10 Best Touch Screen Car Stereo in 2021: Review And Buying Guide

Nowadays, car stereos aren’t just for listening to the radio or occasionally playing music from your old CD collections. They come with lots of amazing features that have drastically increased their purpose and usability and enhanced their user experience as well.

Touchscreen car stereos are the way to go if you want to enjoy a full range of features from listening to music, answering calls, sending text messages and emails, finding your way around the neighborhood, seeing what’s behind you on the road, and so much more.

If you want to upgrade your old car stereo with a more modern replacement, here is a complete review and buying guide of the best touch screen car stereos for 2021:

Read also related articles: Best GPS for cars, 2-way vs 3-way car speaker, and best car amplifiers.

The Best Touch Screen Car Stereo

Take a look at these ten best touch screen car stereos that are sure to let you enjoy a convenient and hands-free experience when making and receiving calls, playing music and videos, using your navigation, and so much more as you drive along the road.

I’ve included lots of different options for you, such as single and double din stereos, stereos with Bluetooth, AUX, and other forms of connectivity, stereos with built-in cameras, and others with lots of excellent features that you’re sure to love.

1.  Jensen CAR10 10-inch capacitive LCD car stereo

My first pick is the Jensen CAR10 10-inch capacitive LCD car stereo, a double din digital multimedia stereo with MP4 video playback and micro USB port. It’s a newly released product, but it’s got so much potential and customers who bought it seem to swear by it already.

Its extra large adjustable touchscreen features a high resolution and superior responsiveness, making for an ultra comfortable viewing experience. You can also enjoy convenient hands free calling, play music, and more, with its Bluetooth connection technology.

Moreover, this stereo can readily connect to Android and Apple devices, allowing you not only to play music from iHeartRadio, Pandora, and Spotify, but also make use of Siri and Android to assist you with navigation and lots of other tasks. Besides, it’s got the biggest screen of all!

2.  Pioneer AVH-210EX double din Bluetooth car stereo

Your second best option is the Pioneer AVH-210EX double din Bluetooth car stereo, a double din in-dash digital media car stereo receiver that’s equipped with Bluetooth connectivity for a hands-free audio streaming and calling experience.

It’s compatible with Android and iPhone devices, so you can access your Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to enjoy the full features of this device. It’s also designed to be back-up camera-ready, so you can easily install a camera if you need it.

The WVGA touchscreen monitor itself is decently sized, highly responsive, multicolored and customizable, and even comes with an LED backlight display. Plus, you’ll also get Alphasonik earbuds for every purchase of this car stereo.

3.  Mirror Link 7 inch capacitive touchscreen car stereo

In third place is the Mirror Link 7 inch capacitive touchscreen car stereo, which is a double din in dash car radio player that comes with lots of excellent features, such as Bluetooth connectivity, FM radio, mirror link and navigation, and multiple connection modes.

The touchscreen LCD monitor itself is high definition and supports high quality 1080P videos, and can be connected to your phone with a data cable or via Bluetooth so you can access your MP5 data and more, make and receive calls, play music, and so on.

You can even set the color of the button light to your preference, and control the device through your steering wheel. And, this car stereo is also equipped with four different playback methods, as well as an automatic reverse screen mode whenever you’re in reverse gear.

4.  JVC KW-SX83BTS 2-Din Apple and Android Compatibility Digital Media Receiver

Taking the fourth spot is the JVC 6.2″ touchscreen double din in-dash car stereo, a digital media car stereo receiver that’s designed with lots of great features and comes with Alphasonik earbuds.

You can choose whether you want this as a classic CD receiver if that’s your thing, or with a built-in Bluetooth media receiver so you can hands free calls and music streaming with excellent voice quality and noise reduction capabilities.

It’s easy to use and automatically pairs with your Android and iPhone device, and can even connect with two different devices at the same time with its two phone fill time connection feature. All in all, it’s great and multifunctional, and well worth your money.

5.  BOSS Audio Systems BVB9358RC touchscreen stereo

Ranking fifth is the BOSS Audio Systems BVB9358RC touchscreen stereo, which is a double din car DVD player with a touchscreen LCD monitor and a built in rearview camera. It’s easy to use and install, and you’ll surely like all the features it comes with.

For one, it features Bluetooth connectivity and a built-in microphone, so you can make and take calls hands free and with ease, and also play music through your Spotify or Pandora app on your smartphone. You can also take your pick from Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Aside from that, other excellent features include USB port and USB charging, an AUX input and a port for an SD memory card, outputs for video and pre-amp, controls on the touchscreen, wireless remote, and steering wheel, and a built in preset EQ and ID3 tag.

