Technological trends come and go year after year. What’s famous one minute might not be famous in the next. In comparison to the automotive industry, it’s the same. Automotive makers are constantly coming up with different ideas for newer infotainment functionality. We have witnessed the rise of substantially larger infotainment screens like the apple carplay stereo in recent years, a trend that was initiated by Tesla. Following are some of the famous vehicle infotainment trends of 2022.
- The Pioneer AVH-W4500NEX is categorized among the very few car infotainment systems that lets you connect your phone to Apple or Android Auto either through a USB cord or wirelessly, providing a lot more versatility. Its display is far more attractive and customizable than any other models that have been tested. It also offers physical controls which are intuitive and a variety of extra features, including multiple input and output connections along with a CD and DVD drive. It is also available at a reasonable cost. This is the best shout if you wish to have a built-in navigation system or a capacitive multitouch display rather than using your phone to access maps.
- If you only want apple carplay installation near me or Android Auto and are okay with using a wired USB connection to use them, the Sony XAV-AX100 is an outstanding and feasible choice. Unlike other systems, Sony has a handy knob that lets you adjust volumes easily. Its display is clear, responsive, and 6.4 inches in size. Even though it is smaller than other models, it indeed serves the purpose. Compared to other models, the XAV-AX100 does not have a CD or DVD player, the ability to tweak around with the buttons’ illumination to complement your car’s interior or even satellite-radio capability.
- The Pioneer AVIC-W8500NEX is a lot more similar to the above two systems, but it also comes with the addition of a built-in navigation system. Its capacitive screen allows multitouch and pinch-to-zoom-type controls. You can easily connect this system to both Apple and Android Auto either with a USB cord or wirelessly. The built-in navigation system can be a great alternative to using your maps on your phone for directions, as this system lets you stay on track even in those areas where there is poor reception. This is the best device if you do not want to use your phone and minimize its battery and data consumption. The additional features make the device a little more pricey, so you can opt for this model only if you need it.
- If your vehicle has only one dash opening for the music system, the Pioneer AVH-3500NEX is the best option for you as it has a clever slide-out touchscreen. It’s easy to use and comes with a handy volume knob. It has big buttons on the front to enable standard functions. The motorized screen is 7 inches wide and slides out and up for use efficiently, giving you a similar interface as a double-DIN system. It retracts back into the head unit every time you turn off the radio or even when you want to hide it while listening to music or radio.
Suppose you drive a less expensive car or maybe an older vehicle from the 1990s like the Honda Civic to a recent Toyota Corolla or Ford Focus. In that case, there are higher chances of you not being able to get full advantage of your phone through your car’s audio and video system. Even if you can stream the audio files and conduct hands-free calls via Bluetooth features, you’re likely to have to use your phone’s small screen. Even if your phone fits in a car mount or holding device, it’s difficult and highly distracting to use it if you need to. If you wish to increase the volume of the device to listen and follow the directions, you need to fumble with the volume control on your smartphone; switching apps or responding to messages or checking them just isn’t advisable.
These newer and advanced systems increase not just the user’s convenience but safety as well. It also adds to the enjoyment of driving around by putting your smartphone’s controls on your stereo’s display, so you can easily use your device from a simplified driver and user-friendly interface. Even voice control comes in handy as the integration of voice assistants makes these systems much more easier and safer to use. It eradicates the hurdle of picking up the phone itself. In the past few years, Apple and Android systems have become available in most new cars, with dozens of replacement audio and video systems.
Factors to Consider:
1. Wireless Connection:
Even though the USB cord facility is a win-win, being able to connect wirelessly is a considerable convenience. Relatively fewer stereos offer wireless connections, but the area where the most innovation has happened in the past few years. So, wireless systems have a built-in Wi-Fi network that helps you to connect to your phone, and once the two have paired up, your smartphone automatically disconnects from any other Wi-Fi network it’s connected to.
2. Easy-to-Use:
Large on-screen buttons, intuitive controls, and easy-to-read texts make it easy to get to what you want to choose quickly, minimizing any sort of distractions. Most systems have similar screens: a display that’s clear, responsive, sharp, and comes from 6.4 to 7-inch size. The most differences took place in the physical buttons located on the faceplate around the display screen. The best displays have a great tactile feel, making it easier to identify with a single touch. Most models have a knob, making volume adjustments much more accessible, even if the smaller display has been compromised.
3. Touchscreen:
A capacitive touchscreen is preferred, which allows multitouch gestures which are particularly handy for pinching to zoom in on navigation maps. But such features are typically available only on higher-priced systems. The resistive displays installed on most replacement systems recognize only a single touch point at a time, but they work fine for most uses, like tapping on-screen buttons or swiping through menus. In order to zoom in or out on a navigation app, you just have to use the + and ‒ buttons on the screen, and you’re good to go.