Displays for Android Auto and Carplay in comparison: We recommend these models

• With a Carplay display you can retrofit your car with the ability to use Android Auto and Apple Carplay.
• This gives you access to features such as a voice assistant, music control and navigation.
• Cheap models start at around 50 dollars, but for a larger and better display you can pay up to 120 dollars

The car radio revolution has been in full swing for decades. Where radio antennas and analog receivers were installed some time ago, car manufacturers now mostly rely on digital entertainment systems with Bluetooth functions and much more. If you would like to retrofit such a system to your older vehicle, we recommend a special Carplay display. We explain what the devices are suitable for and present three options.

What are Carplay displays and can I just install them in my car?

Carplay displays are special displays that have the appropriate software and connection points to pair them with a smartphone and thus use the Android Auto or Apple Carplay car systems. Similar to car sat navs, for example, they are attached to your car with a suction cup and connected to your vehicle’s existing audio system using an AUX cable or via the FM transmitter function. The power supply is usually via USB.

To use the displays, you simply have to turn them on, connect them with the appropriate cables and connect your smartphone via Bluetooth. The corresponding car software then starts automatically and you get access to features such as voice control with voice assistant (Google Assistant for Android Auto and Siri for Apple Carplay), music control, notification display, hands-free phone calls, navigation and more. The exact range of functions depends on your smartphone.

Carplay displays can easily be installed in almost all car models. The only requirements are an AUX audio input and a power supply option. If your vehicle does not have a USB output, power can be supplied via the cigarette lighter and a corresponding charging cable, which is included with most devices. An approval by the TÜV or similar bodies is not necessary, as the devices do not interfere with the vehicle construction and are therefore treated in a similar way to car sat navs or hands-free systems.

Recommended Carplay displays

As you can see, Carplay displays are not extremely complex devices and are therefore available for under 100 dollars. Below we will introduce you to three recommended models with their advantages and disadvantages.

		1.	2.	3.
		Carplay-Display SD7293A	ESSGOO Carplay-Display	Lamto Carplay-Display
		To the offer ❯	To the offer ❯	To the offer ❯
Display size	Display size	7 inches	7 inches, 9 inches, 10.3 inches	9.3 inches
Display resolution	Display resolution	1024 x 600 Pixel	n. a.	1600 x 600 Pixel
Brightness sensor?	Brightness sensor?	✘ No	✔ And	✘ No
Built-in speaker?	Built-in speaker?	✔ And	✔ And	✔ And
Connection with audio system	Connection with audio system	FM-Transmitter, AUX	FM-Transmitter, AUX	FM-Transmitter, AUX
Built-in dashcam?	Built-in dashcam?	✘ No	✘ No	✔ And
Reverse camera input	Reverse camera input	✔ And	✔ And	✔ And
Other sound sources	Other sound sources	SD-Card, USB	SD card, USB, HDMI	SD-Card, USB
Offer	Offer	To the offer ❯ NETZWELT may receive a commission from the retailer for links on this page. More info.	To the offer ❯ NETZWELT may receive a commission from the retailer for links on this page. More info.	To the offer ❯ NETZWELT may receive a commission from the retailer for links on this page. More info.

Carplay-Display SD7293A

The cheapest model in our comparison comes from Geekmaxi. Here you get a seven-inch HD display that has all the basic functions. The connection to the car speakers is made via an AUX cable or the built-in FM transmitter.

Carplay-Display SD7293A

• Display size: 7 inches
• Display resolution: 1024 x 600 Pixel
• Brightness sensor?: ✘ No
• Built-in speaker?: ✔ And
• Connection with audio system: FM-Transmitter, AUX

To the offer

You can also access the SD card slot and the USB port if you only want to listen to music and don’t want to use Carplay. For around 55 dollars, the Geekmaxi model is a great option for drivers who only need the basic features.

ESSGOO Carplay-Display

The ESSGOO display also comes with a seven-inch screen – at least in one of the three available versions, because the display is also available with a nine-inch and 10.3-inch screen size. Another special feature is the brightness sensor built into all three variants, which automatically adjusts the screen brightness to the environment.

ESSGOO Carplay-Display

• Display size: 7 inches, 9 inches, 10.3 inches
• Display resolution: n. a.
• Brightness sensor?: ✔ And
• Built-in speaker?: ✔ And
• Connection with audio system: FM-Transmitter, AUX

To the offer

It is also practical that the device has an HDMI port and can output both images and sound. The smallest version is available for 99 dollars, the larger models cost 10 or 20 dollars more.

Lamto Carplay-Display

The Lamtoo Carplay display comes with a 9.3-inch screen with a resolution of 1,600 x 600 pixels. It has all the features that are also included in the other models. In addition, there is a built-in dash cam on the back of the device, and the scope of delivery also includes a Full HD reverse camera (unfortunately wired and therefore requires more installation effort) and a memory card with 64 GB of storage for the recordings.

Lamto Carplay-Display

• Display size: 9.3 inches
• Display resolution: 1600 x 600 Pixel
• Brightness sensor?: ✘ No
• Built-in speaker?: ✔ And
• Connection with audio system: FM-Transmitter, AUX

To the offer

When using the dashcam, always observe the applicable legal regulations. The entire package costs around 120 dollars, which means very good value for money.

• » Tipp: The best VPN providers for more security and data protection
• » Buy balcony power plant: Comparison of the best solar systems