[FYT Android Head Units] DexterMorganNL:
First impressions

The shipment from Poland was just two days, that was something I was very happy with. It came in a unbranded box, and with a little manual.

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Which I found very useful, even there is a lot of information in the general FYT UIS 7862 based headunits topic. I just like the idea of being able to read an manual, and for that reason it's currently inside my car.

https://xdaforums.com/t/general-fyt...unisoc-ums512-q-a-mods-tips-firmware.4396339/

The headunit before installing it in the car

Basically all 9 inch head-units look similar, and are having a universal form factor. That way I could atleast use the frame, from the EKIY D7: which I had only 3 weeks in my car, and I'm still trying to sell it. But atleast I got a partly refund from AliExpress, because of the fake Android version.

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In a way these head-units are just like tablets, so no wonder it looks like one as well. However this one has no silly blue colour at the edges, something the EKIY D7 had and during the hot weather it already had some discoloration.

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Then we have the back of the device: on the left are all the antennas. FM/AM, 5G WiFi, GPS and the 4G which I didn't install. Because it would require a SIM card, and already paying for mobile data on my phone. So instead I will create a WiFi hotspot, whenever I wanna use the internet.

On the top above the fan, you on the left the connection for the reverse camera video signal. Next to their are the ports for the USB dongles: there are three, I hooked one up straight to the cars original USB port.

Because I had the converter cable for that with the EKIY D7, and actually I have it connected as well to the headunit. But it seems not to be working, with my USB-C cable, and also the USB cable from the Viofo A119 dashcam didn't work.

So I'm guessing perhaps the USB port might only work, when setting the USB protocol to 1.1 instead of the current setting of 2.0 USB protocol. However I haven't tried that yet, as it would render the other USB dongles quite useless.

Because when I tried to change the USB protocol to 1.1 in the settings, it warned me that it would be limited to use for media only, just like how it was on the OEM Carradio. This USB port had been quite useless, so I never used it. I tried to connect my dashcam on it while the original car radio was still in the car. But that port didn't even provide enough power, to provide the dashcam for enough juice to run good. Since then I just have it plugged into a 12v adapter, with two USB ports that provide plenty of juice.

Back to the connector's above, the biggest one is for the fan and simcard dongle. I didn't find this particular useful, as it's a bunch of cable's I'm not using. It also contains the AUX and RCA audio connections, which I'm also not using....

So I had to bundle all these cables up with several cable ties, which was kinda a pain in the ass. As I had to do it in the car: I found it way easier, with the previous headunit. Which I only had to plugin the FM cable, GPS, Power cable and USB cables. Which I only could use one, because also on the unit the original USB port didn't work.

Below these connections, you have the Coaxial and Fiber optic connection option. However they are to no use for me, I didn't make any adjustments to the sound installation in my car. So everything goes through the harness. Which is the 16 pin connector on the right, the exact same that came with my previous unit. So I didn't need to bother to order it :D

User experience inside the car

I had the luck, that I had to drive about 300km's towards Frankfurt: the place where they mess up with our currency, and make it worth lesser than a dollar :(

But that gave me the chance to test the unit, especially the usage of Android Auto. Yes I know, why use Android Auto when you have a full functioning Android headunit? Well I will be getting to that in a bit.

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So here we have the homescreen: I thought the car launcher looks pretty cool, because in the upper right corner you have your Google Maps. It works exactly like tablet mode of Google Maps, so it's fully functional and you could just use it like that.

Below there on the right, is a music player widget: very nice if you get your MP3's illegally from the internet, and load them on the headunit. There is 64GB of storage, so it would be doable to store music locally.

However I stopped downloading illegal MP3 files, because ever since I have a mobile internet data subscription. I started to use Spotify, since a time we even have shared premium account together with my wife. So that music widget is useless, as it seems nit to be configurable with Spotify.

The clock in the left upper corner is actually fine, it shows the time and date: what more does a person want? And on the left down corners, you can configure four favourite apps. It's very easy to change, just hold the button and can select any app you want.

(Wireless) Android Auto

Using the Car Link app, it's very easy to connect to Android Auto. To my surprise it even works wireless, however your phone needs to support it as well. This is basically where the 5G WiFi proofs it benefits, because Android Auto uses 5G WiFi in order to have wireless Android Auto work.

