The Tesla-style Android headunits are a portrait screen car stereo upgrade. The Android headunits run Android apps and connect to the car speakers for music, DAB, FM, or Bluetooth calls. You get the benefits of an Android tablet in your car integrated with your existing car speakers.
Portrait
The tall ‘portrait’ style is synonymous with the Tesla model vehicles’ screens. It is also a very familiar way of viewing a screen because it mimics phone holding. This is unusual for Android headunits that mimic a laptop screen in the landscape orientation. This gives the Tesla screens a look that is a little bit different and eye-catching.
Catching the eye
This Tesla style, universal fitting, single DIN, android headunit caught our eye, so we thought it would be a good idea to delve deeper. Do its specifications meet its look and its price? Will it be suitable for the daily drive? Can it show the backing-up camera? Will DAB+ work? Can it play games?
All about the numbers
Scratch the surface, past the portrait screen, and see the specifications. These can tell us how quickly it will run and what it can do.
It is listed as having a quad-core processor and 2 GB RAM.
These two specifications indicate it is, by modern standards, prolonged. The quad-core with 1 GB or 2 GB is on our not recommended list. This is because a very outdated processor is just not fast enough to run modern apps with any urgency. 2Gb of RAM is better than 1Gb but nowhere near 4Gb, 6Gb, or even 8Gb shipped with the modern headunits. You can’t upgrade the RAM or the processor (or any parts), so there is no opportunity to improve it. Back in 2015, the processor was groundbreaking, but we still don’t use our Android phone made in 2015, so the same applies to your Android headunit.
It is not suitable for games, but it can play a video.
But what can it do well?
Nothing Android can run well on it; the processor is the core for this, and all apps will be slow to load, react, and switch between them. It is even slow to boot.
Like all the other Android headunits, it can run a reversing camera, make Bluetooth calls, use GPS for satnav, and connect to USB devices for DAB or TPMS. But if these are the reasons for buying an Android headunit, there are still much better value-for-money options.
Installation
This is a universal fitting and will need quite a lot of wire joining and puzzling over the connections. A lack of ISO connectors compounds the connection problem, and this minor omission by the manufacturer causes the installer a much bigger headache. The single DIN body will fit virtually any DIN hole, but the tall screen may obscure vents or controls. You may find our ‘android headunit wires guide’ can help there. If your car has ISO plugs from the factory, it should be a relatively straightforward install. If you have manufacturer-specific car stereo cables in the car, buying a suitable ISO converter would be better than trying to join the cable supplied.
Our Recommendation
Don’t let its look hide its inferior experience. There are much faster and more enjoyable Android headunits with a Tesla-style screen available.
Review Summary of Quad-core tesla style single DIN
It may look different, but the internal specifications are the same as all the other very slow quad-core 1Gb Android headunits. We found this an abysmal choice for a Tesla screen. Expect to be disappointed.
Positives:
Unusual tesla style vertical screen with a single DIN fitting.
2 USB sockets
Has Bluetooth
Physical volume control
There are physical buttons to press
Backup camera compatible
Negatives:
No adjustment to the screen position
It is a universal fit, so additional adaptors may be required to install
obsolete processor
only 2 GB RAM (possibly only 1Gb installed)
no external microphone option
no ISO connectors supplied
Ratings:
Speed 1/5
Value for money 2/5
Quality of construction 4/5
Ease of installation 3/5
Available Addons
This Android Headunit is compatible with:
Universal Reversing Cameras,
360-degree camera views,
DAB+ Radio upgrade,
GPS Sat-Nav with Google Maps or Waze,
Aftermarket Steering Wheel Controls (SWC),
Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS),
OBD2 engine diagnostics,
4G Mobile Data,
Digital TV (DVB-T2).
All the Android Head Units come with wifi and GPS as standard built-in.
