Help - New radio with CarPlay

I need your expert opinions.

I want to buy my husband a new radio for his 2005 Tacoma TRD Pro with JBL radio as birthday gift.

What is a good option and where to buy?
I have been reading the forum but asking for a recommendation after you have been using the radio.

I have no clue what I would need or if adding the backup camera is worth it. I believe we will need to add a microphone. Not sure if the GPS is needed.

I would really appreciate any help

 

How "Techie" is your husband?

I have multiple vehicles with Apple Carplay/Android Auto.

One has a Pioneer NEX head unit, another has a Kenwood head unit, another has a Sony head unit, and another has a full Android 8.1 PX5 head unit.

The Apple Carplay/Android Auto head units all function basically the same with differences in the interface.

The Sony is far and away the easiest to use, though not as feature rich as the other 2.

The Kenwood slots in the middle and the Pioneer NEX has the most bells and whistles, though for the price differential I'd take the Kenwood over the Pioneer every time.

Now if your husband is Tech savvy, the full Android head unit blows Apple Carplay/Android Auto completely away.

I started trying them when they were on the early versions and they were very clunky.

Get one with Android 8.0 and up (avoid the 7.x and below units) and with 4GB RAM and they are fantastic.

Powerful, responsive, and almost unlimited what you can do with them.

Yes to the backup camera.

As far as adding a microphone, yes with the Apple Carplay/Android Auto head units, no with the Android head unit as most of them have a microphone in the face of the head unit as well as an external mic. I've always used the built-in mic with no problems.

 

Thank you so much for your guidance. I can definitely start looking around. I see you are from GA too and this hands free law started the conversation of getting at least Bluetooth and now getting a new radio.

He is definitely techie. Not even sure why we have never thought on getting a new radio.

He was thinking more in getting a new tacoma (NO WAY)

 

Does he have an iPhone or an Android phone?

If he has an iPhone one of the Apple Carplay head units would probably be the best bet.

If he uses an Android, get the Android head unit and don't look back.

Mine is similar to this one

Keep in mind that the Android units are all Chinese so they can be hit or miss quality wise.

I've had a Joying that was a clunker, a Pumpkin that was good, and a Dasaita that was terrific.

My current Eonon looks to be very much like the Dasaita so far (terrific)

I recommend getting one off Amazon as there you can get a 4 year warranty on it for ~$25

$25 well spent IMHO.

 

He was an Iphone

He listen mostly to music on his way home and phone calls.


I see that many radios I will have to add the backup camera and microphone. So I am searching for a package that even have the trim. I am starting to regret this gift a LOT of research. But I know he is going to love it.

I will be a happy wife

 

Just let me tell you, I'd love this gift from my wife and you know he will appreciate it every time he's in his truck jamming out or talking on the phone. Nice work!