Joying Android 10 Head Unit

There are two well established threads on this polarizing head unit, but both have slight variances. I have had mine in for a week, and dollar for dollar, don't believe this can be beat. There are more refined HU's out there, but surprisingly none look as OEM as this IMO, and they all come at a premium that is at minimum double the cost. $400 for getting a much better screen that has wireless Carplay/Android Auto is worth it alone. Adding the equalizer, Wi-Fi capability, and a dozen other features is icing on the cake.

The pioneer for putting this in a Tacoma is @5nahalf (before Joying new their existing model worked in our trucks), but he had (has since removed) the older unit that is no longer in production. The older unit required more adapters and had a different layout of output/inputs amongst other things. Link to that plethora of info/troubleshooting:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-audio-build-joying-tacoma-headunit.576729/

The other thread that I have found useful is in the 2nd gen forum, but once again troubleshooting some of the issues varies. Link:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2nd-gen-joying-head-unit-thread.706997/

Regardless, for those that have no idea what I am talking about, here is the unit I bought on Amazon.

It can be had for a little less on the Joying site, but I wanted an easy return process if I decided it wasn't for me. I was under the impression that I was going to need a bunch of extra parts to connect my existing amp/sub and other OEM retentions, but that wasnt the case. Some fabricate a Schoche HU bracket to get an additional screw to hold it in (which I bought and returned), but the unit feels solid reusing the factory bracket on the Entune. Anyways... I thought I would throw this out there to anyone who is ready to get away from their outdated factory POS, as it truly was plug and play (with exception of 4 small tabs to be trimmed off the inside of the bezel) and install only took 30 minutes.

Tabs to be trimmed:

 

I guess a photo of the finished product would help...

 

I mean they are nice dont get me wrong. Ive had this exact joying unit in my truck for 2 years now. The volume knob has already failed and the headunit will sometimes just not remember any of my settings randomly and revert back to default. The audio quality is not the best. I had a Joying unit (different model) before this one that would randomly freeze and buzz really loud until i jammed a paper clip into the reset hole. Then it just died.

For the price though you cant beat it. I remember being excited it had all these crazy features and apps but I honestly never use them. I use apple music 99% of the time or maps. I got over the apps on the headunit. Ill just keep them on my phone. If i could do it over again i would have just went with a quality Alpine or pioneer. I think i care more about sound quality.

 

Dont regret my joying at all. I use Gaia maps on full screen and all kinds of useful stuff. If your a person who is good with android and can even make a basic app the options are unlimited. Fully customizable with a nice loader.

Sounds 10 times better than the stock head unit. Way way way louder and better sound on stock speakers. Android auto works good, sucky iphone carplay works too.

 

Yeah I’m only a week in so I can’t speak long term, but I know there are guys out there who remain loyal to their fickle HU. If alpine (or any decent brand) made an OEM looking headunit for $800-$900 all in, I would be with you and gone that route. There is nothing OEM looking at any price point that I could find.

 

Haven’t gotten around to apps— been using CarPlay 100% thus far. Any idea if All Trails is supported? I have premium accounts for that… also hoping Surfline works, but doubt it will. I heard complaints about the audio output, and maybe compared to the big brands, but agree that this thing bumps way better than the Entune. What’s your go-to Loader?

 

Biggest issue with name brands like Alpine, Pioneer, etc. is all their user interfaces suck. Feels like something out of 2005. Apple/Android carplay is the only saving grace sometimes

 

I said loader, but I meant launcher. Ive messed a bunch with Nova, Car launcher, Agama, kwgt. There are a bunch. It will eat a ton of time playing with them, but you can get some pretty custom setups if you want to.

Just search playstore for car launcher to see a bunch of premade ones.

 

Does the joying unit retain the factory USB/AUX port for charging and wired CarPlay, or is it wireless only?

 

Ask here.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-audio-build-joying-tacoma-headunit.576729/

New tacoma specific unit has usb adapter to factory USB port. We had to get an adapter to connect factory usb

Mine came as wired AA. I updated firmware to wireless AA.