So it looks like the CTHome T9 head unit is out, waiting for reviews.

[Toda R]

For anyone that is running the T9, does the HU have anything that displays the car data on the screen like an iData Link does for other HU? Or can you attach an iData Link unit to this T9?

 

[Blu42]

Not sure how to take this. Been a member of xda since 2010. This is an apples to oranges comparison. Touchpad had a rather unique following. And was able to have kit Kat on it stable. Which is currently supported. Play devices/store/youtube/etc functions fine. This hu/tablet (forgot the real model name already) doesn't have an entry on xda. This Will not get that community love and support. If the hardware doesn't die in 7 years, the cool features everyone likes will.

These are Allwinner. Heres a quick link below to some work with the T8. These are so generic that they all fall under the Android Auto forums. Follow the breadcrumbs from my link to see other units they are developing for. Usually nothing to see with newer units but development comes eventually, as a fellow XDA member you would know this. I personally don't feel XDA is welcoming to a lot of questions, especially the head unit bunch, so I suggest read read read and learn-to-search-function.

[ROOTED] How to get root using Magisk for HU… | Android Auto

Worth checking is something like microG Project. Lets be fair here, you threw out a mytouch as an example (cheeky as hell sir) but even that is still probably workable if you really wanted to try.

I've stated this before but I'll say it again. My main issue is how expensive this crappy hardware is. I bought my last Android Unit for a couple hundred bucks. Now look at the pricing. Insane! Cant really justify it at this price but I really do love how these T8/T9 look in the dash. Nobody doing a better fitting unit at this moment for 4Runners.

 

[Inspirit]

Yeah I couldn't put that in my rig, looks like someone stuck a table to the dash with suction cups. Fuggly.



.

It’s the Tesla look without the Tesla gas mileage. The Alpine looks better in person; especially, when mounted on the lower din on an SR5/OR (While the Limiteds HVAC display might be obstructed by the Halo). I’m still debating between the Alpine Halo, Alpine ILX107, Alpine ILX207, or T9. The T9 is enticing due to looks and price,but some of the complaints I’ve seen about it make me want to steer towards either of the Alpines; due to their reliability and support we can get from companies like Crutchfield.

 

[Kevlar3D]

For anyone that is running the T9, does the HU have anything that displays the car data on the screen like an iData Link does for other HU? Or can you attach an iData Link unit to this T9?

Torque app looks awesome and allows you to create a custom dashboard with dials and widgets for any OBD2 data. I am running the lite (free) version but there are lots of screenshots and videos about the functionality.
YouTube

 

[Kevlar3D]

I've stated this before but I'll say it again. My main issue is how expensive this crappy hardware is. I bought my last Android Unit for a couple hundred bucks. Now look at the pricing. Insane! Cant really justify it at this price but I really do love how these T8/T9 look in the dash. Nobody doing a better fitting unit at this moment for 4Runners.

I think most of the cost in these isn't the crappy android device but the wiring and reverse engineering that went into making everything functional. I am amazed at how plug & play the whole thing was. I don't need much from a specs standpoint. It runs everything that I throw at it, SNES9x, youtube, plex, waze, google maps and even grindr. I don't care much about the storage since I will be streaming just about everything but it does allow usb connection so it would be easy to plug additional storage into it. My point is, think about it more from a "this is my only option to get rid of the garbage factory HU and less from a $/spec standpoint". The only thing that I haven't installed is Netflix since I'll need to sideload the APK. Also thank you for the link about rooting the device, I haven't needed to yet but it could come up in the future.

 

[Kristin-VegasTRD]

I got mine installed last night. First impression, typical Chinese crap. Looks great but zero instructions and crap fit. After tinkering and modifying the top retention clips a bit, I was able to get a decent fit. All of the factory clips and harnesses fit perfectly although a couple of the harnesses that came with the HU don't fit into the head unit because of the retention clips. Took some playing to get those to fit. I just shoved the TV antenna and GPS on top of the HU, didn't bother sticking them anywhere. I ran the sim chip dongle and usb extension into the glove box using the access panel on the back.

The stock HU does have a fan on the side and this one is passively cooled. It gets quite warm to the touch under normal operation so hopefully it doesn't overheat and die. I've played with it a bit and if it stands up to the Las Vegas heat, I think it will be a great replacement for the absolutely awful stock HU.

I've used android auto, spotify and really any other apps that I've thrown at it. Netflix does not work because netflix doesn't work on android devices that aren't google certified (whatever that means). You should be able to sideload the app but I haven't tried.

