Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX Review in 2024 – Is it worth it?

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As if it rolled off the assembly line…

The market is flooded with aftermarket stereos that you can get easily lost. Not to mention, some immediately scream aftermarket. But this Pioneer head unit is different. It sits flush in the dash as if it’s factory-made. It fits like a glove.

This is why I’ve decided to write the Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX review.

The main features of this stereo are Wireless Apple Carpla y and Android Auto plus built-in Navigation . There are the selling points of this deck. I don’t know what the guys did with the EQ, but the vehicle acoustics are incredible.

One of my readers mounted this head unit in his 20-year-old farm truck. This old truck has a backup camera, internet, and GPS. Yes, that was the same reaction as well. Why on earth would you do it? I bet it looks cool.

What else can you expect from the Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX digital receiver?

It’s safe to say that this isn’t an entry unit. It has all the bells and whistles you’ll ever need. It comes with two camera inputs for the dash cam and backup camera. It has two USB inputs that will charge your phone. It has a built-in HD radio tuner. And can play high-res audio files.

It has everything you need, and it even shows the time.

Let’s get this Pioneer AVH-1300NEX review started.

Here’s the bird’s eye view for this head unit.

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Who is the Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX for?

This car stereo is for those who don’t want to settle. You can have it all with this double din head unit.

Thanks to wireless connectivity, you will be able to do the hands-free calling. You will drive more safely because you don’t have to touch your phone.

Also, the Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX deck is for those who want to enjoy the great sound quality. This unit has every high-res and HD function you can imagine. The car acoustics will be incredible after you install it. Best of all, you don’t have to change or add anything to the vehicle.

What can the Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX do for you?

When earlier I mentioned that this car stereo has all the bells and whistles, I really meant it. My biggest takeaways were the wired and wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto. One small note is that wireless Android Auto only works on a few select phones.

At the moment, only Pixel and Nexus phones are wireless. For the rest of Android users are stuck with the USB cable. You either wait for Google to update or switch your phone to an iPhone.

This head unit comes with a built-in GPS. This means you can travel anywhere in North America and you won’t get lost. The maps cover the USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

This car stereo has two USB inputs. These are designated for Apple and Android phones. As in USB1 works with Apple phones and USB2 works with Android phones.

Do you enjoy listening to HD radio?

Then you will enjoy the built-in radio tuner. You can listen to CD-quality music. Also, it’s SiriusXM ready, so you have access to satellite radio.

It comes with a CD/DVD player and high-res audio streaming. This means you can listen to FLAC files up to 192bits.

The capacitive touchscreen is great and responds rapidly. The screen size is 7”.

It comes with two camera inputs for safe driving. You can mount a backup camera and dash cam as well.

And there’s more, but I won’t bore you with the rest of the specs.

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Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX shortcomings

Pioneer tried with this unit, and they really tried, and still, there are flaws that I have to mention. Without it, this would be product hype, not a product review.

Here’s the good news this car stereo comes with built-in Navigation. The bad news is that you have to pay for map updates. This isn’t a small amount. The yearly cost runs to $109.

The documentation is slim to none. If you are planning to do a DIY job, you are better off searching online for help or YouTube. Yes, the user’s guide is weak.

One of the biggest selling points for the Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX head unit is its navigation. Well, it’s not that flawless as one might think. The GPS is not that intuitive. There’s a learning steep learning curve. The sound fixed you can’t change it. I personally used Sygic and bought Snoop Dogg’s voice.

That makes long rides much more enjoyable. Now the screen is capacitive, but it doesn’t support multi-touch. So you can’t pinch-zoom on the map. This is so old technology that you can’t imagine.

There was one thing that pissed me off, as I mentioned before. There are two USB inputs. Guess what? They only sent one USB cable in the package. Why would they do that? Maybe they have saved a few dollars?

This unit comes with Wi-Fi certified Miracast. This allows you to mirror your phone screen on the touch screen display. This works perfectly with Android and Android only.

My last issue comes with the faceplate. Since this unit has a high price tag, they should’ve made it removable. But it’s not so thieves might be tempted.

These were the drawbacks that I’ve found regarding the Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX.

How To Get The Most Out Of It Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX?

The first thing to do is get it installed. I prefer to let the pros deal with it. It saves me time and headaches.

Once that’s done, I highly recommend getting the iDatalink Maestro. This device allows you to keep your steering wheel controls so that hands-free calling will be easy. Now the iDatalink Maestro is not included in the package, and it’s sold separately.

After all, this is done; it’s a good idea to utilize those camera inputs. You can mount a rear view camera and a dash cam as well. Also, these are not included and sold separately.

Now the fun starts. The Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX head unit comes with a 13-band graphic equalizer. You can tweak the music to your liking.

Since it has a CD/DVD player, you can watch movies on the 7” touch screen.

Also check out: Pioneer AVIC-W6400NEX Review –Should I Buy it?

Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX Review Conclusion

The Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX is a high-end car stereo. It has everything you’ll ever need. From the internet to Bluetooth and Siri Eyes Free, this unit has it all.

We have reached the end of my Pioneer AVIC-W8400NEX review. I hope you learned a lot by reading it.

If you have questions and ideas, do reach out to me.

Catch you next time.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Does this Pioneer Nex unit comes with an SD card slot?

Yes there’s an SD card slot with this stereo.

How big is the capacitive touch screen?

The touchscreen display is 7″ wide.

Can I use Appradio mode with my phone?

Appradio mode is extremely buggy so no matter what phone you will use it will let you down. I understand Pioneer wants to control everything but AppRadio mode is a disaster.

Will this Pioneer NEX head unit improve my stock Toyota speakers?

Yes it will. As you will read in the review the car acoustics will be great.

How easy is to use the user interface?

The head unit’s user interface is easy to use. There’s a small issue with the GPS because it’s not that intuitive.

Can I use wireless Carplay and Android Auto wireless?

Yes wireless Carplay Pioneer works great. As for wireless Android Auto that only works with a few Google phones. Maybe in the future more will be supported.

Last Updated on November 7, 2023 by Brian Beasley