If you’ve got a smartphone, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are services that you won’t want to do without from your car stereo. Here are several of the car stereo options for them on the market.
What if you could have all the things you love about you smartphone neatly packed into your car’s center console/stereo? Well, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, you can! However, unless you’ve got a pretty new car, it’s unlikely that your ride will have those features built-in as standard. But don’t worry – as ever, the aftermarket is here to help.
Here are several Apple CarPlay and Android Auto-enabled stereos designed to replace the old, standard one sitting in you dash. A word of warning though – before buying, make sure to check that each device will actually fit into your specific car.
What is Apple CarPlay and why would I want it?
Apple CarPlay allows iPhone users to connect their smartphones to their car stereo to allow use of a number of apps. The connection is made via the USB lightning port or wirelessly over WiFi. Available apps range from navigation services like Apple Maps, Google Maps and Waze, as well as Spotify or Apple Music and others. To keep your focused on driving, Apple CarPlay allows you to activate Siri to command a range of different functions with your voice, keeping your hands on the steering wheel. It also has the ability to read texts aloud and make calls, while Siri can construct text replies via voice command.
Having Apple CarPlay functionality also comes in handy with car tuning, as some companies have developed apps for data logging, engine data such as oil temperature and boost levels, as well as an array of other diagnostic tools.
Unlike on your phone, apps within Apple CarPlay are a toned down version of what you would usually see. This is to keep distractions down to a minimum and allow you to browse the interface quickly and efficiently.
What is Android Auto and why would I want it?
Like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto gives users the ability to connect their smartphones to their car stereo in order to use a multitude of features like navigation apps, music, podcasts and others. The only difference between the two is that Android Auto is specifically designed to work with your Android smartphone, while rather obviously, Apple CarPlay is designed for Apple users.
That’s largely where the only differences lie. In terms of which apps are available, most app developers tend to create options for both Android and Apple, and therefore the choices are largely the same. If you want to know which apps are useful for you, be sure to check out our guide to the best smartphone car apps.
How I picked these products
While I haven’t been able to test each of these stereos directly, I have been in the automotive aftermarket scene for a long time, and therefore am familiar with which brands you should trust, and which are best avoiding. The following products are for the North American market, and have been selected based on a combination of functionality versus cost. As such, there should be a solid option here for every budget.
If you want to learn more about the best Apple CarPlay & Android Auto stereos for the UK market, be sure to have a read of Adam Rayner’s Double-DIN stereo round-up.
Best Apple CarPlay Stereo
Kenwood DMX4707S
RRP: $299.00. Buy the Kenwood DMX4707S here.
If you look for them, there are plenty of options out there that will completely tear your wallet apart. But unless you’re a serious sound nerd, or building a crazy audio car, there’s no point spending close to four figures or above on a car stereo. Instead, if you’re sticking to a tight budget, you can enter the world of Apple CarPlay for less than $300.
The Kenwood DMX4707S is a great example of the sort of entry-level tech I’m talking about. For the money, you get a 6.75-inch touchscreen display, mounted to a Double-DIN chassis. There are USB, A/V, and camera inputs, as well as Bluetooth connectivity and 5-channel preamp outputs. As for functionality features, you can expect all the regular Apple CarPlay goodies, as well as a number of tools to customize the sound of the Kenwood’s audio. These include a 13-band graphic equalizer and the ability to ‘raise’ the sound of your music if your car speakers are located towards the floor.
Overall, this is a no-nonsense option with the core qualities you’d look for in a commendable Apple CarPlay stereo. However, if you want some extra features (and potentially an even better sound), keep scrolling further…
Alpine iLX-W650
RRP: $449.95. Buy the Alpine iLX-W650 here.
If you’ve got a bit more cash to spend, you could end up with something like this. The Alpine iLX-W650’s party-piece is its size, or rather lack thereof. Don’t get me wrong, its 7-inch screen is far from small, but it its chassis is incredibly shallow. As such, it can fit into many of the more problematic double-DIN setups that exist out there. What’s more, it’s designed to fit with Alpine’s small but mighty 50-watt, 4-channel KTA-450 power pack amplifier too. In short, if you’re looking for great sound from a really compact set-up, then this is the sort of thing you’ll want.
As for the features included, you can expect all the usual Apple CarPlay goodness as well as an AM/FM radio. Bluetooth connectivity is also packed in, as are hands-free voice controls. And of course, you get that certified Alpine sound quality and customizability too.
Sony XAV-AX5600
RRP: $448.00. Buy the Sony XAV-AX5600 here.
The Sony XAV-AX5600 is a great middle-range all-rounder. For most drivers, it’s got all the functions and features that you’ll ever need, including Apple CarPlay and screen-mirroring WebLink capabilities, powerful sound, and all the core inputs and outputs. Namely, you get two rear USB ports, a HDMI input, a rearview camera input, and 5-channel preamp outputs. What’s more there’s also a 10-band EQ to shape your tunes just how you like them.
