Long road trips can be a real test of patience, especially when you have young passengers in the back. The constant chorus of “Are we there yet?” or the inevitable sibling squabbles over who gets to look out which window can turn a fun family adventure into a stressful ordeal pretty quickly. Finding ways to keep everyone happily occupied and the peace maintained was always a priority, because without it, those long stretches of highway feel even longer, and arriving at your destination tired and frazzled isn’t anyone’s idea of a good start to a vacation.
When you’re facing those long stretches of highway with restless passengers, particularly kids, an in-car entertainment system becomes less of a luxury and more of a necessity. These systems primarily solve the problem of boredom and impatience on the road, providing a welcome distraction that can significantly reduce stress for everyone in the vehicle. The ideal customer for this type of product is typically a family with children who frequently take road trips, commute long distances, or simply spend a lot of time in the car. If your travel often involves keeping little ones occupied for extended periods, something like a car headrest DVD player can be a game-changer.
However, they aren’t for everyone. If you rarely travel with passengers who need entertainment, or if your vehicle already has a sophisticated built-in system, then a separate purchase might be redundant. Similarly, if you prefer screen-free travel or rely solely on tablets or phones, a dedicated DVD player might not be the best fit; a simple tablet mount might suffice. Before buying, you should consider factors like screen size (is it big enough for comfortable viewing?), how it mounts (is it secure and easy to install/remove?), what media types it supports (DVDs, USB, HDMI?), whether you need single or dual-screen capability (to play the same or different content), audio options (speakers, headphone jacks), and, importantly, the power source (does it need to be plugged in constantly?).
Presenting the Product
Enter the GOnavidio 12″ Car DVD Player with HDMI Input Headphone Mounting Bracket Dual Speaker. This system promises to transform car journeys by providing reliable and flexible entertainment for backseat passengers. Essentially, it’s a dedicated DVD player designed to attach securely to your car’s headrest. When you purchase it, you get everything you need to get started: the 12-inch DVD player unit, an adjustable mounting bracket, a wired headphone set, a car charger, an AV cable (for syncing or external input), an IR remote control, and a user manual. This specific car entertainment system is clearly aimed at families or anyone who needs a straightforward way to play discs or digital media in the car without complex installations. It’s probably not the right fit for someone looking for integrated navigation or apps, as its focus is primarily media playback.
Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons based on my experience:
Pros:
* Large 12-inch screen is great for viewing.
* HDMI input adds significant versatility beyond just DVDs.
* Improved mounting bracket is genuinely easy to install.
* Supports a wide range of disc formats and region-free playback.
* AV In/Out allows for syncing two units (requires buying two).
* Dual speakers and included headphones offer audio options.
Cons:
* Does not have a built-in rechargeable battery.
* Native screen resolution (1366\*768) isn’t full HD, though it handles 1080P input.
* Wired headphones are included, not wireless ones.
* Remote control can sometimes be a bit finicky depending on the angle.
Features & Benefits
Let’s dive deeper into what makes the GOnavidio 12″ Car DVD Player a solid choice for keeping everyone happy on the road. Having used it over numerous trips, these features stand out.
Spacious 12-inch HD Screen for Comfortable Viewing
The first thing you notice about this headrest monitor is its size. A 12-inch screen is generously sized for a car DVD player, offering a much better viewing experience compared to smaller 7 or 9-inch models. The HD resolution (1366\*768) provides a clear and crisp picture that is more than sufficient for watching movies or shows from the back seat. Why is this size and resolution important? For passengers, especially kids, a larger screen is easier to see from various angles and distances within the back of the car. It reduces eye strain and makes watching content more enjoyable for longer periods. The clarity ensures that details in movies are visible, making the experience more immersive than watching on a lower-resolution display. It simply makes the entertainment more engaging, helping those hours melt away faster.
Versatile HDMI Input
This is a major differentiator for the GOnavidio Car Headrest DVD Player. Beyond standard DVD playback, the inclusion of an HDMI input opens up a world of possibilities. You can connect virtually any device with an HDMI output, including smartphones (with an adapter, not included), tablets, laptops, gaming consoles like an Xbox or PlayStation, or even a Raspberry Pi. The player supports syncing video and audio up to 1080P resolution via this port. The benefit here is huge: you’re not limited to just your DVD collection. You can stream content from your phone (downloaded movies from streaming services, for example), play games on a larger screen, or display presentations from a laptop. This future-proofs the device to some extent and makes it incredibly versatile for different passenger ages and needs, allowing for far more content options than a DVD-only player.
