Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi CarPlay receiver evaluation: Options, Specs

Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi CarPlay receiver evaluation: a giant show for CarPlay

Generally, merchandise come to the market constructed to do a single, particular factor properly. The Atoto S8 Professional is decidedly not that product, however it is a wonderful Wi-fi CarPlay receiver you may have to take additional care with when putting in.

My private use case solely wants CarPlay, however I’ve examined the opposite features of the Atoto S8 Professional for the evaluation. There is a totally operational Android pores and skin operating on this unit, and that features a YouTube app, native music app, and apps within the Google Play Retailer.

Atoto appears to have gone all out on options, and extra shall be launched in future updates. My largest grievance up to now is the archaic nature of updating the firmware, which resulted within the destruction of my preliminary evaluation unit.

I put in the unit in my 2016 Honda HR-V with a further sprint equipment. It suits the sprint properly, even with the very giant contact show.

The Atoto S8 Professional is a double-din unit with a big 10-inch show. There’s not a lot to the unit itself since a lot of the gadget is hidden contained in the sprint.

Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi CarPlay receiver evaluation: The massive shiny show has sufficient decision that CarPlay icons look crisp

Not like different automotive stereos with shows, the show is not built-in with the precise head unit. As an alternative, it’s mounted through a mounting block hooked up to a periscoping neck so the monitor is floating in entrance of the sprint.

The show is giant however not too massive for our car. Some vehicles could have points with the protruding monitor because it may overlap controls, vents, or different gadgets. Remember to test measurements and compatibility earlier than shopping for.

Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi CarPlay receiver evaluation: bodily buttons are a should for security

Some CarPlay items, manufacturing unit or aftermarket, try and eschew bodily controls altogether, however fortunately the Atoto S8 Professional doesn’t. The presence of bodily buttons for quantity, mute, house, and monitor skipping makes it simple to manage media with out trying.

Putting in the Atoto S8 Professional wasn’t a lot completely different than another automotive stereo. Nevertheless, you may need to get it professionally put in or assist from a buddy should you’re unfamiliar with the method.

Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi CarPlay receiver evaluation: wiring up the connection equipment forward of set up

After getting the wires hooked up to the harness, I seen there was a bundle nonetheless disconnected within the sprint. This seemed to be for the steering wheel, which Atoto does have wires for, however I ignored them for the preliminary set up as these wires weren’t labeled and could be a prolonged job.

The sprint equipment and every thing hooked up with out situation (bought individually). Be aware that the show has completely different angle and top settings that must be set earlier than screwing in every thing.

With a view to take a look at the most recent options, I needed to set up a firmware replace. To put in that replace, I wanted a FAT32 SD card with an set up file, which matches right into a slot behind the sprint.

Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi CarPlay receiver evaluation: Set up was simple

I did not understand this till after the gadget was put in. The sprint equipment I ordered obscured the SD card slot, so I needed to pull the unit again out to insert a card for the replace.

Nevertheless, issues went terribly mistaken.

There are some things to notice concerning the Atoto S8 Professional. It has a periscoping monitor hooked up through a number of screws and a ribbon cable — all obscured after set up.

Reaching behind the unit and blindly unscrewing completely different screws wasn’t supreme. Additionally, my sprint cannot be eliminated whereas the monitor is put in, so it was vital to do that on this order.

I believed I unscrewed the mandatory mounting screws for the monitor’s bracket, however I had left one essential screw in, hidden behind the monitor. Once I went to drag the monitor out, the unit got here free from the bracket, and I ripped the ribbon cable from the mounting plate.

Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi CarPlay receiver evaluation: the ribbon was hooked up to the mounting plate with glue

After contacting Atoto, they despatched me one other unit to finish the evaluation. I rigorously put in the unit and ensured there was a niche for accessing the SD card even with the monitor on.

I am going to admit this was my mistake, however one anybody may make. It shouldn’t be that simple to by chance rip the monitor free from its mounting bracket.

Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi CarPlay receiver evaluation: All three of those screws wanted to be eliminated

The screws that disconnect the monitor from the mounting bracket are too simply accessible whereas the monitor is mounted. Plus, the screws are proper subsequent to those you really should take away, including to the confusion.

In case you can set up the Atoto S8 Professional with out mishap, it is a wonderful CarPlay unit. Nevertheless, I’ve to ding the general rating for a way simple it’s to break inadvertently.

Take away the correct screw to regulate angle, left screw to regulate top, each to destroy the unit

The Atoto S8 Professional has a 12nm ARM Cortex Octa-Core processor to maintain issues operating easily on the 10-inch 1280 by 720 show. It’s an LCD with a QLED backlight for improved colour.

There are two Bluetooth radios, one 5.0 for gadget connection and 4.1 for tethering web solely. A devoted SIM slot permits paid web and GPS entry, however that is not wanted should you’re counting on CarPlay.

Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi CarPlay receiver evaluation: SD card slot and USB-A for media or updates

Add media like video and music recordsdata through an SD card slot or USB-A port. Web tethering additionally works over the USB-A port.

I used to be additionally in a position to take a look at the Atoto backup digital camera, which is required since my Honda’s backup digital camera will not work with an aftermarket unit. It has a singular characteristic the place it tries to construct a top-down view whereas backing up, which might turn out to be useful in tight squeezes.

Like different infotainment methods, the Atoto S8 Professional runs on Android. Wi-fi CarPlay and Android Auto each seem through a Automobile Hyperlink app.

Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi CarPlay receiver evaluation: Full Android is operating beneath CarPlay

Quite than being a easy CarPlay launcher, Atoto opens up the system for extra Android options. There are a handful of preinstalled apps like YouTube, plus the Google Play Retailer.

You will want an web connection to make the most of the apps, so both tether your iPhone web or insert a SIM card. The identical goes for GPS options like Velocity Compensated Quantity Management, which raises quantity at speeds over 50mph primarily based on GPS positioning.

YouTube works tremendous, however you definitely should not be utilizing it except the automotive is in park. I want that the video stopped routinely when the automotive was in movement, however that is a setting that’s off by default and is user-toggled.

That is an AppleInsider evaluation, so I will not dwell on the Android facet of the unit. The next choices exist however are completely non-obligatory and don’t have an effect on CarPlay.

Properly, I say obtainable, however after updating the Atoto S8, the TrackHU app did not seem. However here is what the app does should you’re in a position to get it put in and dealing.

Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi CarPlay receiver evaluation: TrackHU is an non-obligatory automotive monitoring app

TrackHU is a automotive monitoring service that connects over GPS through an put in SIM card. It is ready to refresh the car’s location each 15 seconds.

There are professionals and cons to this technique. It is correct and helps regulate your car, particularly within the occasion that it’s stolen.

Nevertheless, if the S8 Professional is turned off, there isn’t any GPS monitoring.

Since I could not get the app working, I caught with my most popular monitoring technique: an AirTag. I’ve one caught in an obscure location on the car, and it will work whether or not the automotive is on or not.

In case you’re the form of one who would discover ChatGPT in vehicles helpful, then Atoto has an answer with DriveChat. Model 1.5 is offered now, and there are plans to introduce extra superior methods later.

The quick video, which humorously transcribes Elon Musk as “Ellen Musk,” would not actually say what is feasible with DriveChat, and Atoto’s web site is not a lot assist both. It appears the aim is to have the chatbot present solutions to journey inquiries, however it is not clear if it will possibly act on data and open apps like Siri.

I am not offered on the concept, however it’s there in order for you it. Fortunately, it’s extremely non-obligatory.

My luck is not on my facet for the Atoto S8. The DriveChat app appeared after I put in the mandatory replace, however it opens to a clean display screen so one thing is damaged for now.

Since I did not get to strive the characteristic, it will not have an effect on my evaluation rating. Atoto assures me that DriveChat 2.0 shall be prepared for prime time, so should you’re inquisitive about attempting the characteristic, that is the replace to be careful for.

When you’re in your automotive and your iPhone has paired with the Atoto S8 Professional, it is simply CarPlay all the way in which down. In case you’ve used CarPlay previously, there’s nothing shocking right here.

Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi CarPlay receiver evaluation: a superb CarPlay expertise

Nevertheless, there are some tips to getting every thing going, particularly should you share your car. Wi-fi CarPlay depends on a mix of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and it is extremely clingy with this unit.

In case your companion was beforehand related to CarPlay and also you need to join, you may should have them toggle Wi-Fi off whereas tapping your gadget identify within the Atoto Cellphone app’s Bluetooth menu. Sure, that is as convoluted because it sounds.

After getting the right gadget to attach, you choose the gadget hyperlink app. It says it ought to routinely launch when the gadget connects, however that hasn’t been the case in my expertise.

Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi CarPlay receiver evaluation: the massive contact show works nice with CarPlay

In case you open the gadget hyperlink app too quickly, you may see a connection loading display screen. This connection course of can take a number of seconds at instances.

As soon as related, it is clean crusing from there. CarPlay runs because it ought to, and the contact display screen is conscious of faucets.

One notable drawback with the unit is the dearth of computerized brightness adjustment. If you’d like the show to be dimmer or brighter, you exit CarPlay again to Android, faucet a solar icon on the high of the show to cycle between 4 presets, then return to CarPlay.

I am going to additionally notice that the audio mixing is quite opinionated with the Atoto unit. You will need to spend a while within the Android equalizer app to be sure to’ve obtained the correct sound.

I’ve owned autos with built-in CarPlay and used aftermarket options earlier than. The Atoto S8 Professional has been one of many extra secure items I’ve owned.

There’s a mile of particular options included within the Atoto S8 Professional. If these curiosity you, then you definately’ll possible be proud of this unit.

I like the massive, responsive show, however I am sure there are extra price-friendly choices for these searching for items with out the bells and whistles. Nevertheless, should you do get the Atoto S8 Professional, you may have a working unit with few complaints — should you do not break it.

• Huge vibrant show
• Responsive and accepts multi-touch gestures
• Bodily buttons preserve controls easy
• A number of angles and top ranges obtainable
• Total Android gadget obtainable outdoors of CarPlay with extra options coming

• Simply broken
• Non-intuitive pairing technique at setup
• Options like DriveGPT and TrackHU are lacking regardless of being within the product description, even after an replace
• No over the air updates
• Entry to included SD card slot for firmware updates not attainable with out disassembly for some sprint configurations
• Show brightness is not computerized and solely obtainable by exiting CarPlay

The Atoto S8 Professional units out to do every thing a consumer may need to accomplish from the driving force’s seat after which some. The one failure level drops the rating considerably.

It is a good unit with an ideal show that serves up near-flawless Wi-fi CarPlay, however there are possible lower-priced fashions obtainable in case your solely aim is entry to Wi-fi CarPlay.

Atoto sells the S8 Professional on Amazon for $479, however there is a $45 coupon obtainable. Additionally, use code 6MT8VXDO for a further 5% off.

Take a look at the complete Atoto S8 sequence to seek out the proper unit to your car.