AliExpress 14.6" Infotainment - Anyone have experience with these?

[Ruckus]

I have a 2025 SR5, and I only have a few items I don't love about the truck, one of them being the infotainment system.

It seems like our counterparts overseas are producing a 14.6" replacement for the factory 8" screen.

You can see the product here.

I'm sure none of us in T4G have purchased this particular unit, but I was hoping someone here may have experience with similar units for previous generations from AliExpress. I'm thinking I may be a guinea pig for this and just put it on a credit card for protection.

Sponsored

 

[Yotota]

The off brand Chinese Android head units have been getting better and better over the last five years or so. There are still some duds, but if the seller has good reviews, and sells other products with good reviews, it could be worth it.

 

[gofastdan]

Interesting but I have questions.

For one it says it has a 4x50 watt output and it doesn't state anywhere how many ohms that power is delivered at. To me that sounds like it won't be directly compatible with the JBL system.

It's running Android 13, which is probably not uncommon but also is now three years old. That's not really a concern but it doesn't specifically say anywhere that it is licensed to access Google Play, and that would be a deal breaker for me, especially as expensive as it is. It does show the Play icon in some of the screenshots so it may be licensed but I'd want to confirm that before buying it.

You lose a physical volume knob. Again, probably not a huge deal, especially since they claim you still can use the steering wheel controls. Good thing b/c at least in some of the apps, like Google Maps, the bottom controls seem to go away.

Finally, my biggest concern would probably be not knowing what tariffs might add to the cost. I'd hate to buy it and then find out I owe another four or five hundred in import costs.

 

[Ruckus]

For one it says it has a 4x50 watt output and it doesn't state anywhere how many ohms that power is delivered at. To me that sounds like it won't be directly compatible with the JBL system.

It's running Android 13, which is probably not uncommon but also is now three years old. That's not really a concern but it doesn't specifically say anywhere that it is licensed to access Google Play, and that would be a deal breaker for me, especially as expensive as it is. It does show the Play icon in some of the screenshots so it may be licensed but I'd want to confirm that before buying it.

You lose a physical volume knob. Again, probably not a huge deal, especially since they claim you still can use the steering wheel controls. Good thing b/c at least in some of the apps, like Google Maps, the bottom controls seem to go away.

Finally, my biggest concern would probably be not knowing what tariffs might add to the cost. I'd hate to buy it and then find out I owe another four or five hundred in import costs.

These are all very valid questions - thanks for giving me more to consider.

I'm not entirely sure Google Play matters to me since I really only use Android Auto.

I guess I'm naive, but I never even considered import tariffs. That could definitely be a deal breaker.

I've seen a few variations, running anywhere from Android 12 to 14. I'll dig a little deeper and see if they all have the same interface or not.

 

[maxx075]

I know jack when it comes to how these companies (Toyota, etc) are handling updates, but I would be worried about switching HU/OS and not receiving any OTA updates. Maybe that's baked in to the HU somehow, but it would worry me being the guinea pig lol.

 

[Ruckus]

I know jack when it comes to how these companies (Toyota, etc) are handling updates, but I would be worried about switching HU/OS and not receiving any OTA updates. Maybe that's baked in to the HU somehow, but it would worry me being the guinea pig lol.

Another great point.

Damn...

Sponsored