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Aftermarket android radio upgrade

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by nicoj36, Feb 20, 2019.

  1. nicoj36

    nicoj36 Active Member

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    Just saw this on youtube and it looks like a great mod. It has back-up camera capability, 3G/wifi, bluetooth, android os with apps, steering wheel controls, etc.

    Not to mention it looks like it came from the factory. Completely matches the dash color.



    What you guys think?
     
    Glen England likes this.
  2. xcuter

    xcuter Active Member

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    Has mine for 5 years . Love it


    iPhone ?
     
  3. nicoj36

    nicoj36 Active Member

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    I have android. Did you install a rear back-up camera also? If so, did you route the wires through the left side or right side of the car?
     
  4. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

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    Interesting -- but for this to get real-time traffic does it require a phone to be paired? Does it have the capability for its own cellular account?

    Bottom line -- it would be cool to have Waze "built in."
     
  5. xcuter

    xcuter Active Member

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    Yes I installed the rear camera . I honestly don’t remember which side I routed the wires , it’s been so long .


    iPhone ?
     
  6. nicoj36

    nicoj36 Active Member

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    I believe it is capable to have its own data network. I think there is a sim card slot inside it that you can put whatever network sim card data of your choice.

    And yes it would have waze since it is an android. You can pretty much put any apps from the playstore in it. Youtube, radio, etc.
     
  7. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

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    Currently unavailable.
    We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock.

    Comments for the past few months have noted that the head unit is no longer sold. Unfortunate because it did have an OEM look.
     
  8. nicoj36

    nicoj36 Active Member

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    You're right, the specific radio they used on that video is no longer available but there are plenty that are almost similar/identical to it. Everything is pretty much the same. Here are the ones I'm looking at.

    Amazon:


    eBay: Octa Core Android 8.0 Car Stereo DVD GPS Player Navi for Toyota Prius 2009-2014 797646359974 | eBay

    The one on ebay is cheaper.
     
  9. kc5dlo

    kc5dlo Active Member

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    I have had better luck on AliExpress for the Prius Android units. Usually more options and cheaper as well.
     
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  10. Tedh1979

    Tedh1979 Member

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    I just looked on AliExpress. I'm looking for an Android Auto Double Din radio to fit into my 2005 Prius. Many of the Prius matches found were rounded so I think those fit Gen3. I found a radio that is in this link below. Here is what is important to me, but I have more questions than answers. Currently I have a 2011 Hyundai Sonata Limited Turbo. I kept the factory system and factory speakers as they sounded excellent except for bass. Then I had a JL Audio amp with (2) 12" Memphis Audio subs in a sealed box in the trunk. Setup works great but I'm going to sell that car.

    I have been an iPhone iOS user for many years but recently switched to Android. My Sonata has an iPod/iPhone hookup. I plug in my iOS device and it displays the song info on the screen and I can skip tracks on the stereo. If I want to listen to music now on Android, I have to turn to Bluetooth and use "Phone" for wireless or "Aux" for wired. I cannot skip songs on the steering wheel or the radio and I can't grab the phone every time I want to skip songs. Also, the Sonata system sounds amazing with iOS devices hooked up, but with Android both wired or wireless, the songs sound terrible.

    I know I can't have steering wheel controls for the stereo even though aftermarket stereos support it. I want to link my Android phone to the aftermarket stereo and I want to at least be able to skip tracks on the radio. Isn't that what Android Auto is all about? Next, I want a GPS that can be upgraded. Google Maps are fine with me even though they seem to take me the longest route compared to Apple Maps. I don't understand how an aftermarket radio with GPS is supposed to update automatically with traffic alerts or calculate a new route based on a wrong turn, when the aftermarket radio has no internet. My phone has the data, not the radio. So, I want good GPS even if it is on Google Maps.

    I want the radio to ring when I have a phone call and I want to be able to pick up the call on the radio and talk. If I can't do this in a 2005 Prius, that's fine.

    I do not need it do play DVDs. If it's Android and supports WiFi, I might on occasion use YouTube for a video on WiFi but again, not important.

    I definitely want a backup camera! The AliExpress website is misleading. It shows the radio I'm interested in, packaged with a camera. But then in the description, it says to click the link to see the radio and camera as a package but when I click on the link, I don't know what product or products I'm supposed to pick up for a camera!

    The radio I'm interested in is a generic name but seems to have good reviews. What is weird is that radio is on AliExpress about 10+ times with prices that slightly differ. What is the difference between all of them? And I see that it says Prius and lists different years but I don't see 2005 even though what I picked should plainly work in a 2005.

    Another nice feature is that the radio is compatible with a bluetooth OBDII scanner which I have on order, actually the exact one pictured in the radio ad. That's not a must though since I can use my phone for that.

    So, I want GPS that reliably works without data or somehow and bum data off my cell phone. I want a backup camera WITH the yellow and red guide lines.

