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We finally got our hands on one of Pioneer’s Android Auto head units. It does also do Apple Carplay and Sirius XM Satellite Radio and a ton of other things. But let’s face it, we care about Android Auto, and that’s pretty much it. Right? So I’ve been using Android Auto with this head unit (paired with the Samsung Galaxy S6) and so far it’s been working pretty great. I’m actually really surprised at how fluid the system is to use. There’s pretty much no lag at all, almost no animation as well which makes it feel more fluid.
It’s a little tricky to set up at first, but not difficult at all. Basically you need to pair your smartphone with your car. Then it should recognize the phone after a few minutes and you’ll just be going through the setup screens. With all the disclaimers and such, and boom you’re good to go. The Voice input in Android Auto works pretty well. Just tap on the mic and say “Navigate to Pizza Hut” and it’ll show you where Pizza Hut is nearby. Which is pretty simple to do even when you’re driving.
Installation of the Pioneer AVH-4100NEX was a bit time consuming. It took about 2-3 hours for them to install it. Yes, I had the professionals take care of it. Although the longest part was downloading the OTA for Android Auto, which probably isn’t all that surprising. Other than that it’s pretty much just plug and play. You do have two USB ports, but one only works with Apple Carplay, so you have to be sure you’re using the right one. While your phone is plugged in, it is charging. So it does double as a car charger. Which at about $554 right now on Amazon, quite the sale considering it’s normal price is around $800.
If you want to hear more about Android Auto, make sure to stay tuned to the site. We’ll have plenty more coverage of Android Auto in the coming weeks, as well as a full review. So you can get your Android Auto fix right here at Android Headlines.
