453 Android Stereo

Whenever anyone on the forums asks about a new stereo on the 453, people will always recommend the nameless Chinese made 9 inch Android stereo that’s available all over AliExpress and similar China based e-commerce sites.

They all look the same so I suspect they are all made by the same company and each reseller reskins the Android operating system to look different on screen. However, despite all looking the same, internally there are so many options.

Price

Just because it’s the most expensive you can find, doesn’t mean it’ll be the best.

RAM

Compare the amount of memory. Really the higher the better since Android is an absolute dog and incredibly inefficient and uses memory like nothing else. The problem is that it’s very easy for the manufacturer to fake the amount of RAM shown on the screen.

Processor

Compare the speeds and number of cores. Higher speeds and more cores will help Android run quicker. Android is as streamlined as a brick so the faster the better, however as before, this information can be faked in the software.

Screen

The 2 main resolutions for these units are:

1024 x 600
1280 x 720

The higher the resolution the better.

Android Version

You’d think that the higher the number the better. I’m not so sure. I’m not a fan of Android in general. It was originally written to be on a phone like the Blackberry but they pivoted when the original iPhone was shown. Instead of starting from scratch, they kept adding bodges to make things work including touch screens. Google has just added more and more to the original code instead of rewriting it properly so it’s a mess. Instead of making it efficient to make it run fast, they have to add ever increasing memory and ever faster processors to try and make it run well.

So, don’t expect Android in these stereos to be fast or smooth. My experience is that it can stutter or be jittery when scrolling.

Add-Ons

These stereos quite often have extras that you can purchase separately. Such as a dash camera, reversing camera, DAB, 360 degree cameras, tyre pressure monitors, Apple CarPlay, forward collision warning, lane keep warning, TV receiver, OBD connection, etc.

Import Charges

There is a good chance that you’ll be required to pay an import fee when it enters your country.

AliExpress Seller

Check reviews. Do the normal things that you’d do when buying from any company. Do your research before giving them your money.

Important – What Stereo Do You Have?

These are available to replace 2 types of 453 stereo. You have to get the correct one or you’ll not have the correct connections.

Visteon Smart Audio System

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R-Link Smart Media System

This is the only option at the moment.

If you want wireless Apple CarPlay, you MUST buy the 4Gb or 8Gb version. Read all of the information on the link just in case of changes.

Finding these on AliExpress is tricky AF. Going to AliExpress.com and typing in Smart Benz Android and it’ll bring up countless options but almost all are NOT designed to replace the media system. The important part is to check categorically that it’s designed to replace your specific stereo type. Check the link above and double check it shows your touch screen stereo:

Contents can change so check yourself before buying.

How Good Are These Stereos?

As good as you would expect for a cheap Android stereo built in China. I was a little put off when I fitted one back in 2019 and the start up screen showed this.

Ah yes, SMORT.