MekedeTech DUDU7 Android Head Unit Review

[amirm]

FYI, installation was a bust as there is no easy way to use the existing mount/bezel for this device due to custom size it has (back side is not double din). Either have to 3D print a complex fixture, or find something else. A company makes a combo of this unit and dash bezel but takes a month to get there.

 

[xanalog]

You use steering control for common things

I don't think such steering-control interfaces are standardized between all car manufacturers.
But, then, I am not even certain that the CAN-bus and OBD talk the same language.

 

[amirm]

I don't think such steering-control interfaces are standardized between all car manufacturers.

They have vehicle specific dongles and the head units, at least the one under test, supports a number of different ones and protocols. I haven't got to that point in my install. Will report how I do on that front!

 

[amirm]

Conditions are great for your mapped location. Just ran Tamanawas Falls trail along the East Fork, cruised down to Hood River for lunch at Ferment overlooking the Columbia, then moved to Bend to spend two days running the Deschutes River trails and dining al fresco in Saw Mill and downtown. Love this time of year while listening to great music, despite the allergies. Hope your build out leads to excellent van life.

Our favorite place to visit in all of Washington/Oregon. Had no idea all of that existed before we got our RV and travelled there. The waterfalls are amazing. Multnomah falls is such a hidden treasure (for those of us in WA).

The picture doesn't do it justice.

 

[DWPress]

My Subaru is too old for steering wheel controls so I got one that straps onto the steering wheel with matching dongle into head unit and it uses its own BT signal. Works as advertised though I do have to change the battery in the steering wheel control sometimes in winter months as the cold is sure hard on coin cells.

 

[Laserjock]

@amirm was driving 58km/h...when making these pictures. nice

What’s more amazing is he was doing an average of that in reverse at some point…

 

[Thomas Savage]

What a great direction your taking us in with these last few car audio related reviews, thanks Amirm.

It's the wild west , and seemingly in desperate need of our intrepid CFOs scrutiny. Hopefully you can shine a light showing the wood for the trees and by doing so create incentives for better performance.

Splendid!

 

[thewas]

I need a new car ...

Most current new cars though have not really a place/space to for such kind of double or single DIN aftermarket units as they tend to have large tablet design user interfaces which are unfortunately also used for most car settings. This has led to the result the aftermarket car audio market is practically dead and the high quality reliable brands like Becker, Alpine, Blaupunkt, Pioneer etc have only a pathetic offering compared to the strong 1980-1990s.

 

[thewas]

The last thing I like in a car is a touch screen for anything. Really drives me nuts.

It's a bouncy environment which requires attention on the road and not on the screen. Give me tactile buttons in predictable places. And no, Mercedes, not hundreds of tiny little buttons everywhere.

Fully agree, its for me the absolutely worst evolution that happened to current generation cars and the biggest reason why I would never buy one. Truth to be said on many of those the speech recognition is getting better so at least you tell your car what you want it to do. The good thing is finally also the corresponding authorities understood that touchscreens are just a bad and cheap solution for important car operations and will punish such in the future so also the manufacturers will come back to tactile buttons:

Cars will need buttons not just touchscreens to get a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating

The consumer vehicle safety rating organisation Euro NCAP has announced changes to its protocols from next year to require physical controls for key functions. Matthew Avery…

etsc.eu

Hyundai’s touchscreen honeymoon is over because sometimes buttons are just better

Maybe buttons are useful, after all?

www.theverge.com

But which Mercedes model you say has tiny buttons, in my experience they used to have some of the best placed and logically placed ones in the past and now unfortunately have replaced them with stupid touchscreens and even worse touchpads on the steering wheel?

 

[Nango]

Not into a SAAB pls.

 

[somebodyelse]

I keep seeing many aliexpress vendors touting Android15 and 8-core processors in some real cheap (<$150) head-end units.
Shouldn't due consideration be also given (and disclosed) for OperatingSystem, and the type of processor used, as a part of the purchasing decision?

Not just which OS, but whether they have a good track record for software maintenance and avoidance of built in malware. This is an ongoing problem with the cheap Android TV streaming boxes.