As for the design of the Sony XAV-AX5600, it features a 6.95-inch touchscreen without any bezels – though in their place there is a row of traditional tactile buttons. You’ll have your own aesthetic and ergonomic preferences in this regard, so I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether that’s a positive or a negative.
JVC KW-M788BH
RRP: $449.95. Buy the JVC KW-M788BH here.
The JVC KW-M788BH is another really solid shout that will suffice for the majority of road-users. It comes packing tons of tech such as screen mirroring as well as standard Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, HD radio, and high resolution sound. Its quality can be enhanced further too, if you add amplifiers via its 6-channel preamp outputs, while you can also hook-up up to three cameras, and a SiriusXM tuner.
There’s a 13-band EQ to help you tweak the way your music sounds, and there’s also a neat little feature that boosts sound frequencies which would otherwise be impacted by road/wind noise. The 6.8-inch touchscreen display comes attached to a Double-DIN chassis.
Pioneer DMH-WC5700NEX
RRP: $730.00. Buy the Pioneer DMH-WC5700NEX here.
US car audio specialists Crutchfield rate this as one of their favorite car stereos for 2023, and it’s easy to see why. Let’s start with the design. You get the sleek, flush Pioneer look, but more importantly, the touchscreen and its chassis can be mounted either as one, or separately. In short, that’s a whole lot of flexibility when it comes to installations in vehicles with problematic dashboards. The touchscreen itself is 6.78-inches wide and 3.95-inches tall, so bear that in mind when considering how it may fit within the landscape of your car’s cabin.
As for its features, the Pioneer DMH-WC5700NEX can play MP3, WMA, AAC, and high-res FLAC, WAV, and DSD music files. So whatever you’re playing, you should be covered. It’s got a 13-band EQ, built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling and music streaming, as well as a built-in HD Radio tuner too.
Possible inputs are plentiful. This stereo has a USB-C port (USB-A adapter supplied), rearview camera input, two rear A/V inputs (3.5mm and RCA, the latter of which can be converted to a second camera input) and even HDMI capabilities. As for the outputs, it has 6-channel preamp ports in addition to its in-built 14-watt amp (roughly the sort of standard you can expect from the in-built amps of other stereos on this list too), and a video output too.
Alpine Halo11 iLX-F411
RRP: $899.95. Buy the Alpine Halo11 iLX-F411 here.
If seven inches just isn’t big enough for you, then check this mammoth out! The Alpine Halo11 iLX-F411 comes with a whopping 11-inch touchscreen, so if you’re after that Tesla-esque cabin style, then this will be right up your street.
Impressively, despite its considerable width, the Halo11 is compatible with a large array of vehicles. Partially, that’s down to its single-DIN chassis, meaning you can mount it in even the most tight dashboard openings, but also because it’s highly adjustable. There are five different floating mounting positions for you to choose from, so between that lot, at least one should ensure that the big screen doesn’t impede any important buttons or dials, like climate control for instance. That said, the specific dimensions of this option are 11.545-inches x 7.415-inches, so it’s probably worth measuring up your car’s cabin before making a purchase, just to check that it won’t get in the way of anything important – like your gearstick.
Assuming that there are no ergonomic issues to overcome, this Apple CarPlay stereo has a lot to offer, even beyond its flashy design. In addition to Bluetooth connectivity and voice operation, it also boasts built-in iPod, iPhone, and iPad controls. The array of different audio files it can play is vast, and you get a 5-band graphic equalizer with time correction and high-and low-pass filters for optimal performance. 6-channel preamp outputs are available out the back too. So, if you’ve got the budget and you want to go big (literally!) then this is definitely worth a closer look.
Best Android Auto Car Stereo
Sony XAV-AX3200
RRP: $289.95. Buy the Sony XAV-AX3200 here.
The Sony XAV-AX3200 is another budget-friendly device that’s still packing plenty of quality. The screen is marginally larger than that of the JVC above, measuring 6.95 inches rather than 6.75. Plus, although it might not be the cleanest look, there are some tactile buttons at the bottom of the device which some of you may prefer to use rather than unresponsive bezzles.
As far as capabilities go, this Sony is very comparable to the JVC. As well as Bluetooth and USB inputs for calling and streaming, the Sony XAV-AX3200 comes with a number of outputs for external devices and a graphic equalizer too – though the equalizer is 10-band compared to the JVC’s 13. Also, whereas the JVC is firmly for double-DIN stereo housings only, the Sony’s compact rear packaging should allow you to fit it into cars with tighter compartments available.
