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When you don’t need new speakers, just more power…

Many car owners have been there. The original car stereo called it quits. What do you do?

Maybe the dealership can help you or try your luck with an aftermarket stereo?

If you have an older car, you might be convinced that the speakers need upgrades. What if I tell you that you can enjoy great sound without huge cost? This is why I’ve created this Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX review.

The Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX makes stock systems sound better than before. The secret lies in the built in amp. This extra power output makes all the difference that’s why the sound quality is amazing.

Many people bought this car stereo for wireless Android Auto. Here’s the heads up: it only works with certain phones. You need to know this upfront. The phones that work with Android Auto are Google phones with Android 9.0.

You need to have a Nexus or Pixel. If you have a different Android phone, you need to plug it in. For Apple users, the situation is better. It will work with new generations of iPhones.

Let’s start this Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX review.

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Who is the Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX for?

If you are an Apple user, this head unit will work out of the box.  Actually, it’s so simple that everything is auto-installed. The manual is incorrect. Apple Carplay is set up in the background without any input from you.

Maybe you don’t mind the USB cord connection. Then this issue isn’t a deal-breaker for you.

Moving forward, let’s look at what the Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX head units can offer us.

It doesn’t matter if you are a short commute or a long haul driver this car stereo is a good fit. It has a built in CD/DVD player. With the DVD receiver, you can watch videos.

Hot tip: you need to bypass the parking brake if you want to watch it while on the go.

What can the Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX do for you?

I’ve already mentioned the DVD receiver and CD player. Besides this, it has the standard FM/AM radio receiver, and it has an HD radio option (for CD quality radio stations). Plus, it comes with SiriusXM ready. Enjoying satellite radio never has been easier.

It has dual USB ports. This is great if you want to charge two phones at the same time. The Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX head unit allows paring multiple phones.

What most consumers liked about this car stereo was the changed button layout. It’s much easier to use this head unit than earlier versions.

I loved the personalization options. You can change the startup logo and the background image. What many people do is add their car model startup image.

Last but not least, it has an SD card slot. You can keep all your music on the SD card and leave extra space on your phone.

It comes with HDMI input and dual rear view camera inputs. You can easily connect a backup camera for easier parking

Key Features:

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Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX shortcomings

The Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX has its drawbacks. For example, it’s not exactly wireless Android Auto friendly. It only works with Google phones and one that has Android 9.0 installed.

For some reason, wireless Android Auto is buggy. Not even higher-priced units managed to crack this. Android is the culprit, not the stereo makers. This is a good reason why to have an iPhone instead of Android.

It has no built in GPS, so you have to mirror it from your phone. You can use Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze.

Here’s a 1st world problem. Whenever I hit the next song, it takes too much time for the change. I know I have been spoiled by iTunes. It’s hard to get used to waiting when the previous experience was instant.

If you have polarized glasses, it will be hard to see the touch screen. For some reason, it doesn’t work so well with them. The resistive touchscreen display is 7 inches wide.

My last negative for the Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX is the screen brightness. Don’t get me wrong I love the way it does auto-dimming. I felt that during the night, it was too bright. I’ve checked the head unit and it was dimmed to the lowest.

How To Get The Most Out Of It Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX?

First, you need to get the Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX installed. People reported being a complex install. This is why I highly recommend letting a pro do it.

To enjoy hands-free commands, you need to utilize the stock steering wheel controls. If you want this feature, then the whole operation became harder. There are more wires to connect and panels to remove.

To keep your stock steering wheel controls, you need to purchase the iDatalink Maestro. By installing this unit, you will be able to use the controls with ease.

Many people are interested in the outputs. There are one video output and 6-channel preamp outputs (4V front-rear subwoofer). The internal amp delivers 14 watts.

With the phone connected, you can utilize the hands-free controls. You can take and make calls. Plus, you can get the text messages to read for you. This all makes driving safer.

You have full customization capabilities with this satellite radio.

Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX Review Conclusion

I’m about to end my Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX review. But before I get there, let’s recap what have, we learned.

This car stereo is a good one. You can have an amazing sound quality without changing the stock speakers. That’s a money saver right there.

The truth is that only a few people with Android phones will be able to enjoy wireless Android Auto. The rest need to plug them in. This is not the case with Apple Carplay. Furthermore, it has an auto-install feature, so you don’t have to do anything. Wireless Carplay is the easiest to use from all.

I simply love popping in and out of the car with my iPhone in my pocket. No more cords and plugging in. Best of all, the music starts when I turn the engine on.

I forgot to mention one more thing for the radio to start. It usually takes around 15s.

As you can see, it’s not a bargain head unit, and it’s so worth it. The Android bug aside it’s a good car stereo to have. The faceplate can be removed, so would-be thieves will not be tempted.

Thanks for sticking with me.

Do you have the Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX car stereo installed?

Share your experience. Also, if you want me to do other reviews, get in touch.

Catch you next time.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Can I use my phone with Android Auto Wireless?

Yes and no. You can use your phone with Android Auto Wireless if you have a Nexus or a Pixel. Otherwise, there’s always wireless Carplay if you have an iPhone. At this moment we have to wait for Google to allow more phones to access this app. With either app you can make phone calls. Plus there’s the HD radio for entertainment.

Do I have wireless connection or wired connection with these Pioneer Head units?

If you have an iPhone you can use both connections as you please. If you have an Android phone only a few phones have a wireless connection for the rest wired connection is the next best thing.

How big are these AVH-W4400NEX  head units screen?

With these Pioneer head units you are getting a 7″ resistive touchscreen.

Can I charge my phone in the USB port?

Yes your phone will be charged when you plug into a USB port.

Does this Pioneer head unit supports dual camera input?

Yes it supports the dual camera configuration. You can mount a rear view camera and a dash cam as well.

Is the Pioneer AVH-W4500NEX a good alternative for the Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX?

Yes, the Pioneer AVH-W4500NEX is one of the best alternatives.

Can I use wireless Carplay with my phone?

Yes you can use wireless Carplay if you have an iPhone. Best of all the setting up is done automatically you don’t have to do anything. With wireless Carpaly you can enjoy audio streaming and many other things.

What kind of wireless connectivity do I have with this head unit?

You only have wireless Carplay. If you have an Android phone then wired Android Auto is the only option.

Last Updated on December 2, 2022 by Danny Reid