I tried to use automate to turn on tether on my phone when it connects to the HU with bluetooth but I didn't like the way that turned out so I got a sim chip and popped it in. Didn't work right away, I had to press the reset button on the front of the HU. That reset button functions as a restart button. A restart brought the sim chip online and I was disappointed with the signal (2 bars when I had 4 on my cell phone). I enabled roaming and it immediately matched what I had on my phone.

All in all, pretty happy. I was really worried about the glare which looks horrible in pics but hasn't been a problem when plugged in.

The HU doesn't turn off completely each time you turn the runner off. The tablet goes to sleep and picks up where you left off. The only way to restart and see the boot screen is to press the reset button on the front.

I've made a couple calls and the mic quality seems decent. As good as the stock mic which I've never really been a fan of. I do have a roof rack so I do get more wind noise than most.

I played with a bluetooth OBD2 sensor and torque app, pretty cool. I bought the wifi version which was dumb, I should have gotten the BT version so I'm just borrowing a friend's for now.

If you like to tinker and you don't like the other T4R head unit options, go for it. If you want something that is absolutely perfect out of the box, wait for a "real" company to offer something. Happy to answer any questions if you are thinking about getting one.

Questions:

Anyone know what app to use to get the TV antenna to work? I didn't see any tv tuner apps on the play store.

How can I replace the icons on the bottom of the main screen with my own? I didn't see a way to do that.

thanks so much! I'm in Vegas too!!! We just got our 2019 TRD pro, and hubby is fine with the stock unit, but I wanted something bigger, but it wasn't worth waiting or paying more for the 2020 just for that, so I've really been debating the T9 when the time comes.

 

[MillerPKA]

Just to clarify, this is the only flush OE-look head unit available? Sucks seeing the continuous "looks amazing but...". I'm ambivalent about the OE screen but if there was a legitimate option for a premium I'd certainly be interested.

 

[Jesse1983]

Just to clarify, this is the only flush OE-look head unit available?

yes.

 

[Kevlar3D]

thanks so much! I'm in Vegas too!!! We just got our 2019 TRD pro, and hubby is fine with the stock unit, but I wanted something bigger, but it wasn't worth waiting or paying more for the 2020 just for that, so I've really been debating the T9 when the time comes.

Hello fellow Las Vegans. I'd be happy to meet up with you guys so you can play with the T9. I'd probably even help you install it some evening for the price of a beer. It shouldn't take more than an hour. PM me for contact info.

 

[Compromised4Runner]

These are Allwinner. Heres a quick link below to some work with the T8. These are so generic that they all fall under the Android Auto forums. Follow the breadcrumbs from my link to see other units they are developing for. Usually nothing to see with newer units but development comes eventually, as a fellow XDA member you would know this. I personally don't feel XDA is welcoming to a lot of questions, especially the head unit bunch, so I suggest read read read and learn-to-search-function.

[ROOTED] How to get root using Magisk for HU… | Android Auto

Worth checking is something like microG Project. Lets be fair here, you threw out a mytouch as an example (cheeky as hell sir) but even that is still probably workable if you really wanted to try.

I've stated this before but I'll say it again. My main issue is how expensive this crappy hardware is. I bought my last Android Unit for a couple hundred bucks. Now look at the pricing. Insane! Cant really justify it at this price but I really do love how these T8/T9 look in the dash. Nobody doing a better fitting unit at this moment for 4Runners.

The T8 was an allwinner. This is using a different soc: spreadtrum sc9853HA. Will need to see if this is being worked on in that HU sub-forum.

The mytouch3g wasn't meant to be cheeky as you say. But a real world example. I own this device and recently wanted my toddler to "have" a phone to call her own. Just for video calls with relatives. Ran into the issues I mentioned. Unable to connect to youtube and other services. GPlay not connecting, etc.

I agree, I too am curious on how this will hold up. Seeing as it is a cheap android tablet that can sit in a 100F/37C truck all day. I recall hearing the OEM units have a built in fan.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Shit, I miss my MyTouch3G and MyTouch4G, they were great phones...

 

[jhguth]

The T8 was an allwinner. This is using a different soc: spreadtrum sc9853HA. Will need to see if this is being worked on in that HU sub-forum.

The mytouch3g wasn't meant to be cheeky as you say. But a real world example. I own this device and recently wanted my toddler to "have" a phone to call her own. Just for video calls with relatives. Ran into the issues I mentioned. Unable to connect to youtube and other services. GPlay not connecting, etc.

I agree, I too am curious on how this will hold up. Seeing as it is a cheap android tablet that can sit in a 100F/37C truck all day. I recall hearing the OEM units have a built in fan.

