- If your car already has Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, a new head unit adds less than it used to.
- Aftermarket units still win on sound controls, amplifier outputs, extra inputs and screen quality, and they add smartphone features to older cars.
- A swap makes least sense in newer cars where the screen also controls climate and vehicle settings.
- Count the extras before you buy: steering wheel interface, camera interface and fascia kit.
A few years ago the reason to replace a factory stereo was simple: you wanted Bluetooth, navigation or phone mirroring. Today most new cars come with CarPlay and Android Auto built in, so for many drivers that reason has gone. The aftermarket stereo market has changed, and the honest answer to "should I swap?" is now "it depends".
What has changed
Car makers now build the screen into the dashboard and tie it to the rest of the car, from climate controls to vehicle settings. Phone mirroring is standard on most models, so there is little left to add.
Some makers are even going the other way. In 2023 General Motors said it would phase out CarPlay and Android Auto in its future electric cars in favour of a built in Google system, and later reports suggested it could go further. It is a reminder that phone projection cannot be taken for granted on new cars.
Where an aftermarket unit still wins
Older cars with no smartphone support are the obvious case. A new unit also brings better sound control than most factory stereos: a proper equaliser, higher power per channel and pre outputs for an external amplifier, according to UK retailer Bass Junkies.
Other real benefits include wireless CarPlay and Android Auto on a car that never had them, DAB radio, extra camera inputs and a brighter, more responsive screen.
Where it does not make sense
In a newer car the factory unit often does more than play music. Swapping it can mean losing vehicle settings, climate controls or driver assistance screens, and you should check what it does to your warranty first.
There are also costs that are easy to forget. You may need a steering wheel control interface to keep the buttons working, a camera retention interface to keep the factory reversing camera (the same retailer lists this at 35 to 60 pounds), and a fascia kit and wiring loom made for your car.
Cheaper options to try first
If the car already has wired CarPlay or Android Auto, a wireless adapter can remove the cable for much less than a new head unit. If the problem is sound, better speakers and some sound deadening usually give a bigger improvement than a new screen.
A simple way to decide
- Older car with no smartphone support or poor sound: an aftermarket unit makes sense.
- Car with factory CarPlay and acceptable sound: spend on speakers, an amplifier or sound deadening first.
- Car with a deeply integrated screen: keep the factory unit.
If you do decide to swap, read our guide to fitting a new head unit in a modern car first.
Sources: Bass Junkies (a retailer, so treat its claims as a guide) and Fast Car.
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