 

[Beershaun]

This is and interesting option to bring aftermarket car head units into the modern age. I have to do some research on these. The adoption of integrated infotainment units in cars is making it almost impossible to upgrade or customize anything upstream of the car amplifier. I am not a fan of many of the choices auto makers are making and having an option to make it what I want is appealing. For example my 2024 kia ev6 has a nice screen and supports Android auto, but not wireless android auto. so even though I have a wireless charging pad in my car, my phone ends up standing upright in a cupholder and I have to plug it into a USB cable every time I get in. I've had wireless android auto support on my aftermarket head unit in my 2015 Mazda cx9 since 2020.

 

[SMen]

Most current new cars though have not really a place/space to for such kind of double or single DIN aftermarket units as they tend to have large tablet design user interfaces which are unfortunately also used for most car settings. This has led to the result the aftermarket car audio market is practically dead and the high quality reliable brands like Becker, Alpine, Blaupunkt, Pioneer etc have only a pathetic offering compared to the strong 1980-1990s.

Yes ... probably need to qualify that new for me = from about 2015! ... but I suppose the something like this could influence a second hand car purchase going for one with no touch screen. Good point about after market car audio.

 

[Timcognito]

For all you guys with older cars and want to know what tech is in these new cars here is good example. I just got a 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 and man it is overwhelming the cameras controls and GUI features. I love driving it, lots of room for my tall frame plus tons of storage space, 320 mi EV range and 18 min 10 to 80% charge on a fast charger. Not selling anything and sure competitors have similar offerings, but just thought some may want to see an example what new tech is in new cars. Have not tried half the stuff yet. This is shortest video I could find. FYI

 

[jayapple]

Car Android navigation? We have too many of these here, and the vast majority are export products. This is because people change cars too frequently here.

They are mainly targeted at some older cars abroad. The prerequisite is that your car already has a central control screen for display. Here, it can be installed exactly the same. If not, it will be very troublesome and a custom fixture will be needed.

This type of large navigation screen also has an additional function, which is digital decoding. It will be much better than the original car, but you will lose all the functions of the car, so it is only suitable for old cars.

Chinese people change cars too frequently, especially electric vehicles. You almost never see cars with all buttons, but high-end Qualcomm smart cabins. Unfortunately, there are no powerful chips implanted in the audio aspect.

 

[amirm]

This type of large navigation screen also has an additional function, which is digital decoding. It will be much better than the original car, but you will lose all the functions of the car, so it is only suitable for old cars.

People have done fair amount of work in decoding Canbus protocols and restoring features that were controlled in the original OEM display. As I mentioned at the outset, they are also able to back out the equalization, crossovers and delays to get to flat (electronic) response. As such, I see them installed in pretty modern cars although admittedly not the latest EV cars. If anything, seems like technology has managed to advance and get past the barrier OEMs created with their custom infotainment systems.

 

[Endibol]

Sort of looks how Ford put out the "Nova" and "Pinto" in Spanish speaking markets years ago.

And don’t forget the Mitsubishi Pajero years ago. That didn’t really help to boost sales in the Spanish speaking countries..

 

[jayapple]

People have done fair amount of work in decoding Canbus protocols and restoring features that were controlled in the original OEM display. As I mentioned at the outset, they are also able to back out the equalization, crossovers and delays to get to flat (electronic) response. As such, I see them installed in pretty modern cars although admittedly not the latest EV cars. If anything, seems like technology has managed to advance and get past the barrier OEMs created with their custom infotainment systems.

There is a type that cracks all the original car's protocols, but the price of that one is much higher. In fact, it has two systems, the original car's and Android. It can retain the alarm sound, but this kind cannot bypass the original car's amplifier.

 

[PJR918BMW]

This site has taken a rather self indulgent turn of late.

Oh come on..
.give the guy a break!

You use steering control for common things and voice for others. That said, there are some with knobs and buttons.

...if canbus works..

 

[PJR918BMW]

Oh come on..
.give the guy a break!

...if canbus works..