The best Head Unit for the money?

I went through 4 HUs before I settled on this one, including a unit up to $1k. Has everything one would want. Unfortunately for you, price went up $80 in a month (tariffs?)

$440 ATOTO S8 Ultra Double Din Car Stereo, 7" Android in-Dash Navigation, Wireless CarPlay & Android Auto, Dual BT w/aptX HD, Gesture Operation, VSV&LRV, Built-in 4G Cellular Modem, 4G+64G, S8G2A78UL-N

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HNL9753

Crazy features include:
Comes with Torque
4G option (with SIM)
External GPS, Wifi/BT, 4G antennas
Full Android tablet + android auto
Optical out
Programmable Gesture control (works surprisingly well)
TPMS (not tested)
2 camera inputs (not tested)
Steering wheel control (not tested)
Integrated mic
(was) only $290

 

Mannn, I can't get behind these chinese offbrand units as a former installer. The name brand company's are $$$$, but generally they do last.

 

After coming from a decade of Sony, Pioneer, and Clarion (2nd Sony konked on me after only a few years, hence the upgrade now), and looking now at all the double DIN Kenwoods, etc Crutchfield had to offer, I just can't justify $500-$1000 for UIs that looked & felt outdated in 2015. I did try a Stinger HORIZON 10 - it was nice, but too big, and still had less features than this one, not to mention seemed to run on an Android backend but without the ability to use it.

Another benefit to the Android backend & external GPS antenna is that I can just save offline maps and don't need a phone connection. Taking that further, I can upload Garmin topo maps to something like Orux and now the thing has full navigation as well, for free. Or just do wireless Android Auto, which it also has haha

My only real gripes about this one are: 1. no volume knob, 2. no HD radio

 

really depends on one's needs. i burned through the whole touch screen phase years ago. now i prefer simple and accurate over glitzy.

if the 80-prs didn't get discontinued and go cute 'vintage' on pricing, i'd be running those indefinitely.

i'm currently eyeballing the newer pioneer's specifically because they still support network/full active modes.

specifically eyeballing the DEH-S6220BS ($160), or DEH-S7200BHS ($200), both for their cd support. the only thing the 7200 adds is an auto-eq function, that i'm not entirely sure i'd ever use.