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Android Car Head unit installed in the Kia Picanto 2015 showing Waze and Spotify
Best aftermarket Android Auto head units in 2024

Here are some of the best Android Auto head units for your car across different sizes, price points, and use-cases.

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Android Auto is a great addition to any vehicle as it allows you to connect all the best Android phones to quickly glance at Google Maps, control your music hands-free, make or receive phone calls, listen to audiobooks, and more. XDA's Adam Conway got one installed recently and called it one of the best upgrades he made to his car. While most newer cars have an Android Auto infotainment system pre-installed, plenty of older vehicles lack a supported head unit. If you'd like to change that, you're in luck.

Motorola MA1 in car next to smartphone
Gain wireless freedom with this Motorola MA1 Android Auto car adapter that's now 32% off

This popular Android Auto wireless adapter is now 32% off, making it the perfect time to buy.

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If you spend a lot of time in your car, you know how important a proper head unit can be for long commutes. While a lot of modern head units support Android Auto, many still require the phone to be plugged in, in order for the magic to happen. Although it's already pretty convenient, making things wireless takes things to another level, and that's where this Motorola MA1 wireless adapter comes into play.

Aftermarket Android Head Unit installed in a Kia Picanto
Getting an aftermarket Android head unit is the best upgrade I made for my car

If you want to make a quick upgrade to your car, an aftermarket Android head unit might be the best option

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I recently bought my first car, a Kia Picanto, and it's old enough that the pre-installed head unit was a simple radio with a CD player and Bluetooth support. While that's more than good enough for most people, as a tech enthusiast, I wanted to go a bit fancier than that. That's why one of the first things I did was buy a new aftermarket Android car head unit, and it's leaps and bounds better than what I had before.

Mesay 6.8
Add Android Auto and CarPlay to any car for less with 40% off this 6.8-inch display

A fantastic and affordable way to add a beautiful display to your vehicle without the hassle of installing something in your dash.

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Despite factory head units improving and manufacturers' offering a pretty good user experience through improved software, you really can't beat the experience you'll find with Android Auto and Apple's CarPlay. Both experiences are frequently updated, and provide support for a variety of popular apps that you use on an everyday basis. The interaction is seamless and, for this reason, it is one of the best ways to bring a more modern feel to your vehicle's entertainment system.

Motorola MA1 in car next to smartphone
This popular wireless Android Auto adapter just dropped to its lowest price of the year

You don't want to miss out on this chance to bring a seamless and wireless Android Auto experience to your vehicle.

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Vehicle infotainment systems have gotten a lot better over the past few years, but they really can't compete with the likes of Android Auto or Apple's CarPlay. With that said, it's great that most vehicle manufacturers provide the option, but sometimes, the experience can be a little cumbersome because you constantly need to plug in your phone to get things working.

Motorola MA1 in car next to smartphone
This must-have Motorola Android Auto wireless adapter deal is so good it already sold out once

The Motorola MA1 wireless adapter is now back in stock and priced well

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Black Friday is here, and with it, we're seeing lots of incredible deals on all our favorite electronics, like laptops, SSDs, CPUs, and more. Of course, with deals so good, some are bound to sell out. In fact, that's what recently happened with the Motorola MA1 Android Auto wireless adapter, with its awesome price drop attracting lots of attention and selling out in an instant. With that said, we're happy to report that the device has been restocked, and the discount is just as good as ever, with the deal knocking 28% off for a limited time.

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Get wireless Android Auto, CarPlay for as little as $60 with this superb Black Friday deal

Add a modern touch to your in-car entertainment system with this fabulous deal.

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There are plenty of great car accessories for your smartphone, and one of the must-have items is an adapter to enable wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay in your car. If your car only has wired Android Auto or CarPlay, this Black Friday deal is an inexpensive way to go wireless without having to upgrade your entire entertainment system. WQQBFF is offering a 33% discount on its wireless Android Auto adapter, bringing the price down to just $60. Its wireless CarPlay adapter is priced at $70, which is a 42% saving.

Motorola MA1 in car next to smartphone
Motorola's popular wireless Android Auto adapter is $20 off in this fantastic limited-time deal

One of the best wireless Android Auto adapters is now on sale for a limited time in this fantastic deal.

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If you've been looking to add wireless capabilities to your car but didn't want to replace your current Android Auto head unit, Motorola's wireless Android Auto car adapter is going to be the perfect solution. The Motorola MA1 delivers an impressive experience without having to plug via USB. For a limited time, you can score this amazing deal on the device that knocks 22% off the original retail price. But grab it while you can because this deal won't last long.

Motorola's popular wireless Android Auto adapter is now just $70 in this limited-time deal

Grab this great Android Auto wireless adapter for less in this must-see deal.

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This is the wireless Android Auto car adapter you'll want to buy if you're looking for a device that can consistently create a wireless connection between your Android smartphone and the head unit in your vehicle. The Motorola MA1 is the best option and right now, for a limited time, you can score 22% off, dropping the price down to just $70.

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I’m finally adding Android Auto to my wife’s car thanks to this killer Prime Day deal

This Android Auto kit is the upgrade I've been needing, and it's over 50% off.

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Ever since I bought a new truck a few years back, and it came with Android Auto, I was hooked and really don't like driving without it now. My family has a second vehicle, which my wife prefers to drive, that is older and doesn't have Android Auto. Not to mention the small display in it has really gone downhill in terms of touch responsiveness (it's resistive, not capacitive), and the brightness is so bad that in bright environments, you can't see the backup camera feed on it. So, for both my sanity and, more importantly, my wife's, I am finally adding Android Auto to her car — and thanks to Prime Day, it's going to be cheap and easy.