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The downside of this though is, that WiFi in your headunit will be switched off: as it's being used by Android Auto. And after using Android Auto, it won't be turned back on automatically. So if you wanna use the WiFi for apps installed on the headunit, than you have to switch it back on by yourself after using Android Auto wireless.

Issues with wireless Android Auto

Another downside of wireless Android Auto is, that it might crash every once in a while: because even though the 5G WiFi frequency is used lesser, than the 2.4G frequency. Still there might be interference every once in a while.

For example: crossing the Dutch border to Germany, and the other way around. Both times Android Auto crashed, most likely because the mobile network get changed on that moment. The only way to reconnect in that case, is by closing Car Link and starting it again. Than the headunit will connect to your phone again, without breaking the law and taking your phone in your hand.

3-9-2022

I have figured out, that the main cause of making Android Auto crash: is because the mobile network is changed. Because I went across the border again, while using Android Auto.

Just after I crossed the border, the connection was loss and the mobile network changed to roaming. Than I just press the back button, which closes Car Link and after that start it again.

I wonder, if this could be automated by MarcroDroid. So far this only seems to be an issue when crossing borders, and ofcourse when the mobile network is changed.

Made a decision: wireless or wired AA?

Also keep in mind, while wireless connection is way more convenient than everytime you step in the car having to plug in a USB connector. On long journeys you might wanna disable the wireless option in Android Auto settings on your phone, because it seems you can't connected wired if you don't disable the wireless option.

Yesterday I tried connecting Android Auto wired, and I think it doesn't work: because there will be a conflict, the phone tries to connect wirelessly. While Car Link might be trying, to establish a wired connection. My wife got pretty irritated, when after a few mins Android Auto still wasn't connected.

So in the end I just disconnected the USB, started Google Maps on the headunit and drove off. Later I just started Android Auto wireless, without even once touching my phone.

But I'm finding wireless connection more convenient anyway: even though it takes a little bit longer, to establish the connection. Obviously wired is faster, when establishing the connection. And it won't suffer from any interference, by other wireless connections in the air. The crash at the border didn't happen, while I used wired Android Auto with the previous headunit.

Android Auto vs Google Maps

The main reason I prefer Android Auto, over native Google Maps on the headunit: is the fact that Google Maps runs in a tablet mode, which is fine for that little widget displaying Google Maps. But everything is very small and I can't see the instructions very well, as they are displayed at the bottom in a little green bar.

It took me awhile to actually figure out, where the navigation directions where being showed. Before I thought perhaps I simply had to update Google Maps, but that wasn't the case. Also nowhere to change this in the settings sadly.

Because it still keeps running in this tablet mode, where everything is very small. So that's not convenient, while using it in the car and trying to read the directions as showed by Google Maps.

Android Auto has none of these issues, so that's why I'm preferring Android Auto over native Google Maps on the headunit. It actually also has a part, where you can control Spotify. So that's very convenient while driving. And that shows why so many drivers, prefer Android Auto over built-in navigation inside their car.

I'm still considering though, trying another navigation app instead of Google Maps. Perhaps Waze? Or HereWeGo, just that I don't like that changes that navigation app underwent after they updated it. For example the Dutch voice, is a text to speech voice....

Sound

Don't underestimate the importance of sound on a Android head-unit: I did with the EKIY D7, which doesn't have a built-in DSP and the sound was horrible. One more reason it was replaced so quickly, even though this makes me loss some money in the end....

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So obviously FYT or whoever has developed these interface, for controlling the sound on these UIS 7862 units. That's something they have put some effort in, unlike the FM Radio app which is very basic.

This is exactly the same as seen in T'eyes FYT UIS 7862 units, no difference here. It seems no matter which seller: all are having these highly configurable sound setting's. But I was actually already satisfied with the standard setting, so I didn't change it.

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There is also a volume balance settings, which again I didn't bother to make any adjustments. But it might be useful to do, if you feel like you can't hear the navigation directions very well. In the settings I also found a option, that the sound level will increase depending on your speed. This is something my built-in OEM Carradio had as well, so I have it enabled at low setting now.

Screen quality

Considering both the EKIY D7 and Mekede M500s are having 1280x720 IPS displays, I do find that the display inside the EKIY D7 is of lower quality. Which makes me think it's a full fit screen, as described in the image below.