    And I want the radio to get my music off my phone, display the song and artist on the radio screen, and let me skip songs on the radio.

    If this radio will not work can you please point me to one that does? My 2005 Prius has a cassette player! I can't believe Toyota would build a car so futuristic in 2005 and then put in a cassette player from the 80's. What were they thinking?

    I also want to upgrade my speakers on the car. I don't want subs or anything power hungry, but new door speakers with more bass would be nice. I want to do the stereo soon and the speakers after that.

    Can you guys help me out on this with recommendations or tell me if this model will work and what camera and accessories I need to buy? If this won't work at all, can you guys recommend a model that is affordable that will do what I want? Again I don't need DVD or half of the other features they offer. The link below is what I am interested in, or something along those lines that will work in a 2005 Prius.

    Thanks!

    2G RAM Android 8.1 Auto Radio Ouad Core 6.2Inch 2 DIN Universal Car DVD player GPS Stereo Audio Head unit Support DAB DVR Camera-in Car Multimedia Player from Automobiles & Motorcycles on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
     
  11. kc5dlo

    kc5dlo Active Member

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    Not sure I can be of any help to you. The units that I have owned for my '14 Prius Were specifically made for the 3rd gen Prius and had plugs/wiring that made it almost Plug and Play.
     
  12. jrode

    jrode New Member

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    These types of units render audio steering wheel controls useless, correct? As well as any of the car diagnostic info? Thought I read that once.
     
  13. Tedh1979

    Tedh1979 Member

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    Well I'm home with the car. It does not have a stupid tape deck. That's about where the good news ends. I'll deal with the stereo upgrade later. Much later.
     
  14. GFO

    GFO Member

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    Installed a Chinese made (from eBay) 9" android unit into the Prius this weekend, also added a sorely needed reverse camera.

    Overall happy with it, even though the left side isn't completely flush as it's supposed to be, vendor failed to ship along two metal mounting plates that force a flush mounting position. It's otherwise very secure by the trim pieces alone as the unit is very light in weight.

    Sound quality seems improved for the radio, but lacking a bit when playing audio files compared to the OEM stereo (I had the small touch screen).

    Bluetooth is vastly improved. I don't know if my stock radio had an issue or if it's common with the stock unit, but the bluetooth reception wasn't very good at all for phone calls or streaming music.

    GPS works, even though I'll likely never use it as I have my GPS on my phone.

    Steering wheel controls work, you just have to program them, very simple, takes a minute.

    It has two USB ports, one is wired to the stock location in the armrest (needed a $10.00 connector sourced from Amazon), the AUX connection there also works. The other USB port I ran to the port below the center the dash next to the 120v outlet. I'm still searching for a USB dash plug that fits here. It's just a lose wire hanging out for now.

    I have all the functionality of an Android tablet otherwise, apps, games, movies, wifi etc. Instead of using a flashdrive for my music, this unit will recognize a small 2.5 portable hardrive (like a laptop's HD), I believe up to 1Terabyte. I'm currently using an older 320gb unit I had laying around.


    Excuse the glare:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]


    Anyone know of a usb dash plug that will fit in the spot below the center dash (see last pic)? I have tried two sizes already, one was too large, the other too small.[/B]
     
  15. Attila Fekete

    Attila Fekete Member

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    There plenty. On Ali I’ve found this - here you may have to cut the cable - or this.
    I assume on eBay you can find the same.
     
  16. GFO

    GFO Member

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    Thanks, I have the second one you linked, it's too large for the opening in the Prius.
     
  17. Attila Fekete

    Attila Fekete Member

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    Ups, I’ve missed to check the size.
    Here is one on Amazon that should fit.
     
  18. Attila Fekete

    Attila Fekete Member

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  19. GFO

    GFO Member

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    Thanks for the links, but they both look in shape/size to the first one I purchased, it's too big.

    I have another on order; if it doesn't work, I'm going to make a bracket for the second one I purchased which is too small and modify it to fit into the opening.
     
  20. tevk

    tevk Junior Member

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    I just traded in my 2004 Prius (got 270,000 miles out of it, but things were starting to fail) for a 2014 Prius Three.
    I had a coastaletech lockpick in the 2004 to add A/V and would screen mirror from my phone to the MFD, which worked well for Waze on my commute.
    So I was looking for a similar solution for my 2014, and found Android head units, which look amazing, if poorly documented.

    I just ordered this head unit from Amazon:


    Also got a 12v > 6v converter cable so I can use the stock backup camera... eventually may replace that as well since the stock one is fairly poor quality.

    Unfortunately it ships from China, so isn't scheduled for delivery until Nov or Dec.
    Looking forward to installing it!

    Going to also get some OBDII adaptor - I had been using an Automatic one paired with my phone, but it wasn't that fully featured and they stopped supporting it. Anyone have recommendations for a good OBDII to pair with an Android head unit?

    [​IMG]