It's actually a mid to upper mid phone SoC

 

[jdm-v35]

Looks like this could be a good setup but had a few questions for those that have bought it:

-Will it connect to your iphone automatically when you start the car up like the OEM radio?
-Can this use any good navigation apps with guidance without any internet/phone signal(when out camping in the woods etc with no reception)?
-Can this connect to the OEM microphone(or is the built in just as good/better)?
-When your iphone connects with bluetooth can you easily navigate playlists like the oem unit does? I do not want to use apple carplay and mess with apps to play music.

I watched some vids and they never answered the questions or they were connected to internet etc.

Is there anyone that got that gloss black finish in the first post? It looks like everyone got silver or that matte black finish. I am guessing that was a prototype or something but matches the TRD interior best if its possible to get.

Thanks in advance.

 

[jhguth]

To the navigation question its android, there are plenty of apps that do offline navigation

 

[gainman]

Looks like this could be a good setup but had a few questions for those that have bought it:



-Will it connect to your iphone automatically when you start the car up like the OEM radio?

-Can this use any good navigation apps with guidance without any internet/phone signal(when out camping in the woods etc with no reception)?

-Can this connect to the OEM microphone(or is the built in just as good/better)?

-When your iphone connects with bluetooth can you easily navigate playlists like the oem unit does? I do not want to use apple carplay and mess with apps to play music.



I watched some vids and they never answered the questions or they were connected to internet etc.



Is there anyone that got that gloss black finish in the first post? It looks like everyone got silver or that matte black finish. I am guessing that was a prototype or something but matches the TRD interior best if its possible to get.



Thanks in advance.

1- do you mean Bluetooth? Yes connects like any radio
2- There are tons of offline navigation apps. I like sygic. But Google maps is still king
3- I'm not sure if it connects to factory mic. I put my finger over the headunit mic and the person on the phone said there was no difference in sound, so maybe?
4- Playlists? If the song is downloaded then maybe, there is a folder option. If it is streaming then no.

 

[jdm-v35]

1- do you mean Bluetooth? Yes connects like any radio
2- There are tons of offline navigation apps. I like sygic. But Google maps is still king
3- I'm not sure if it connects to factory mic. I put my finger over the headunit mic and the person on the phone said there was no difference in sound, so maybe?
4- Playlists? If the song is downloaded then maybe, there is a folder option. If it is streaming then no.

Thanks for the info. I did not know google maps works offline though. I know on my iphone it will not.

As for playlists, I huess I mean how the stock unit can navigate through playlists

 

[HoustonT4R]

Sorry if this is a stupid question.

Ive been doing some research and trying to upgrade the head unit. I was in a bind. Get the name brand with the dependability but less flexibility , or go with chinese headunit with some issues but more options.

If i am not mistaken, the dash kits can fit a single or double din.

My question is, why are we limiting to just this android head unit? There are other android head units with better specs, bigger screens, and new software in the same price range. Can we not use them for some reason??

Example : Dasaita 10.2" Head Unit Universal Car Audio Stereo GPS Navigation Android 9.0 Bluetooth Radio Car Vehicle Music Video Player Multimedia Touchscreen Hexa Core 4G+64G Build-in DSP https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V3XJVRD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_0AYxDbGJ09GBK

 

[jhguth]

Sorry if this is a stupid question.

Ive been doing some research and trying to upgrade the head unit. I was in a bind. Get the name brand with the dependability but less flexibility , or go with chinese headunit with some issues but more options.

If i am not mistaken, the dash kits can fit a single or double din.

My question is, why are we limiting to just this android head unit? There are other android head units with better specs, bigger screens, and new software in the same price range. Can we not use them for some reason??

Example : Dasaita 10.2" Head Unit Universal Car Audio Stereo GPS Navigation Android 9.0 Bluetooth Radio Car Vehicle Music Video Player Multimedia Touchscreen Hexa Core 4G+64G Build-in DSP https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V3XJVRD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_0AYxDbGJ09GBK

This kit is integrated into the stock head unit location and has a large screen, a double din unit is much smaller and looks awkward and not remotely oem

 

[HoustonT4R]

This kit is integrated into the stock head unit location and has a large screen, a double din unit is much smaller and looks awkward and not remotely oem

I agree, but people are buying the alpine model that is pretty similar to this. If matched up with the dash kits, I think this is a sweet option in the middle. Not a perfect fit but has good reviews and your buying from amazon and not from China

plus its 10.2 inches !!

 

[cb1111]

Thanks for the info. I did not know google maps works offline though. I know on my iphone it will not.

As for playlists, I huess I mean how the stock unit can navigate through playlists

Yes it will. You just need to download the maps you need.