There was a time when getting modern connectivity features in an older car felt like a pipe dream or required shelling out serious cash for a complicated and potentially destructive head unit replacement. Driving around without seamless access to navigation, music, and hands-free communication through a familiar interface like Apple CarPlay or Android Auto felt increasingly outdated and frankly, less safe. You were constantly fumbling with your phone, mounting it precariously on the dash, and relying on patchy Bluetooth or auxiliary connections. Solving this problem wasn’t just about convenience; it was about bringing your driving experience into the 21st century and reducing distractions on the road, something crucial for peace of mind.
When you’re looking to bridge the technology gap in an older vehicle, a portable car display like a portable car stereo with Apple Carplay and Android Auto is often the first thing that comes to mind. These devices aim to replicate the functionality of modern in-dash systems without the hassle and expense of tearing apart your dashboard. The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who owns a car that didn’t come equipped with built-in CarPlay or Android Auto, is generally happy with their existing car’s audio system, and doesn’t want to undertake a complex installation. They might be budget-conscious or simply prefer a non-permanent, easily transferable solution.
Conversely, this type of product might not be suitable for someone who needs a complete overhaul of their car’s audio system, including speaker upgrades, as a portable display doesn’t replace the head unit’s amplifier or processing capabilities. Someone with a brand new car that already has these features built-in obviously wouldn’t need one. Before buying, you should consider key aspects like how the unit connects to your phone (wireless or wired CarPlay/Android Auto), how it outputs audio to your car’s speakers (Bluetooth, AUX, FM transmitter, or built-in speaker), the quality and size of the touchscreen display, mounting options (suction cup, dash mount), and the overall ease of installation and use. Thinking about these factors ensures you pick a device that genuinely solves your specific problem.
Introducing the LAMTTO Portable Wireless Car Stereo
Enter the LAMTTO Portable Wireless Car Stereo with Apple Carplay, 7″ HD Touch Screen Android Auto for Cars. This unit promises to bring the full experience of smartphone integration to virtually any vehicle without requiring modifications to the existing car stereo. It’s essentially a dedicated screen that acts as an interface for your phone’s CarPlay or Android Auto, giving you access to navigation, music, calls, and more directly on your dash. When you purchase it, you get the main 7-inch touch screen display, mounting hardware (both a suction cup bracket and a sticky dash mount), a lengthy car charger cable, an AUX cable, and an installation tool/manual.
Compared to a traditional double-DIN head unit replacement, this portable car radio receiver offers a far simpler installation process – usually just plug-and-play into a 12V socket and mount the screen. It’s also significantly more affordable. Compared to older portable solutions that might have relied solely on unreliable FM transmitters, this unit boasts multiple audio output options, including direct Bluetooth streaming to your car’s existing system and an AUX connection, promising better sound quality. This specific car screen is ideal for drivers of older cars who want modern features quickly and affordably, but perhaps not for someone who demands audiophile-grade sound or integration with complex factory car controls.
Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons I’ve found while using it:
Pros:
* Easy, non-destructive installation in any car.
* Seamless wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
* Multiple audio output options (Bluetooth to car, AUX, FM, built-in speaker).
* Responsive 7″ HD touchscreen display with good brightness.
* Strong and reliable mounting options.
* Affordable price point compared to head unit replacements.
* Supports wireless Airplay for video streaming (non-Netflix).
* Integrated voice control via Siri/Google Assistant.
Cons:
* Can sometimes exhibit screen distortion in very cold temperatures.
* Screen polarization can conflict with some polarized sunglasses, making it hard to see.
* Included power cable is excessively long for many setups.
* AUX connection may require a separate ground loop isolator to eliminate noise in some vehicles.
* Basic built-in speaker (though primarily intended for external audio).