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However I find playing videos on YouTube usually a good indicator, for showing the screen quality. As it's fast moving images in full 1080p resolution. So I played some of favourite music.

Don't try this while driving though, but it might be nice to be able to use YouTube or any video playback while parked. Ofcourse you would need an internet connection.

Bugs

How difficult is it to fix bugs? Well for many years, these head-units suffer from a bug which deletes your Google contact's. It happened on the EKIY D7 as well, so it's not something new.

I did however find a workaround: the issue occurs, because your contacts are being synchronised by Google. However the contact list on the headunit is empty, so this synchronises to your phone once connected by bluetooth.

Many users have suggested to turn of allow sharing of contacts settings in bluetooth, but that results in not having your contacts on the headunit. So instead you should go to User>Google Account> and put off the synchronization of contacts. That fixed it, and than the bluetooth simply transfers you contacts to the headunit without deleting it.

Just like how it worked on my OEM unit from Suzuki, but if you don't use Google for you contacts. Then this bug would most likely not effect you.

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Another bug I found, and also already read about on XDA: is the fact that once you change the UI, in this case UI29. After a reboot, or once you start the car again? It would change back to the standard UI.

So I went to UI settings again, and saw UI29 was still selected. I selected it again and saved it, but I'm guessing perhaps next time I get in to the car. The standard UI might be back. Which I don't mind to much, I'm finding the different home screens quite similar anyway.

Reverse camera

When I first checked if the reverse camera was working, I had a black and white image. So I though perhaps it was a feature of the Starlight Night Vision from my GreenYi AHD reverse camera. So I spend a half evening on Google, trying to figure out if black and white image was normal.

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In the end it turned out, the headunit settings for the reverse camera wasn't in AHD yet. However the reverse camera works fine, although I still have to put a Car Camera Filter between it. I ordered one from AliExpress, but shipping will take awhile. So until I get the filter, I will have to live with some interference inside the image.

https://xdaforums.com/t/interference-reverse-camera-celerio.4482459/#post-87318311

Fake Android = 20% money back

So as I already reported: Mekede is selling these head-units with fake Android 11 on it, while this doesn't effect the unit in a single way. Because it's just a editable number in the build prop.

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But I saw it as an opportunity to get 20% of the purchase amount back: I paid $ 232,77 for this unit. And I got $ 50 dollars back from AliExpress, because of proofing it runs fake Android 11. So that makes the price for the Mekede M500s totally $ 182,77 totally.

I probably will even get back a little bit more that € 50 because, when I bought in dollars: the exchange rate was still one to one. Now it's like € 1 = $ 0,99 and AlliExpress, will pay you back in the currency you bought the item.

In order to get the dispute succesfully through: where you show the actions you follow, to proof the fake Android version. So install fake device test first, before staring the recording. And ofcourse describe how you proved it's fake. Just taking the picture won't be enough.

Also don't expect a full refund or 50% or whatever, AliExpress most likely don't give you a higher refund of 20% but feel free to round the number up.

But no matter if the device displays Android 13 and running Android 8.1 it going be the same, for AliExpress. Even though the impact is bigger, when a head-unit is running such an old Android version. In this case I have no problems with Android 10.

Verdict

For the time being, this is my verdict: keep in mind it's based on a short user time, but that's mostly the case. I might update the review, when there are new things that I find worth mentioning.

In my opinion it's clear why the FYT Based UIS 7862 is among the best choices, when picking a Android Head-unit. No matter if you mainly wanna run Android Auto or use it as a dedicated headunit, running navigation apps and music directly from it.

Because I was ignorance at first: mainly wanted to have Android Auto, I thought a cheaper headunit would do just fine. And well that was the case, but the sound was horrible. It was to slow for running any kind of modern app etc, and even not giving the full Android Auto experience.

So with this headunit, everything is really quickly running: no slowing down, other than waiting for wireless Android Auto to connect. You can run whatever apps you want and most likely it will work.

I only don't think these Android head-units are meant, for people without any technical knowledge. It isn't plug and play at all, because there are some settings to be taken care of. Some bugs which might annoy you and wanna smash the headunit, all of this makes Android headunits not suitable for the non-technical people among us.

And if you are very reliable of using your phone for making phone calls: run away while still possible, because ofcourse when the calling is already working. The microphones in these units are very basic, having no noise cancellation.