Podofo T86PND 7-Inch Smart Player Wireless CarPlay & Android Auto player with FM transmitter
Overview
My amazing car doesn't come with a built-in navigation system, and no matter how much I've already put into it, adding one through the manufacturer would still mean spending a serious amount more. So I went looking for what alternatives were actually out there.
And, surprisingly, the solution I landed on was this Podofo 7-inch touchscreen, a mirror display that mirrors CarPlay and Android Auto straight from your phone. It cost me somewhere around $50, roughly 1-2% of what a factory navigation system would have run me.
Nothing quite matches a proper built-in system, and a price tag that small naturally raises an eyebrow. But that's exactly where I come in: worst case, it doesn't hold up and I'm out a relatively small amount. Best case, it holds up, saves me money, and outperforms what the manufacturer would have offered.
Product details
The Podofo T86PND is a 7-inch smart touchscreen player that mirrors CarPlay and Android Auto from your phone, no built-in navigation system in the car required. It also supports Apple AirPlay and Mirror Cast for screen mirroring, Bluetooth music playback, and can play movies and music directly from a TF card (Class 10, up to 128GB).
Sound can be routed through the screen's own 2W built-in speaker, an FM transmitter (adjustable 87-108 MHz) that broadcasts to the car's factory radio, or a 3.5mm AUX cable connected straight to the car's audio system.
Installation is portable and doesn't require disassembling any interior components, it comes with a center console mount as standard, plus an optional windshield mount. Power is supplied through an included Type-C cigarette lighter cable (7V-32V/3A).
Specifications
Display
| Screen | |
| Display Size | 7 Inches (IPS) |
| Screen Resolution | 1,024 x 600 |
| Screen Saver | Off / 1 min / 5 min |
| Wallpaper | Changeable |
Connectivity & Features
| Wireless System | |
| Wireless System | Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Apple AirPlay, Mirror Cast, Bluetooth |
| FM Transmitter | Adjustable, 87-108 MHz |
| Built-in Speaker | 2W |
| Voice Control | Supported Fixed voice commands to turn display on/off |
| Storage Expansion | Class 10 TF Card, up to 128GB |
| Language | Simplified/Traditional Chinese, English, Russian, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Bulgarian |
Build & Installation
| Physical & Mounting | |
| Material | ABS/PC |
| Installation Method | Center console mount, or optional windshield mount No disassembly of interior components required |
| Item Size | 182 x 116 x 66 mm |
| Weight | ~300g Including bracket |
Power & System
| Operation | |
| Chip | High-performance SOC |
| Power Interface | Type-C, 7V-32V / 3A Via included cigarette lighter cable |
| Working Power | Less than 10W |
| Operating Temperature | -4°F to 149°F |
| Cooling Method | Passive cooling |
Inside The Box
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict
I ordered this with a fairly specific set of expectations, but I had no idea it would actually exceed them. It syncs with Bluetooth effortlessly, giving me the navigation and media control I wanted, alongside phone calls that were already syncing with my car's system from the start. That's exactly what I needed, nothing more, nothing less, and it looks perfectly fine doing it.
The kit comes with everything you need to power the unit and mount it in the car. The screen itself is compact, even modest compared to the touchscreens you see in cars today, but that's exactly what I was after, and for compact cars, or as an extra screen, that smaller size actually works in its favor. The built-in speakers are a nice bonus, I didn't really count on them, but it doesn't hurt having them there.
Put it all together, and this ends up being a very solid screen. It'll upgrade your car if it's older, never came with these features to begin with, or if they broke and you need a replacement. For what it cost, this is a surprisingly good deal. And if your car doesn't come with these features by default and adding them would cost you extra, remember there's a much more affordable alternative out there.
A compact, capable CarPlay/Android Auto screen that does exactly what it promises, and at this price, it's hard to justify paying full price for the same features through the manufacturer.
Where to buy
Below are the links to purchase the Podofo T86PND 7-Inch Smart Player:
Photos
FAQ
Got questions about the Podofo 7-Inch Car Touchscreen?
Already purchased the Podofo 7-Inch Car Touchscreen yourself?
More Car Tech
Car Tech & Accessories
Check out my full collection of dash cams and car tech reviews, all covered hands-on.
Explore All ReviewsSubscribe OVR channels
Choose the channels you like and subscribe on YouTube.
Disclaimer
This post contains affiliate links.
Please check out my disclosure policy for more details.
Thank you for your support & understanding!
Comments