Alpine iLX-W650
RRP: $449.95. Buy the Alpine iLX-W650 here.
If you’ve got a bit more cash to spend, you could end up with something like this. The Alpine iLX-W650’s party-piece is its size, or rather lack thereof. Don’t get me wrong, its 7-inch screen is far from small, but it its chassis is incredibly shallow. As such, it can fit into many of the more problematic double-DIN setups that exist out there. What’s more, it’s designed to fit with Alpine’s small but mighty 50-watt, 4-channel KTA-450 power pack amplifier too. In short, if you’re looking for great sound from a really compact set-up, then this is the sort of thing you’ll want.
As for the features included, you can expect all the usual Android Auto goodness as well as an AM/FM radio (which the cheaper options mentioned above also have too, as you’d hope). Bluetooth connectivity is also packed in, as are hands-free voice controls. And of course, you get that certified Alpine sound quality too.
JVC KW-M560BT
RRP: $279.95. Buy the JVC KW-M560BT here.
If you look for them, there are plenty of options out there that will completely tear your wallet apart. But unless you’re a serious sound nerd, or building a crazy audio car, there’s no point spending close to four figures or above on a car stereo. Instead, if you’re sticking to a tight budget, you can enter the world of Android Auto for less than $300.
The JVC KW-M560BT is a great example of the sort of entry-level tech I’m talking about. For the money, you get a 6.75-inch touchscreen with hands-free calling and a 13-band graphic equalizer to help you adjust the sound of your tunes. This stereo also has enough outputs to get some external amps and subs involved too if you fancy upgrading the rest of your car’s audio system further down the line.
You can connect your Android phone to the stereo via USB or Bluetooth, so it really couldn’t be simpler. Overall, this is a no-nonsense option with the core qualities you’d look for in a commendable Android Auto car stereo. However, if you want some extra features (and potentially an even better sound), keep scrolling further…
Pioneer DMH-2660NEX
RRP: $449.99. Buy the Pioneer DMH-2660NEX here.
You can always trust Pioneer to come up with some brilliant audio tech, and theDMH-2660NEX is no exception to that rule. Fitted with a 6.8-inch touchscreen, this Android Auto-compatible stereo also features Bluetooth, a HD radio tuner, and SiriusXM compatibility (for our Stateside viewers). There is also the ability to input two cameras for a display of the front and rear of your ride.
On top of that, you get a 13-band graphic EQ, as well as 6-channel preamp outputs out the back. The overall design of Pioneer’s hardware and software interface is also arguably the sleekest of any brand.
Sony XAV-AX8100
RRP: $748.00. Buy the Sony XAV-AX8100 here.
If you fancy going big – in size, performance and (unfortunately) price – then let me steer you towards something like the Sony XAV-AX8100. This mammoth 8.95-inch touchscreen is connected to a diddy single-DIN chassis, meaning even retro rides can receive a major infotainment upgrade.
That big ol’ screen ‘hovers’ over the face of your car’s center console, and has the ability to tilt to your preferred angle. The audio quality itself is also notably more powerful than that of cheaper options, and as a nice added bonus, this stereo is very quick to wake up when you switch on the ignition. Though, a word of caution – there can sometimes be too much of a good thing. The screen measures 9.005 x 5.335 inches, so if you want to buy this stereo, make sure it doesn’t interfere with important dash controls, or your gearstick even.
As for compatibility, it has input sockets for USB, HDMI and camera devices, while there are 5-channel preamp outputs too.
Pioneer DMH-WC5700NEX
RRP: $730.00. Buy the Pioneer DMH-WC5700NEX here.
US car audio specialists Crutchfield rate this as one of their favorite car stereos for 2023, and it’s easy to see why. Let’s start with the design. Once again, you get the sleek, flush Pioneer look, but more importantly, the touchscreen and its chassis can be mounted either as one, or separately. In short, that’s a whole lot of flexibility when it comes to installations in vehicles with problematic dashboards. The touchscreen itself is 6.78-inches wide and 3.95-inches tall, so bear that in mind when considering how it may fit within the landscape of your car’s cabin.
As for its features, the Pioneer DMH-WC5700NEX can play MP3, WMA, AAC, and high-res FLAC, WAV, and DSD music files. So whatever you’re playing, you should be covered. It’s got a 13-band EQ, built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling and music streaming, as well as a built-in HD Radio tuner too.
Possible inputs are plentiful. This stereo has a USB-C port (USB-A adapter supplied), rearview camera input, two rear A/V inputs (3.5mm and RCA, the latter of which can be converted to a second camera input) and even HDMI capabilities. As for the outputs, it has 6-channel preamp ports in addition to its in-built 14-watt amp (roughly the sort of standard you can expect from the in-built amps of other stereos on this list too), and a video output too.