Upgraded, User-Friendly Mounting Bracket
Let’s be honest, complicated installation is a major headache when setting up in-car gadgets. GOnavidio has addressed this with an upgraded mounting bracket design. Installation and removal are quicker and much easier than some older or less well-designed systems I’ve encountered. The bracket is adjustable, designed to fit various sizes of car headrests securely. Once installed, the player slides in easily and feels stable, reducing vibrations during the ride. A neat touch is the 3-second auto-load disc feature; you just insert the disc partway, and the player pulls it in, which is super convenient, especially if you’re trying to help kids with disc changes from the front seat or if the passenger changing the disc is small. The benefit? Minimal fuss during setup and disc swapping, leading to less frustration and more time enjoying the journey. A secure mount also means the player isn’t bouncing around, which is better for the unit’s longevity and keeps passengers safer.
Audio Options: Dual Speakers and Included Headphones
Audio is just as important as the visual experience. This car DVD player comes equipped with dual speakers. While car speakers are often sufficient, having built-in speakers on the unit itself is great for scenarios where only back passengers are watching, or you want the sound directed specifically at them without blasting it through the car’s main system. However, for ultimate peace and quiet in the front seats, or for passengers who want their own immersive experience, a set of quality wired headphones is included. This provides flexibility – use the speakers for shared viewing or general background noise, or plug in the headphones for private listening. The benefit is catering to different needs within the car, allowing front-seat occupants to listen to music or talk without being interrupted by movie audio, or allowing passengers to watch different things simultaneously (if you have two units synced or playing different content).
Broad Disc Compatibility and Last Memory Function
Nobody wants to find out their favorite DVD won’t play because of region restrictions or an unusual format. The GOnavidio player supports a wide range of media types, including DVD, VCD, SVCD, CD, MP3, JPG, and various AVI/MPEG formats. Crucially, it’s a region-free DVD player, meaning it can play discs from any geographical region. This is a significant benefit if you own discs bought internationally or have a diverse collection. The ‘last memory’ function is another small but incredibly useful feature. If you turn off the car or stop playback, the player remembers where you left off and resumes from that exact point when powered back on. This saves time and frustration compared to having to fast-forward to find your spot every time you restart the journey.
USB and TF Card Support for Digital Media
In addition to discs and HDMI input, the GOnavidio 12″ Car DVD Player supports media playback directly from USB drives and TF (Micro SD) cards (up to 32GB, formatted as FAT32). This adds another layer of flexibility for content. You can load digital copies of movies, TV shows, music, or photos onto a flash drive or card and plug it directly into the player. This is convenient for pre-loading content specifically for a trip without needing discs or a separate device via HDMI. The benefit is having multiple options for media sources, ensuring you can easily access your preferred content format while on the go.
Syncing Capability (Requires Two Units)
For families with more than one child, the ability to sync players is a key feature. This car headrest entertainment system supports AV IN and AV OUT functions. By purchasing two units and connecting them with the included AV cable, you can either play the same DVD or digital media on both screens simultaneously (using the AV OUT from one to the AV IN of the other) or, conversely, allow each player to display different content independently. This flexibility is invaluable; sometimes, siblings want to watch the same thing, and other times, they have completely different preferences. Being able to accommodate both scenarios with a linked system makes long trips much more manageable and reduces potential arguments.
Power Source Consideration: Car Charger Only
One important point to note, which could be considered a disadvantage depending on your needs, is that this car headrest DVD player does not have a built-in rechargeable battery. It must be connected to the car charger (included) to operate. While this ensures consistent power as long as the car is running, it means the player cannot be used outside the car without an adapter, nor will it continue playing if the car engine is turned off (like during a rest stop unless your power outlets remain active). For typical road trip use while driving, this isn’t an issue, but if you wanted to use it briefly during a stop or take it into a hotel room without vehicle power, you’d be out of luck unless you have a compatible power adapter (not included). It’s a trade-off for potentially keeping the unit lighter and perhaps more cost-effective, but it’s something to be aware of.
Social Proof
Having looked online, it’s clear that many users have had positive experiences similar to mine. Numerous buyers have commented on how essential this player is for road trips, noting that their children were delighted to have their own screens and the ability to choose their movies. Parents appreciate the ease of installation with the upgraded bracket and praise the picture quality and clear sound, whether using the speakers or headphones. The fact that it comes with headphones is also frequently mentioned as a valuable inclusion.
Conclusion
Facing down hours on the road with restless passengers doesn’t have to be a recipe for stress and frustration. Solving the problem of in-car boredom is essential for maintaining peace and ensuring everyone arrives at the destination feeling relaxed. The GOnavidio 12″ Car DVD Player offers a robust solution. Its large screen is comfortable for viewing, the HDMI input provides excellent versatility beyond just DVDs, and the improved mounting bracket makes setup a breeze. For a more peaceful and enjoyable journey for the whole family, this car headrest DVD player is definitely worth considering. Click here to check it out and see if it’s the right fit for your travel needs.