Any recommends for a car android box

Alexrose1uk

Alexrose1uk

Alexrose1uk

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Joined
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Hi Guys, just got a BYD Seal, and it has quite a nice central 15" 1080p touchscreen - ideal for a bit of media if I'm parked up etc. In one of the recent updates it's had Youtube added, and a browser, but unfortunately it doesn't have the DRM required to add things like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video etc.

I've seen quite a few mentions over the last few years of little android boxes which piggy back of wired or wireless carplay/android auto; but it seems a little bit of a minefield!

So - what I'm looking for is:
1)A little android box that can run Netflix/Prime Video/Disney+ for in the car
2)No issues with audio sync or choppy video playback
3)Ideally can output in 1080p and not limited to 480/720 via AA/CP
4)Has decent Wifi so won't struggle if I connect it to my phone's wifi hotspot

Anyone has one who can give feedback?
 
maybe it's a spoof product ... but video shows netflix&disney icons box can have it's own sim too,
don't know how they by-pass drm into the seal display.

 
In some of the very early versions of the Seal software you could basically access developer mode and sideload apps, but my understanding is that got removed some time ago. A native app would have been much preferable to an external box, but it is what it is - hence my search :)

I'll look into the one above as it sounds like the sort of thing I want.
 
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I ended up ordering the Bruxe R6 after finding the website and videos from a site called Car Play Life; and reading through a ton of reviews and info on the net. One of the things they raised is that the more commonly available Carlinkit's and other units currently available use the 6225 Snapdragon and these seem to have some sort of software/firmware issue which impacts the smoothness of video playback (which is the primary reason I'm buying the thing, so an issue). Some of the older Carlinkits even from last year don't have this issue, but those are not as easy to find without having to order from China, and most of the commonly available boxes on the rainforest are either poor performing or can be problematic, so you kinda have to pick your poison. On top of that many of them are several generations old, and have weaker CPUs, 4GB vs 8GB of RAM with the newer units, and are generally more outdated; for not THAT much less money.

I went with the Bruxe R6 for a few reasons:
1) It seems to be one of the few 6225 boxes which doesn't exhibit this behaviour so it seems some actual development work has been put in.
2) The unit came second in his best Android car box of 2025 video, which was only recorded in the last month or so, and the video implied it gives the best video playback performance out of the 21+ boxes he'd tested (out of the ones of those that met his minimum criteria), coming second only to a machine with much worse video performance but a much stronger CPU for other tasks so basically won on a technicality, but that costs almost twice as much.
3) Video sync timing/sync was amongst the best he'd seen
4) Although I'm not fond of having to order internationally; as they have a US sales office, I feel a little more comfortable than having to deal direct with China/Aliexpress/Temu and the likes which is the case for many of these devices.
5) At ~£165 delivered after USD:GBP conversion, compared to the similar units on Amazon UK, its actually a decent chunk cheaper (albeit I did ALMOST order the unit that came 5th in his best of video, simply because it was available on Amazon UK and would have been here much more quickly)
6) Nicely Bruxe offer the unit with a remote if you specifically request it, which given I'll be pairing it with a car that has a large centre screen visible from the rear, the ability for me to tuck it away and control the unit from any of the passenger seats is actually a very positive feature.

I opted for the free shipping as I'm away for a few days end of the week, so the fact it'll take a little longer to arrive is actually beneficial, rather than me ordering for faster delivery and then it turning up whilst I'm away potentially!

I'll try and remember to update after the unit arrives.
PPS ordered with credit card so I have S75 protection just incase needed, never a bad thing when dealing with overseas, even if the companies involved are legit.

 
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Interesting the bruxe video -
Seems it's connection to HU is wireless here - what protocol does it use to speak to HU, and which cars HU's work with it ?
(earlier AI ultra box had an hdmi out which would give zero lag if you had a compatible display)
Is audio quality as good as a CP/AA normal/direct connection protocol to HU ?
. can you hotspot the brux bruxe from your phone using it's data contract.
 
It uses Wired Carplay or Android Auto I believe :)

Yes you can connect it to your phone's wifi hotspot to use your phone for data :)
 
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Alexrose1uk said:
It uses Wired Carplay or Android Auto I believe :)
Click to expand...
not sure , that had seemed logical, for highest speed connection, but his comment at 11minutes I then saw suggested wireless, in that video anyway ...
and maybe the usb-c connection is just for power.

if you can run an ip phone app like zoiper on the box, too (with a sim installed on it) you could make calls without needing your mobile at all, if the box is in a good position for it's 4g reception
I suppose people make calls with insta&fb too, though.
 
OK looks like they exploit wired carplay exclusively to connect with car HU,
can't see anyone saying you can load arbitrary Android apps onto the box though.

67e0f6f7acd93854e5eb5eb7_R6%20wireless%20android%20auto%20ai%20box.avif
 
I could be wrong, but based on everything I saw there and the manufacturers website, I BELIEVE it can connect via Wired Carplay or Android Auto, OR Wireless (but you have to configure it using wired first, which is why the car needs to support wired carplay, and then it'll just be powered via the USB as output will be wireless).

Afterwards you can then connect your phone to the R6 to run Wireless Android Auto/Carplay etc, or just via bluetooth to use it as an interface for calls etc, or give it it's own sim and use it independently.

Basically imagine it as an Android Tablet with additional options, that is piggybacking the cars Carplay/Android Auto interfaces to get access; so once you've got it running, you can then put a sim in it, tether it to a hotspot, and do voice calls etc through it as well. It has access to the Google Play Store so you can absolutely install additional apps :)

The reason I decided on this one though is the fact the video/audio sync is apparently so good for videos, which is exactly what I was looking for the device for, and also something I was worried about; cost shipped was £163 + any customs I get hit with, which for all this can potentially do, I'm pretty happy with.
 
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[ does look like wired car-play is the back-bone for all systems like otocast too eg https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007747670079.htm ]

if manufacturers opened their ecosystem and provided an hdmi input to the display (with some safety precautions) or if the bare, hdmi to carplay dongles were beefed up with latest chipset,
that would allow people to either have a firestick or just connect a laptop/tablet when on roadtrips.

I've still not seen any explanation/video on how you add further apps to ai boxes ... I mean I'd put a better route planner on there too, for example
 
For the more advanced ones which are fully writeable, essentially just like you would an android tablet/phone. Provide internet to the box, go onto google play store, and download what you want :)w

Some of the more basic/dodgy ones require you to install from APKs, but a lot of the more fully featured ones have direct access to the Google Android app store.
 
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