Deep Dive into Features and Their Advantages
Having used the LAMTTO RC06A portable car stereo for quite a while now, I can confidently discuss its various features and how they actually perform in day-to-day use. This unit packs a lot into its compact form factor, primarily focused on delivering a smooth smartphone-integrated driving experience.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
This is the cornerstone of the device, and frankly, it’s a game-changer for older vehicles. The ability to wirelessly connect your iPhone or Android phone (running recent OS versions) to the screen means your phone’s core driving features are immediately available on a larger, safer display. No more fumbling with cables every time you get in the car. The connection is generally quick and automatic after the initial setup. Once connected, your familiar navigation apps (Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps), music streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music, Podcasts), messaging apps, and call functions are presented in a car-friendly interface. This isn’t just convenient; it significantly enhances driving safety by keeping your eyes up and on a dash-mounted screen rather than down at your phone. The wireless aspect truly sets it apart from older, wired-only solutions and makes hopping in and out of the car effortless.
Multiple Connectivity Options for Audio
One of the major strengths of this unit, and something specifically highlighted as an improvement over previous models by the manufacturer and echoed in user feedback, is the enhanced audio output flexibility. The device offers several ways to get sound from the carplay screen to your car’s speakers:
* Bluetooth to Car: If your car has its own Bluetooth audio input, this is often the best option. The unit connects to your phone via Wi-Fi (for CarPlay/Android Auto data) and Bluetooth (for calls/audio), and then the unit itself connects *via Bluetooth* to your car’s stereo. This method generally provides the cleanest, highest-quality audio output without wires running between the unit and your car’s AUX port or the static associated with FM transmitters. Many users, myself included, find this the preferred method when available.
* AUX Cable: The unit includes a 3.5mm AUX cable. You can plug this into your car’s auxiliary input for a wired connection. This provides a stable connection and generally good audio quality, certainly better than FM. However, as noted by some users (and something I’ve encountered in some car setups), connecting multiple devices (the unit, your car’s power) to the same circuit can sometimes introduce a ground loop hum or whine through the speakers. While not always an issue, if you hear unwanted noise, a simple, inexpensive ground loop isolator added inline with the AUX cable can often fix it. It would have been nice if one was integrated or included, but it’s an easy workaround if needed.
* FM Transmitter: For cars without Bluetooth or AUX, the unit has a built-in FM transmitter. You tune your car’s radio to a specific frequency broadcast by the unit, and it sends the audio that way. This is the least ideal option for sound quality, as it’s susceptible to interference and static, especially in urban areas with many radio stations. While it works in a pinch, the Bluetooth or AUX options are vastly superior if your car supports them.
* Built-in Speaker: The unit *does* have a small, basic speaker. It’s really only suitable for system sounds or perhaps very basic audio if you have absolutely no other way to get sound to your car speakers. It’s not meant for listening to music or navigation prompts primarily.
7″ HD Touch Screen and Wireless Airplay
The display itself is a crucial component, and the 7-inch size strikes a good balance – large enough to be easily readable for navigation and controls, but not so large that it becomes overly intrusive or obstructs your view. The 1024*600 resolution provides a clear, crisp image, and the 2.5D curved edge gives it a slightly premium feel. The touchscreen is generally responsive, allowing for smooth interaction with the CarPlay or Android Auto interfaces. Brightness levels are adequate for daylight viewing, and the adjustable dimming feature is excellent for comfortable night driving, preventing the screen from being blindingly bright.
A neat extra feature is Wireless Airplay support (for iPhones). By connecting both your iPhone and the android auto for cars screen to the same Wi-Fi network, you can mirror your iPhone’s screen to the unit and play videos from apps like YouTube or TikTok. It’s worth noting, as the product description points out, that it doesn’t support streaming from apps like Netflix, likely due to DRM restrictions. While you shouldn’t be watching videos while driving, this can be a nice feature for passengers or while parked.
One significant disadvantage I’ve encountered, and seen mentioned by others, is an issue with polarized sunglasses. The polarization of the screen crosses the polarization of some sunglasses, resulting in the screen appearing dimmed or almost black when viewed while wearing them. This can be quite annoying, especially for navigation on sunny days, and is something the manufacturer should ideally address in future versions as drivers frequently wear sunglasses.