6.  Pioneer AVH-2400NEX 7″ touchscreen car stereo

Another great option from Pioneer is the AVH-2400NEX 7″ touchscreen car stereo, a double din car stereo receiver that has a seven inch LCD display screen with multicolor illumination and an 800 x 480 resolution.

This digital multimedia receiver has an AM/FM tuner so you can listen to the radio without a hassle. It also features Bluetooth connectivity, so you can enjoy hands free calling and streaming music and audio.

Plus, it’s compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and it works with Spotify, Pandora, and SiriusXM. If you want a car stereo that’s innovative, powerful, highly customizable, and responsive, this is an excellent option for you.

7.  Liehuzhekeji single din touchscreen car stereo

Next up might be a tad smaller than others, but it certainly competes. I’m talking about the Liehuzhekeji single din touchscreen car stereo, a two-in-one car stereo and AM radio receiver that comes with a backup rearview camera and various excellent must have features.

This car stereo has both AUX and Bluetooth connectivity options so you can conveniently play music, take calls, use your navigation system, and so much more. It even has a microphone input and a subwoofer output just for these purposes.

Plus, the built in AM and FM radio tuner lets you listen to the radio and play various audio formats such as MP5. And of course, the backup rearview camera is simply a must to keep you safe on the road and protect you from blind spots.

8.  Nakamichi NA1200S in dash touchscreen car stereo

There’s also the Nakamichi NA1200S in-dash touchscreen car stereo, a Japanese brand name that we all know stands for excellent and reliable quality products. This double din car stereo comes in many different style options for you to choose from.

You can take your pick between a standard DVD Bluetooth stereo receiver or one with either GPS navigation or Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Or if you prefer, you can also get this as a more classic CD Bluetooth stereo receiver or a digital media receiver.

The double din multimedia touchscreen is ultra responsive and supports 1080P full HD video formats, so you’re guaranteed to enjoy an optimum viewing quality at all times. This stereo can also be connected via USB, AUX, disc, and SD card.

What’s more is that it supports various video, audio, and image formats, is compatible with both Android and iPhone devices, can be controlled via an infrared remote control, can connect to the FM radio, and has a universal USB charging port.

9.  AboutBit single din retractable car stereo

You might also want to try out the AboutBit single din retractable car stereo, which is not only beautiful but also somewhat unique in its own way. For one thing, it’s perfectly compatible with various car systems due to its intelligent engineering and design.

Of course, it features Bluetooth connectivity and a built-in microphone so you can make and take calls as well as play music and more. The touchscreen display is bright and high resolution, and it comes with access to AM and FM radio as well as over 30 stations presets.

Moreover, the stereo is compatible with almost all devices including Android phones and iPhones, which you can connect to the stereo either via USB or by using a data cable. All in all, it’s an excellent product that’s a definite must-try.

10.  Kenwood DDX26BT+XCTM380 Audio 6.2” car stereo

Finally, you might also want to check out the Kenwood DDX26BT+XCTM380 Audio 6.2” car stereo, a double din touchscreen DVD receiver with a built-in HD rearview camera. It’s got lots of higher-end features and specs that you’ll surely love.

Among these are Bluetooth connectivity for hands free calls and music streaming, a WVGA touchscreen LCD display that’s multicolored and comes with LED backlights, a variable key illumination, and a multi-language menu.

As for the rearview camera, it features a 170-degree wide angle viewing, so you’ll capture and see plenty of what’s behind you as you drive on the road. All things considered, it’s a great car stereo for all your media and connectivity needs.

Touch Screen Car Stereo Buying Guide

Perhaps you want a touchscreen car stereo so you can better entertain yourself and whoever’s riding with you during long drives, or you just can’t get off of work mode even while you’re driving to work, or perhaps you’re really bad at directions.

Either way, a touch screen car stereo is always a good idea. But how do you find the best touch screen car stereo that will work perfectly for all your needs and will make a great investment? To help you make the right choice, here are the most important things that you need to consider:

Car stereo size

The first thing that you need to account for is the size of your car’s stereo opening, which is categorized by the DIN standard. Generally, there are two stereo sizes- single din (7 ⅛ by 2 inches) and double din (7 ⅛ by 4 inches).

Vehicles with double din openings usually already have touchscreen car stereos and are built especially to accommodate such devices, but in case yours doesn’t have one or you’d like to upgrade what you have, it should be easy to find a suitable model.

Meanwhile, it may be a bit harder to find touch screen stereos for single din car stereos, although there are now lots of options for retractable and flip out stereo screens on the market, so that shouldn’t be too difficult either.

