Good Android Auto replacement for 2016 stereo head unit

[lawless97]

I plan to keep my 2016 SR5 another ten years so I'm thinking I should upgrade the stereo. I don't like having to look at my phone for navigation and the generic Entune music icons are annoying. I'd like to spend under $600 total. I've searched a lot of forum posts here but still can't decide because I see so much conflicting information. I'm considering the KENWOOD DMX7709S, Sony XAV-AX3200, or Pioneer DMH-2660NEX. Anyone have personal experience with these? I'd like the backup camera (it's okay if I need to buy a new one) and phone mic to work. I don't care too much is the steering wheel controls work as I never use them. I also really like the look of the Dasaita Android 12 and would get that for the wider screen, except the terrible Amazon reviews of the 10 have me concerned. Thanks for any recommendations.

 

[Jeppe]

I have the original 9" radio from Rhino Radios:
Search: 4 results found for "4runner" – Rhino Radios

Fits well, backup camera works, sounds good, etc etc. Everything was plug and play, although the instructions could've been a bit clearer on the backup camera. It has its own mic, which works ok.

I would buy it again.

 

[fkheath]

I have the original 9" radio from Rhino Radios:
Search: 4 results found for "4runner" – Rhino Radios

Fits well, backup camera works, sounds good, etc etc. Everything was plug and play, although the instructions could've been a bit clearer on the backup camera. It has its own mic, which works ok.

I would buy it again.

Those Rhino radios look good and the price is good.

But my 2018 4Runner radio has built in navigation, XM satellite radio, HD radio and a CD player, all of which I use from time to time. Any body know of a CarPlay radio with those four as well?

 

[Jeppe]

...built in navigation, XM satellite radio, HD radio and a CD player...

I'm resisting the urge to tease you about a radio with a tape deck... .

For me, CarPlay has replaced all of the above.

The nav on a phone is much better than the nav on any car stereo anywhere ever. With CP/AA, it's right there on the LCD. Killer feature. When I'm concerned about cell coverage, I just download maps ahead of time.

FWIW, the 9" radio has a GPS and can run Android apps natively. It also has provisions for a SIM card so you can get live maps. I've been using Gaia on it (which stores maps locally). I've not tried Google Maps but I'm sure it would work as well.

The FM tuner works great, but no HD. No CD player (no tape deck or 8 track either ), and no XM (the sub is HOW MUCH?).

Spotify/Apple Music/Podcasts/Audio Books/etc are so much better for me.

My 2 cents.


edit: My biggest complaint about the unit is that the mic isn't great. It works fine for voice commands - I can tell it to nav to a location, even with music playing, and it works great. However it isn't the best for phone calls. This might be fixed if I relocate the external mic, but I really don't want to pull the dash apart right now. I tend to switch to a pair of airpods if I have to talk while driving.

 

[Offroad Alliance]

Phones are far superior to vehicle head units unfortunately, get a quality unit that connects to the phone and get a solid phone mount to keep it accessible. Utilize the $1000+ phone you have for nav and music or spend a little more on like an Alpine unit that works seamlessly like the phone does, has a ton of added features for Carplay, Andriod Auto and Google Assistant compatible, hi-res audio with internal music adjustments, adjustability for the screen to get glare or sun off your vision, dash cam integrated along with backup camera compatible.

Alpine iLX-F511 Plug & Play Bundle | '14 - '24 4Runner
– Trail Grid Pro

 

[EEEliminator]

I have the 12.3" from Rhino Radios, I use it almost exclusively with car play. It has frozen on me 3-4 times in the last 6 months all while using Waze, Google Maps, or apple maps. It is not to big of a deal I just have to pay attention and make sure the map is updating my position so I know its not frozen. The only other thing I notice is if I have the volume up really high while listening to spotify or youtube it will play for about 20 seconds and jump back to the beginning. Other than that I'm really happy with it, back up camera is great.

It feels like it really modernized my 4Runner, not having to have a phone hanging on the vent is great. I can watch youtube or netflix on it when I parked and waiting.