Smart Live GPS Navigation
Since the unit runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the navigation isn’t handled by the unit itself but rather by your smartphone’s mapping apps projected onto the screen. This means you get real-time traffic updates, the latest map data (as your phone is always updated), and the ability to use your preferred navigation app (Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps, etc.). This is a huge benefit over older, dedicated GPS units that required manual, often costly, map updates. The 7-inch HD screen makes following directions easy, even utilizing split-screen views offered by CarPlay/Android Auto that might show navigation alongside media controls.
Built-In Microphone and Voice Control
Safety is paramount, and the integrated microphone allows for hands-free phone calls. You can answer calls directly through the unit, keeping your hands on the wheel. Furthermore, support for Siri and Google Assistant via voice commands is fully integrated. You can use wake phrases or button presses to activate your phone’s voice assistant and control navigation, music playback, send messages, or make calls simply by speaking. This feature works well and is essential for safe operation of a car radio receiver system while driving.
Installation and Portability
Installation couldn’t be much simpler. You plug the included 12V power cable into your car’s cigarette lighter socket. The unit comes with two primary mounting options: a sturdy suction cup mount, great for windshields or very smooth dashboards, and a sticky dash mount (often a base plate with adhesive) for textured or less smooth surfaces, onto which the suction cup then attaches. Both mounts feel solid once secured, and I’ve found them to hold the unit firmly even on bumpy roads. The ability to easily slide the screen in and out of the mount is a significant plus, especially for convertible owners or those parking in areas where leaving electronics visible might be risky; you can quickly stash the screen away.
One minor annoyance related to installation is the length of the included 12V power cable. It’s quite long (around 10 feet), which is great if your 12V socket is far from where you want to mount the screen, but for many setups where the socket is closer, you end up with a lot of excess cable to manage. It would have been nice if it used a standard USB cable connection into a 12V adapter, allowing you to swap for a shorter cable, but the included cable is proprietary to the unit’s power port.
Finally, a less common but noted issue by some users is that the screen can become distorted in very cold weather (around freezing or below) until the unit warms up or is restarted. While not a constant problem for everyone, it’s something to be aware of if you live in a cold climate.
Hearing from Other Users (Social Proof)
Looking around online, it’s clear many others share my positive experience with this LAMTTO carplay screen. People are genuinely thrilled to finally add Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to older cars without the cost and complexity of a full head unit swap. Many reviewers specifically praise the ease of setup and how quickly the unit connects wirelessly to their phones, becoming a seamless part of their routine. The variety of audio output options, particularly the ability to connect to the car’s existing Bluetooth, is frequently highlighted as a major advantage for achieving better sound quality than older FM-only devices. Users also appreciate the sturdy mounting solutions and the clear, responsive display, though some mention the long power cable as a minor inconvenience and the sunglasses visibility issue as a notable drawback. Overall, the consensus seems to be that for its price, this portable car stereo offers excellent value and effectively solves the problem of bringing modern smartphone connectivity to older vehicles.
Final Thoughts and Recommendation
Driving an older car shouldn’t mean sacrificing the convenience and safety benefits of modern smartphone integration. Fumbling with your phone for navigation or music is a significant distraction that needs to be solved to ensure a safer, more enjoyable ride. The LAMTTO Portable Wireless Car Stereo with Apple Carplay is a fantastic solution to this problem. Its incredibly easy installation means you can get up and running in minutes. The seamless wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality provides access to all your essential apps on a clear, dedicated screen. Plus, with multiple options for getting audio to your car’s speakers, including improved Bluetooth and AUX, you can integrate it smoothly with most existing sound systems. If you’re looking for an affordable, effective, and easy way to upgrade your car’s connectivity, this unit is a great fit. To learn more and check it out for yourself, click here.