Why You Should Avoid Cheap Android Car Stereos and Stick to Major Brands

It’s tempting, right? You jump online and see a “10-inch Android head unit” with every feature under the sun for a few hundred bucks. Big screen, built-in GPS, YouTube, “wireless CarPlay”, the lot.

But here’s the catch: most of these no-name Android stereos cause more headaches than they’re worth. As an installer in Morayfield, we see the problems every week – glitchy software, poor sound, failed units, and cars left with cut wiring and no support.

If you’re thinking about upgrading your stereo, here’s why you should avoid cheap Android (online-only) brands and stick with trusted names like Sony and other major manufacturers.

1. Reliability: you get what you pay for

Most of the online-only Android units are built to hit a price point, not to last.

Common issues we see in the workshop:

• Units freezing or rebooting randomly while driving
• Touchscreens that stop responding or develop dead spots
• Slow, laggy performance after a few months of use
• Overheating when the car is parked in the sun

Compare that to a major brand like Sony, which designs its units to handle heat, vibration and daily use in real cars, not just look good in an online listing.

2. Sound quality: big screen doesn’t mean big sound

A lot of cheap Android stereos are all about the screen size and “features”, but the actual audio side is an afterthought.

With no-name units, you often get:

• Weak built-in amplifiers that distort easily
• Poor quality DACs (digital-to-analog converters)
• High background noise or hiss through the speakers
• Inconsistent volume levels between apps and sources

Major brands like Sony, and quality speaker brands like Morel and Eton, invest heavily in the audio side – cleaner pre-outs, better processing, and proper testing. The result is a system that not only looks good, but actually sounds good too.

3. Poor compatibility with reverse cameras and OEM features

This is one of the biggest real-world problems we see with cheap Android units.

Very often they are not properly compatible with your factory reverse camera. You end up with:

• No reverse camera image at all
• Delay or flickering when shifting into reverse
• Weird behaviour where the camera only works sometimes

Many of these units come with their own “universal” camera in the box. On paper that sounds like a bonus, but in practice:

• The included camera often doesn’t work properly or fails early
• Image quality is poor, especially at night
• Wiring and mounting hardware are cheap and unreliable

It doesn’t stop there. Cheap Android stereos can also break or disable important OEM features, including:

• Heated seats controls not showing or not responding
• Steering wheel controls not working or only partly working
• Factory amplifiers not turning on, causing no sound or weak sound
• Other vehicle settings that used to be accessible through the factory screen

With a proper Sony or other major-brand unit, we use vehicle-specific integration kits and harnesses designed for your exact make and model. That means your reverse camera, steering wheel controls, factory amp and OEM features continue to work the way they should.

4. Hidden, password-locked settings

Another nasty surprise with many no-name Android units is that essential settings are hidden behind a password-protected “factory” menu.

We regularly see units where you need this hidden menu to:

• Activate or configure the reverse camera input
• Turn on or map steering wheel controls
• Enable climate control display and other vehicle functions
• Set the correct CANBUS profile for your car

Without the right password or documentation, you simply can’t access these options. That leaves you with a big screen that technically “works”, but important features in your car are dead or half-functional.

Major brands don’t play these games. The essential settings you need for integration are accessible, properly documented, and designed to be set up by installers without guesswork or random passwords from overseas forums.

5. Safety and integration with your vehicle

Your car’s head unit is no longer “just a radio”. It often ties into:

• Steering wheel controls
• Factory reverse cameras and parking sensors
• Vehicle settings and warning chimes
• CANBUS communication with other modules

Cheap Android units often use generic wiring looms and basic CANBUS boxes that don’t fully support your vehicle. That can mean:

• Steering wheel buttons not working correctly
• Reverse camera delay or no image at all
• Random warning lights or error messages
• Chimes and alerts that are too loud, too quiet, or missing

With proper integration gear and a major-brand unit, we can keep these systems behaving as the manufacturer intended.

6. Software updates, tech support and warranty

Most no-name Android units run a heavily modified version of Android with no clear update path. Once it leaves the factory, that’s usually it.

When you do encounter an issue, tech support is usually overseas (often China). In our experience:

• Responses are slow, if you get a reply at all
• There’s very little urgency to actually solve your problem
• Support staff often aren’t familiar with your specific vehicle
• Solutions are generic copy-paste answers, not real fixes

On top of that, “warranty” often means shipping the unit back at your cost, waiting weeks, and hoping something happens.

Major brands provide firmware updates, proper testing with new phones, and real warranty support. At Garage Audio, we deal with local distributors and Australian warranty. If there’s an issue, you bring the car back to Morayfield – you’re not chasing an email address on the other side of the world.

7. Hidden costs of “cheap” units

That bargain Android stereo might look cheap on paper, but once you factor in everything, it often costs more in the long run.

Hidden costs can include:

• Extra labour to make poor-quality looms and brackets fit
• Additional parts to fix integration issues
• Diagnostic time when the unit causes electrical glitches
• Paying twice when you eventually replace it with a proper unit

We regularly see customers who have already spent money on a cheap online unit, only to end up pulling it out and starting again with a Sony or similar. It’s frustrating for them and more expensive than doing it right the first time.

8. User experience: you want it to “just work”

When you jump in the car, you don’t want to fight with your stereo. You want:

• Bluetooth or CarPlay/Android Auto to connect quickly
• Responsive touch controls
• Clear menus you can use while driving
• Stable performance every day

That’s where major brands shine. Sony, for example, focuses on fast boot times, simple interfaces and reliable phone connectivity. It might not have every gimmicky feature listed on a cheap Android unit, but the features it does have work properly.

So, should you ever use an Android-based unit?

There are reputable Android-based head units on the market, but they’re usually from known brands with proper support, not random names on online marketplaces.

The key is to choose:

• A brand with a track record in car audio
• Australian warranty and local support
• Hardware that’s been tested in real vehicles
• Software that’s stable and regularly updated

If you’re not sure, ask your installer. We work with this gear every day and see what lasts – and what doesn’t.

Why we recommend major brands like Sony at Garage Audio

At Garage Audio in Morayfield, we’re not interested in quick, cheap installs that come back with problems. We’d rather fit gear that:

• Is reliable in the long term
• Sounds good with quality speakers and amps
• Integrates properly with your vehicle
• Has real warranty and support behind it

That’s why we recommend and install major brands like Sony for head units, along with quality speakers, amplifiers and accessories from trusted manufacturers.

Thinking about upgrading your stereo?

If you’re considering a cheap Android unit you’ve seen online, it’s worth having a quick chat first. In many cases, for a bit more investment, you can get a proper brand-name unit that will:

• Last longer
• Sound better
• Work properly with your car
• Be supported if anything goes wrong

Bring your car to Garage Audio in Morayfield, and we’ll walk you through the options in plain English – no pressure, no jargon.