HU with a one touch root. My car's Android HU with DSP made a world of a difference. The audio output was better than the stock HU which was supposedly tuned by Arkamys.

Miscellaneous Points

• You would want to check if the unit has 2 USB slots as a lot of accessories use the USB slots of the HU.
  
• Check if the unit has full video output.
  
• Buy only from reputed and responsive sellers.
  
• Check the compatibility of steering wheel controls, factory camera/sensors and most importantly, ask for the right CANBUS reader.

Recommended Accessories

FM Signal Booster

• This is a must buy accessory. Without the booster, the HU's FM reception is very poor.

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System:

• There are two types of sensors available: Internal and External sensors.
  
• The internal sensors are to be placed directly on the inside of the wheel and thus requires re-fitting of the tyres. Though this would conceal the sensors, it takes a lot of time and effort to install these. Also, these sensors have batteries inside them which are generally not user replaceable. Also, once fitted the wheels need to be balanced, and hence, a wheel alignment is also required.
  
• I would recommend the external sensors as its just plug and play. Also, the batteries are user replaceable. The sensors are secured with a spanner and cannot be easily removed. Thus, no issues of theft or sensors getting loose. Only downside is, every time air is topped up, you need the spanner to remove the sensors. I use nitrogen, thus this is not a big deal for me.
  
• Both these sensors come with a USB module, to be plugged to the Android HU and works like a charm. Must buy accessory in my opinion.

Android Auto/Apple CarPlay dongle:

• There are two choices if you want Android Auto. You can either install an app called Headunit Reloaded or use a dongle. The app supports Wireless AA(experimental).
  
• If you want to use Apple CarPlay, you would have to buy the dongle.
  
• You have to install an app called the AutoKit on the HU when using the dongle, but no additional app is required on the .
• I prefer the dongle as the connection is stable and it also charges the .

Bluetooth OBD Reader

• Can be used to read error codes.
  
• Torque Pro application can be installed in the HU and a custom dashboard can be set.
  
• Cheap and very useful accessory.

USB Dashcam

• USB dashcams are super affordable and can be directly connected to the HU.
  
• The data can be stored locally in the internal memory of the HU or can be stored externally. Some devices support upto 1TB external hard disks.

Points to note

• Most Chinese sellers undervalue the product to help reduce the customs duty. But they put pathetic values like $15 or $20. Customs evaluation for these products are mostly around $100-$150. So be prepared to pay an additional $60-$80 as duties.
  
• If the seller is using any kind of postal service to ship the product, the chances of not being charged customs duty is better.
  
• If the seller ships via DHL/FedEx/BlueDart, a handling and advancement fees of INR 500 is charged.
  
• Shipping takes anywhere from 4 days to 40 days, so be patient.
  
• In addition to these expenses, you would have to shell out INR - INR for installation, unless you want to go the DIY route.
  
• If the CANBUS reader shows flipped doors in the HU, you can change the CANBUS settings in the factory settings. The default password for factory settings is 126 for most HUs'.
  
  

A lot of car owners are now considering an Android Head Unit for their cars, mainly due to the features that an Android OS brings along with it and more importantly the pricing is very attractive.+Price+Perfect Fit and Finish (for car specific models)+Choice of configuration+Huge display size options for some cars+Feather(Capactive) Touch&#;CANBUS&#;WiFi&#;4G/LTE Connectivity (Optional)&#;Android Auto and Apple Carplay support (Optional)&#;A-GPS Navigation&#;OBD diagnostics(Optional)&#;Tyre Pressure Monitoring System(Optional)&#;USB Dashcam support(Optional)&#;DAB+ support (for applicable countries,Optional)&#;Steering Controls support&#;Support for manufacturer's parking camera and sensors.and the list goes on...-Reliability-Generally, poor out of the box audio output-No known brands-Generally, poor FM reception-Cheap and low spec HUs' are known to lag and completely hang.-Cheap HUs' also have very poor displays, with pathetic brightness and contrast levels.Almost all Android HU are manufactured in China. Some brands in India re-brand these head units and sell it with a limited 6 months to 12 months warranty. So we have two choices, either to buy locally or to import directly from China.+Quickest and easiest way to get an Android HU in India.+Generally, comes with at least a repair warranty.+No customs duties-Choices are very limited when it comes to specifications.-For some cars, only generic head units are available.-Pricey when compared to similar models in available in China, but with duties in mind, it more or less comes to the same amount.If you have a popular car, chances are you might get a decent HU locally. Though there are many brands like MyTVS, Woodman etc., I would personally recommend HyperSonic. Not that they have excellent quality products or anything, just that they have a good range of products, and support wise, they are a bit better than the other brands. A lot of shops sell HyperSonic HUs' for a premium, so I recommend you directly contact Prince from HyperSonic, his contact number is + . They respond on too. The prices they quote can be negotiated by a few thousands and if you are not from Delhi-NCR region, they charge an additional 9%, in the name of tax. (Note: Not Sponsored. Just sharing from my personal experience)+Price+Number of choices+Availability of car specific HUs.-No warranty. Though they mention 6 months or 12 months warranty, it is just not feasible as you have to ship the unit back and wait for another unit, for which again, we would have to pay duties.-Shipping time-Customs DutyWhen importing from China, it is very important to choose the right product. All the products look exactly the same, but the specifications and the quality of the product varies a lot. It is very important to know what you are buying. Recommended sites to purchase from: AliExpress Banggood , etc.

