The head unit I purchased is this Pumpkin Android 5.1 Car head unit for VW: http://goo.gl/CuoYkh
I will start this review by saying this is the best android car dvd player I have ever owned and I have owned dozens of head units over the years. This autoradio gps dvd has provided the most feature packed and cost effective set up for my MK5 VW Golf.
The Pumpkin double din head unit arrived in a basic box but was very well packaged to prevent any damage during transit. When I opened the box, I was instantly impressed by the build quality and feel of the unit. The buttons and connections are all very well made and I would go as far as saying they are as good as the original VW unit. In the box you will also find an external microphone, GPS antenna, a power cable with or without canbus, audio output cable, cam in cable, AUX input cable, 3G dongle cable (dongle not included), USB cable, microphone cable, iPod cable, double fakra radio adapter, remote controller and user manual. All these accessories give this android 5.1 car stereo a huge number of features. In fact, some headunits at three to four times the price of this unit do not provide even half of what is on offer here.
I found the fitting process very simple and took no more than 30 minutes. The hardest part was actually removing all the dash trim from the car. If you do struggle there are videos on YouTube to help you. This unit provides a fantastic OEM look similar to the VW RCD 510 unit. The ‘Pumpkin’ logo is not printed on the headunit as the advert picture would suggest which I actually prefer as it adds to the standard OEM look. I installed the unit with the canbus power cable and this allows it to receive all the information from your vehicle’s ECU. The headunit will display when the doors are open and on vehicle settings you can monitor your speed, RPM, miles, fuel level and more. There are a ton of customisation options for the backlit buttons. I have mine set to red to match the MK5 VW Golf set up, however, you can change it to any colour to match your vehicle.
The functions available include mirror link, DVD, Bluetooth, iPod connection, USB port for up to 80gb, SD card up to 32gb, OBD2 compatible with the Torque app, AM & FM radio, DAB+ (antenna not included), compatible with steering wheel controls, built in Wi-Fi, 3G dongle support, Cam-In support for reversing camera and many more.
This unit is running Android 5.1 Lollipop which has been optimised to work with car units. There are a number of settings for your car which you will not find on an Android tablet or smartphone. The performance is great and the specs include a Rockchip PX3 Cortex A9 Quad Core processor running at 1.6GHz, 1GB of DDR3 RAM, 16GB built in storage space. The audio outputs at a maximum of 4 x 50W, screen resolution 1024 x 600 and the device boots up from cold in no more than 20-30 seconds. These specs allow for fantastic performance and I have not experienced any lag or freezing.
Being an Android device, you can treat this device as an Android tablet. It allows for a ton of customisation options and thousands of Apps from the Playstore. I have been able to download my favourite apps from the Playstore using my smartphone as a hotspot for Wi-Fi connection. The built in Wi-Fi works flawlessly and I have not encountered any problems with connectivity or download speeds. I was easily able to connect to my home’s Wi-Fi when parked outside on the driveway. If you prefer, you can purchase a 3G dongle and use a data sim card to give the head unit access to the internet. I downloaded the Spotify app and a large playlist directly to the unit in minutes. I absolutely love the fact that I can use Spotify directly on the unit and no longer have to have my phone connected to an Aux cable or use an FM transmitter. You will be able to download all your favourite apps that you use on your smartphone and tablets on to this headunit directly from the Playstore.
The audio quality is brilliant and on par with the original VW stereo. The Android system has been optimised to include an equalizer so you are able to adjust the audio settings to suit your preferences. You can connect your phone or iPod using the AUX or USB connections provided with this unit. The radio signal is perfect and the unit displays the names of the radio stations. It includes the double fakra aerial adapter which you will need for VW group cars. There are a ton of outputs to allow you to add speakers, amps and subs to your set up if you wish to do so. There is also output for a reversing camera if you wish to set one up. This unit is DAB+ compatible but does not include a DAB+ receiver or antenna. I have purchased the Pumpkin DAB+ receiver and will provide a full review of it once I have installed it. The remote control provided is a nice bonus to change various settings, skip tracks etc without having to use the touchscreen and it’s ideal for rear seat passengers.
The screen in very good indeed. It looks great and viewing angles are spot on providing clear and vibrant colours. I have been able to use the headunit in direct sunlight without any issues. You can adjust the brightness settings and I have mine set to the brightest. The touchscreen is perfect and I have not had any issues with the unit not responding to feedback. In fact, feedback is instant and typing on it is a pleasure. I have watched various videos on YouTube and playback from files on a USB stick in Mp4 format all of which has provided a crystal clear picture quality.
The GPS is great and finds your exact location in a matter of seconds (do not forget to turn ‘location’ on as you would with your smartphone or tablet). There is a GPS card slot at the front of the unit which is not included so you will need to install the navigation app of your choice. I am currently using Sygic which is a brilliant navigation app. However, having access to the Playstore means that you can choose from the hundreds of navigation apps available. You have the choice to purchase apps such as TomTom or Garmin or use one of the many free apps available. Using the GPS system on this device is a pleasure and I can now retire my TomTom sat nav. You can go in to the settings and change the default navigation app so that it will start automatically when you hit the GPS button on the unit.
I have a OnePlus 3 smartphone which I paired with this unit via Bluetooth and as a Wi-Fi hotspot. Both of which connected flawlessly. I was able to view all my contacts on the headunit and make calls. There is a built in mic in the headunit so I did not use the external microphone provided. The mic is very good and having called a few members of family and friends to try it out, they could all hear me loud and clear.
The built in storage of 16gb is plenty for most people. However, if you want to store a lot of videos and music to the device you can expand the storage space using a USB stick of up to 80gb and a Micro SD card of up to 32gb. I have set the default storage to a 32gb Micro SD card so that I am able to download music and videos without running out of space.
The customer service support of Pumpkin is absolutely brilliant. I had an issue with courier delivering the device to the wrong place and Pumpkin were on the case immediately to solve the problem and ensure the headunit arrived promptly to the correct address. If you have any questions they will reply fairly quickly considering the time difference between the UK and China. They will provide links to the latest software updates and installation notes. In addition, the provide you with 18 months warranty.
As I said at the start of the review, this is the best headunit I have owned and I am very happy with it. I would certainly recommend it if you want a premium quality and OEM looking headunit. This unit provides one of the most extensive features set I have come across on a car head unit and at this price, it really is an absolute bargain.
Here you can check more Pumpkin android 5.1 head unit for VW：http://goo.gl/ETCUKY
Pumpkin official website:
Pumpkin US: www.autopumpkin.com
Pumpkin UK: http://ift.tt/29hvZcz
Pumpkin Germany: www.autopumpkin.de
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