Android 4.2.2 Sat Nav quick review!

[RedGolfDom]

So i bought one of them chinese 8" screen android sat navs you see on ebay. I know a lot of people may think it's dodgy going near them especially if you have to send it back to china for repairs which i understand. I however found one, a chinese seller who answered all my questions pre purchase and after, but with a UK warranty. So if anything was to go wrong I could just send it somewhere here and save much of the hassle. Anyway onto the unit itself. It came and i was immediatly impressed with how big the screen was. My mate has a 6" sat nav in his eddy and this is just another thing all together. The buttons also make it look very OEM. Super easy to install with no problems. GPS was something that worried me, as it may struggle finding a signal like i know many others do including kenwoods. This however picked up perfectly! Bluetooth and all that worked find, WIFI working I was just over the moon with my purchase. Then today my 32gb SD card came for it the same day my phone broke (i use my phone for music via bluetooth) so i put a load of music onto the SD card and a few episodes of southpark just to see how it was. I found the default music player to suck, no shuffle etc. Then i thought, well I have android 4.2.2 with google play store why don't i just download a new one for free? and thats all i did, downloaded a new improved music player and my music is back playing with all functionality i wanted! Videos also play flawlessly and a good picture too. I even downloaded a new GPS app just to see if i could find a better one than the default iGO and Android maps and that worked great as well.

Overall i would say anyone in the market for a new sat nav, id recommend this. Even over OEM ones or any other after markets such as kenwoods or pioneer as i have known issues with them. And the OEM although the screen is better as it's not reflective, just doesn't have all the stuff you really want. I also have the torque app on this so i can see all my temperatures and gauges it looks like a gtr inside when i have it on haha! I have no pictures due to my phone breaking as i mentioned earlier but i will leave you all with a link to the seller i got it from. I don't often like to recommend products just incase i let someone down, but i don't think this will disappoint many at all. Just to clarify though the screen can be reflective in direct sunlight but over the pass couple of days i haven't had any real issues yet. But i bet you can even buy some sort of film to go over it to fix that i just haven't looked into it yet!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161329549785?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Andy]

Looks a well spec unit..take it the ipod connection goes in the back of the header unit..A big factor with these is or was the sound quality.Post some pics installed

[wombar]

Thanks for the review, it's much appreciated :)

I'm struggling to make a decision on what head unit to buy. It's a toss up between the RNS-310, a Dynavin N6 or an Android unit from eBay (but British seller). I've currently got an RCD500 with an iPod interface that is absolute garbage. Quite what VW were thinking when they put these in cars I don't know. 

I love the idea of the Android unit (I'm a massive geek at heart), but I've heard bad things about sound/build quality. I don't want to be fighting with a radio that keeps crashing etc. But reviews like this really help nudge me in their direction. I'd like something with the Play Store, just because it gives you options to use apps of your choosing, or even creating your own.

The RNS-310 and N6 are going to be pretty solid, but won't allow any customisation. In the end, I think I'll end up with an Android unit.

I'd love to see some pics when you get a new phone, and any other thoughts you have on the unit as you use it.

 

[cooljimy84]

Same here, was looking at getting subsonic to sync from my server to an SD Card over wireless when at home. Using tasker and locations.

Guy at work got one of these type sat navs (all be a year ago) had no end of probs, and the audio was worse than the stock head unit ! But he sent it back to UK seller and got a full refund.

Really tempted now...

[coolhandluke]

Was it just plug and play?

[RedGolfDom]

Looks a well spec unit..take it the ipod connection goes in the back of the header unit..A big factor with these is or was the sound quality.Post some pics installed

Don't have an ipod so not tested that but yeah there is a usb and you'd just lead that through to the glovebox! my sound quality through bluetooth and now sd card has been perfect though! I dont listen to radio but i have tested and seemed okay found the main stations fine and sounded decent.

Thanks for the review, it's much appreciated :)

I'm struggling to make a decision on what head unit to buy. It's a toss up between the RNS-310, a Dynavin N6 or an Android unit from eBay (but British seller). I've currently got an RCD500 with an iPod interface that is absolute garbage. Quite what VW were thinking when they put these in cars I don't know. 

I love the idea of the Android unit (I'm a massive geek at heart), but I've heard bad things about sound/build quality. I don't want to be fighting with a radio that keeps crashing etc. But reviews like this really help nudge me in their direction. I'd like something with the Play Store, just because it gives you options to use apps of your choosing, or even creating your own.

The RNS-310 and N6 are going to be pretty solid, but won't allow any customisation. In the end, I think I'll end up with an Android unit.

I'd love to see some pics when you get a new phone, and any other thoughts you have on the unit as you use it.

It's completly up to you mate but yeah i do agree having the option to download any thing you want and even create your own mini apps if you need anything inparticular is brilliant, something that if i had gone for an RNS-310 i would have been gutted about.

Same here, was looking at getting subsonic to sync from my server to an SD Card over wireless when at home. Using tasker and locations.

Guy at work got one of these type sat navs (all be a year ago) had no end of probs, and the audio was worse than the stock head unit ! But he sent it back to UK seller and got a full refund.

Really tempted now...

I would say go for it with a UK seller as you can always get a refund if yours is dodgy! but mine sound wise is quality through the SD card and audio! also because i just had the stock non sat nav centre console (i dont know the name) i couldn't change all my audio settings, now i can it sounds even better than before!

Was it just plug and play?

Yes mate super easy, took 30 mins, most of it just getting the gps where i wanted it, i led it through the back of the steering wheel and up onto the dash by the drivers side door, perfect connection there for me!


I also forgot i had some photos on my photobucket, here it is just after instal

http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/Dom_Nolan/media/satnav_zpsrj9jbvzr.png.html?o=1

[RedGolfDom]

Also don't mind my sh*t wrapping haha, done about a year ago and ive taken the thing off quite a few times hahaha

[coolhandluke]

Do you know if it integrates with the Hi Line display or how can you find out?

[Fbi]

Nice review! Thanks

[RedGolfDom]

Do you know if it integrates with the Hi Line display or how can you find out?

unfortunatley i only have midline, but i dont see no reason why it shouldn't as it has a can bus decoder! could always message the seller if you're interested in one he seemed very helpful

[coolhandluke]

Or what about this one....?http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121361712755?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Think its any better,although smaller screen??

[RedGolfDom]

Or what about this one....?http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121361712755?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Think its any better,although smaller screen??

Yeah i saw that one actually and was tempted but i decided to pay the extra for the android. Mainly because i have android phones and tablets and i know exactly what i will be getting from the operating system

[RyanGTI]

Awesome review thanks

[cooljimy84]

Any later on review ? i.e. after a few weeks you've noticed X Y Z about the system....

[RedGolfDom]

Any later on review ? i.e. after a few weeks you've noticed X Y Z about the system....

Still working perfectly! No complaints at all just set a picture of my car as my background on it haha looks great! I have however bought a different sat nav app called sygic or something just because it has the speed cameras already on and a few extra features