Pioneer DMH-WT8600NEX 10.1" HD Touchscreen Floating Display Car Stereo

Why it's worth it

This is the most complete receiver here: a 10.1-inch HD screen on a floating arm, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, an HDMI input, and tuning controls deep enough for a full system. It's also the most expensive unit in this guide and the hardest one to fit.

The screen is the reason to buy this one. At 10.1 inches it's the largest panel here, and the 1280x720 resolution keeps map text and exit numbers crisp instead of smeared. It's a capacitive panel, so it takes the same light swipes and pinch-to-zoom you already use on your phone. At highway speed that difference shows up as a quick glance instead of a stare. If you live in CarPlay maps, you'll feel this upgrade daily.

Split-screen mode makes the extra size pay off. You can run CarPlay or Android Auto on one half and the receiver's own source on the other, at the same time. So your next turn stays on screen while you scroll to a different station or playlist. It sounds like a small thing on a spec sheet. In stop-and-go traffic, it's the difference between one tap and four.

From our review of 5 car stereo head units, by Ben Carter, Tech Editor

What we like

• +The screen is the reason to buy this one
• +Split-screen mode makes the extra size pay off
• +The HDMI input is rare at this level
• +The tuning goes deeper than most people need, and that's the point

What to know

• –It's deep, and depth is what wrecks installs
• –The floating arm has to be tightened correctly
• –There's no built-in navigation