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Android Auto: Compatibility, tips, and everything you need to know

Android Auto allows you to connect your phone to your car to avoid distractions while driving. Here's everything you need to know about it!

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A lot of car manufacturers sell vehicles with large infotainment systems that come with their own operating systems, but they aren't great. That's where Android Auto comes in. The feature is supported by an Android Auto app that might come pre-installed on your phone and is otherwise found on the Google Play Store. With Android Auto, you can connect your phone to your car's entertainment system. Depending on your car and phone model, this can be done either with a cable or wirelessly. You can make and receive calls, send text messages, reply to them via voice input, use navigation, or run third-party apps — all on an interface that's easy to use and less distracting while driving.

An image showing a navigation app running on instrument cluster of a car.

Google today announced some major updates and changes coming to both Android Auto and Android Automotive OS for cars with Google built-in. These changes will allow the developers to easily reach more users as the number of cars supporting Android Auto or running Android Automotive OS is expected to grow significantly by the end of this year. From new app categories for driving experiences to the apps designed for parked and passenger experiences, here's a quick rundown of all the changes making their way to Google's Android for cars:

Person in Car Holding AAWireless Dongle
5 reasons to buy this affordable wireless Android Auto dongle

This post is sponsored by AAWireless.

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Android Auto is the preferred software for millions of car owners. Using it allows you to access Android apps while keeping you focused on your drive. Whether it's pulling up song you want to hear, setting directions to your destination, or making a phone call, you can do it with a touch on your car infotainment system's touchscreen. Even better, you can voice command the inbuilt Google Assistant to carry out the tasks. However, you often have to connect your phone via a cable every time you drive, which can be an inconvenience.

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Waze gains support for Android Auto 'Coolwalk' with latest beta update

Waze is now supported in Android Auto 'Coolwalk' as long as you are running the latest beta of the app.

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Android Auto's split-screen redesign also known under codename 'Coolwalk', started rolling out at the beginning of the month, giving users a revamped split-screen layout, bringing more functionality by putting more information on display when possible. Now, Waze is gaining support for Android Auto 'Coolwalk' with its latest beta update, giving users more choice when it comes to mapping and navigation in their vehicles.

Android Auto coolwalk design graphic.
Android Auto's split-screen redesign finally starts rolling out

It also brings new Assistant-powered smart suggestions

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Google showcased an updated Android Auto UI, codenamed Coolwalk, during its I/O developer conference last year. It featured a new split-screen layout capable of simultaneously showing navigation, music playback controls, and more. Although Google said the redesign would roll out to users "this summer," it did not arrive with the Android Auto 8.0 update in August. The company rolled it out in beta in November, and it's now finally reaching all users.

Motorola MA1
This must-see deal drops our favorite wireless Android Auto adapter to just $70

If you have an Android Auto head unit and want to be able to connect your phone wirelessly, this is the dongle you need.

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Android Auto in vehicles is getting more common nowadays, but having a seamless and wireless connection with the head unit from your smartphone is something we only see in newer models or higher-end cars. Luckily, you can wirelessly connect your Android smartphone without buying a new Android Auto head unit. The Motorola MA1 is one of the best options, giving you peace of mind thanks to its great connection. If you've been in the market for a wireless adapter for your Android Auto head unit, the Motorola MA1 is seeing a $20 discount, dropping it to just $70 for a limited time.

Renault Megane E-Tech interior.
Google partners with Renault to develop a "Software Defined Vehicle"

Touted as the "Vehicle of Tomorrow," it will feature advanced AI capabilities and new in-car services

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While hardware is the main selling point for most Android flagships, Google's Pixel lineup is defined by its software. The company now plans to bring a similar experience over to cars, and it has extended its partnership with Renault to develop a Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) that will feature advanced artificial intelligence capabilities and new in-car services.

Android Auto Receiver
Android Auto Receiver lets you run Android Auto from your phone on an Android Automotive head unit

Android Auto Receiver is a handy app that lets you project Android Auto from your phone on an Android Auto head unit. Read on to learn more.

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Android Automotive 13, the latest version of Google's OS for in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems, is here. It brings several behind-the-scenes improvements to the camera subsystem, car framework, connectivity, privacy, and more. One of the changes listed as part of the connectivity improvements recently confirmed that Google enabled the Gabeldorsche Bluetooth stack by default in Android 13. Now, another connectivity improvement in the changelog has brought a handy app called Android Auto Receiver to light.

Android Auto
Android Auto 8.0 rolls out without the promised "Coolwalk" redesign

Android Auto 8.0 is rolling out to users via the Google Play Store, but it doesn't bring any user-facing changes. Read on to learn more.

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Google showcased an impressive Android Auto redesign during its I/O developer conference in May this year, featuring a new split-screen UI, codenamed Coolwalk, capable of showing more info than the current layout. At the time, the company said that this redesigned layout would roll out to users "this summer," leading many to believe that it might arrive with Android Auto 8.0. However, Android Auto 8.0 has now started making its way to users, and it doesn't come with the redesigned layout.

Android Auto logo on white background.
Google has finally pulled the plug on Android Auto for Phone Screens for all users

Google has finally pulled the plug on Android Auto for Phone Screens for all users. The feature is no longer available on devices running Android 11 or older.

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In August last year, Google confirmed that it would kill off Android Auto for Phone Screens on Android 12. With the first stable Android 12 release, the company pulled the plug on Android Auto for Phone Screens on devices running Android 12. However, the company did not remove the feature for those still on older releases. Sadly, that is no longer the case, and Google has now finally shut down Android Auto for Phone Screens for all users.

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