Smartphone control

Now, another alternative you can opt for is a seemingly typical single din stereo that can be connected and controlled via your smartphone device. In this case, the phone acts as the stereo’s touchscreen monitor that you can access via a downloadable app. You’ll just need to purchase a cellphone mount so you can easily access your phone while driving.

Type of Car Stereo

There are also different types of car stereos designed depending on how much usability and versatility you want to get out of it. Of course, you need to understand that the general rule is that the more features a car stereo has, the more money you’ll have to pay for it.

That said, most if not all of these car stereo types all come with Bluetooth and wireless connection options, so that’s one thing you won’t have to worry about.

CD and/or DVD receiver

The most basic types of car stereos are those equipped with a CD or DVD receiver, or both. These are great if you want to be able to play music or watch movies on a CD or DVD, but the receiver slot does take up some space on what would otherwise be part of the screen.

Digital media receiver

If you rely more on your smartphone, tablet, or external storage like a hard drive or a memory card, a mechless digital media player would be a more suitable option and will give you a bigger LCD screen. It also has a USB and card input, as well as an AM and FM radio receiver.

GPS navigation receiver

There are also touchscreen car stereos that are equipped with GPS navigation, allowing you to enjoy better and more reliable coverage than what you’ll get from your smartphone. These stereos either come as mechless or with a CD or DVD receiver.

Read also: Best double din head unit

Audio and video source

If a big part of why you want to upgrade your stereo is to be able to play music and videos, then it’s important to consider the types of media you’ll be listening to and where these files will be coming from, so you can figure out your ideal media playback options.

CD and DVD

Like I’ve mentioned earlier, the most basic and generic car stereo systems are often equipped with CD and DVD receivers that let you play music and watch movies. These stereos even support various file formats so you can have a wider selection and endless hours of streaming.

USB or SD card

The good thing about many car stereo receivers is that they come with built in ports for USB cables, memory cards, and external drives, so you can just opt to download compatible audio and video files to play while you’re on the road. Or, you can also connect your phone to the stereo via the USB cable and work from there.

AM and FM radio

FM radio tuners are a standard on car stereos, and the lower the FM sensitivity, the better the reception, so be sure to look for that. Moreover, you might also want something with an AM radio tuner, in which case look for an HD radio car stereo. Or, if you want to go for something even better and is subscription based, satellite radio will do just the trick.

Bluetooth and WiFi

Of course, what we all really want here is a car stereo that connects via wireless options such as Bluetooth, or even better, WiFi. These options will allow you to stream music, watch videos, make and answer phone calls, send texts and emails, use your navigation, and more.

And with a voice command feature and multiple control options, you can enjoy a convenient and hands free experience. Moreover, these types of car stereos can be accessed with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Other Features of Touch Screen Car Stereo

Aside from the stereo size and type, and the audio or video source, there are plenty of other important features that you also need to take into account when so you can find the best touch screen car stereo.

Factory systems access

If you are replacing a factory-installed car stereo that you can use to control some of your vehicle functions and systems such as the HVAC, engine, steering, and more, it’s a must to find a replacement that can give you this same access as well.

An OEM radio replacement interface such as the iDataLink Maestro RR should work specifically to interact with the factory connected options of your car while being able to enjoy upgrades from the new stereo as well.

Hands free operation

In terms of safety and convenience, a hands free operation is a must, so your eyes don’t leave the road as you drive and do whatever else you want to do with your car stereo. As such, aside from the touchscreen monitor, other control modes are also ideal.

These include voice activated commands, wireless remote controls, auxiliary buttons you can mount anywhere in your car, or steering wheel controls so your hands don’t even have to leave the wheel.

Backup and dash camera ready

Another great feature that you might want to look for is a camera and video input for backup rearview cameras and front dash cameras to help you see better on the road and record potential road incidents, so you drive better and safer.

Apart from these, other features you might enjoy are quick charging capacities, capacitive and clear resistive touchscreens, dual phone and USB connection, drive and graphic EQ, high res audio, mix track, OEM integration, motorized display, dual zone entertainment, and more.

Overview

A new touch screen car stereo simply lets you enjoy more options and usability, from better sound quality, increased music sources, other added functions and control options, and even a much better safety and security on the road.

My favorite when it comes to the best touch screen car stereo so far is the Jensen CAR10 10-inch capacitive LCD car stereo. It’s a double din extra-large capacitive LCD screen with Bluetooth connectivity, fast charging capability, and video playback, all at a pretty affordable price tag that makes it the best value for your investment.