Basic Info.

Model NO.

ST

Type

Desktop

Payment Method

Cash

Card Type

Magcard

Touch Screen

Touch Screen

Printer

Without Printer

Certification

CE, CCC, FCC, EMV, RoHS

Function Type

POS for Consuming

Network Management

Support Network Management

CPU

J, J, J, I3, I5

System

Windows

Warranty

3 Years

Operation System

Win7, Win8, Win10

Hard Disk Capacity

64GB, 128GB, 256GB, HDD500GB

Color

Black/White/Orange, etc

Memory

DDR3-4G/8g, DDR4-4G

Product Type

POS System

Power Supply

12V/5A

Housing Material

Aluminum Alloy

Screen

10 Points Capactive Touch

MOQ

1PC

OEM/ODM

Support

Ethernet

10m/100m/m Self-Adaption

Customer Display

VFD220, 9.7", 12", 15"

Resolution

*768

Production Period

3-5 Days

Trademark

Matsuda POS or Customer LOGO

Transport Package

Carton

Specification

43*30*44cm

Origin

China

HS Code

Product Description

 

Windows Android LCD Touch Screen Display Monitor POS System Machine
Supermarket Cash Register POS Terminal with Card Reader

 (Model No.: ST)

 

A POS (Point of Sale) system is the combination of software and hardware to facilitate your business operations. A POS consists of software and hardware to run the software.

It's good to understand what a POS system is, but it's more important to know the benefits it can bring to your business. There are several advantages to selling our POS system. Here are some reasons why it would be beneficial to sell these POS systems in your store if you engaged in the wholesale of POS systems. 

1. 15-inch brand new capacitive touch screen, better usability;
2. The newest design in the market, private mold, more competitive;
3. Support multiple motherboards:

 

Window OS: J/J/J/I3/I5 (optional); Android OS: RK/RK;
4. The screen is durable;
5. 10 points capacitive touch screen, oilproof, waterproof, dustproof;
6. The pos machine can be connected to 9.7", 12", 15" screen, VFD220, LED8, etc.
7. Hidden wires design;
8. The back cover of the base is designed with magnets, which fits perfectly and is easy to operate;
9. The heat dissipation holes are provided with anti-insect and dust-proof nets.
10. Strong die-cast aluminum structure, easy to heat dissipation;
11. POS machine color could be customized, black, white, orange, etc.
12. We can customize the customer's LOGO for free;
13. As a POS system manufacturer, we could supply you with the best quality and best price machine.

Product Description

 

Product Parameters

Item

Value

Product Name

ST 15" POS system

Brand

Matsuda POS (or Customer Brand)

Memory

DDR3-4G/8GB, DDR4-4G

Want more information on china android touch screen monitor? Feel free to contact us.

Operation System

win7, win8, win10

CPU

Intel Celeron J Quad Core 1.5GHz up to 2.3GHz

Intel Celeron J Quad Core 2.0GHz up to 2.5GHz

Intel Celeron J Quad Core 2.0GHz up to 2.41GHz

Intel Core i3 Dual-Core (the 3rd, 4th,5th,6th gen)

Intel Core i5 Dual-Core (the 3rd, 4th,5th,6th gen)

Hard Disk Capacity

64GB SSD, 128GB SSD, 256GB SSD, 500GB HDD

Ethernet

10M/100M/M Self-adaption

Interface

COM*2, VGA*1, USB3.0*2 & USB2.0*4, LAN*1, DC*2

Touch Screen

15inch True Flat Capacitive Touch Screen (4:3)

Resolution

x768

More Functions

Customer Display: VFD220, 9.7inch, 12inch, 15inch

Built-in: WIFI/BLUETOOTH/Loudspeaker

Reader: MSR, RFID, NFC, IBUTTON

Certification

ROHS, CE, FCC, etc.

Material

Aluminum Alloy

Warranty

3 Years

Color

Black, White, Orange, Silver, etc. (Optional)

OEM/ODM

Support

Package

43*21*42cm, 7.5KG (Single Screen)43*30*44cm, 9.5KG (Dual Screen)

Certifications

Packaging & Shipping

Company Profile

Our Advantages

 

FAQ

1. Can you do OEM/ODM?
A: Yes, as a factory, we can customize the POS machine to your requirements. 
    1 pc is also welcomed.

2. What warranty do you offer?
A: Each machine has 3 years warranty, expect the human damage and force majeure factor.
    Beyond the guarantee period machine, we will provide maintenance services and technical support.

3.Are you still worry about compatibility of PC with your software?
A: Before the order is confirmed, we could test if your software is compatible with our hardware, please kindly send us the software or TeamViewer.

4. Why should you buy from us not from other suppliers?
A: 15 years pos system manufacture experience, accept OEM & ODM;
    All products passed ROHS, CE, FCC certification;
    Quality is enterprise' life, refuse low-quality items.

5. What about minimum order quantity?
A: MOQ is 1pc.

For more stable touchscreen monitor manufacturerinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.