Faked and incorrectly described Android headunits are expected in an ever-increasingly crowded market. The sellers and manufacturers of unbranded Android headunits have some rogues that use underhanded tactics to make the sale. Follow our advice to avoid faked specifications and fraudulent listings, and if you came too late, there is also some advice on how to make things good.
Common
A commonly faked headunit is a 10″ single DIN, very cheap, too cheap for its claim to be a 2 Gb quad-core running Android 9. Of course, it could be genuine, but compared to similarly specified headunits, the price is your red flag. ‘If it looks too good to be true, it probably is’ and ‘buyer beware’ are some phrases to remember when searching. The actual specifications could be 1 GB of RAM, which is insufficient for more than just basic usage. For such a low amount of RAM to run Android, a unique, limited version was made by Google called Android 8.1GO. You will usually find this installed on the fakes, but the software has been tampered with to report itself as Android 9 or Android 10. This tampering makes it look more appealing to potential buyers. You may only find out when you try to split screen or install an app that requires a version other than 8.1GO, and it doesn’t work.
Not All Faked?
Not al the 8227L based Android headunits have a misleading RAM quantity but they all have a fake Android version. You may find smoke and mirrors or deception to trick the buyer, don’t be fooled. None of the 8227L can have more than 2 GB RAM, so this is a fed flag for a fake or deception off the bat if you see this advertised on the sales listing.
Deceptive advertising
Other faked or miss-sold Android headunits are listed as ‘PX6 Android 10’ to trick the viewer into thinking the Processor is a PX6, super quick, hexacore, running around 2GHz. Drill down into the listing detail, and it gives away the Processor is a very slow quad-core and performs nothing like the snappy PX5, PX6, or even the PX30 processors.
Fake Android version number
Changing the Android name version to a later version in the headunit, claiming it has more RAM or a faster processor, is a way to make more profit, get more sales, or shift obsolete stock.
Finding a headunit with the latest and only recently released version of Android is suspicious. Having the latest version is a thing that is transferred over from the phone. The Android headunits tend to stick on a version that works and says with that throughout the years of the production run. There is no real need to upgrade the version running; sometimes, it is detrimental.
How do I check my Android headunit is not faked?
One of the first apps to install is AIDA64 from the Play Store. This app can report back the actual amount of RAM and usually the Processor. The Android version will still report incorrectly; the trick is to use AID64 to read the API Level.
An API level of API 27 is Android 8.1, and the pictures show a fake Android 8.1GO that is API level 23 – which corresponds to a much lower version of Android, being just Android 6.
The ‘8227L’ is often faked, and the same fake has only 1 GB RAM but was sold as 2 GB. When you spot one faked specification, expect to see more.
We have a post on finding the truth behind the RAM in faked Android headunits that can be used with AIDA64 for even more information.
Screenshot or photograph the AIDA46 screens for the next stage.
What should I do if my Android headunit is faked?
First, contact the vendor, supply the screenshots or photos of AIDA64, and let them know the product you paid for doesn’t reflect the product you received. The wholesaler has fooled some vendors; some vendors are fraudulent. Let the vendor respond and either accept a partial or full refund, make a case with the platform, particularly Paypal, Amazon or eBay, or contact your credit card provider.
