Fortunately, if we have an old car and want a multimedia system with many functions capable of bringing Android Auto and/or CarPlay wirelessly, we don't have to go that far in the search. With just a few euros we can purchase the ATOTO P8 car display, which with a quick plug & play installation, effectively transforms our old car into a luxurious tech car. Let's discover together all the functions of this wonderful car monitor from ATOTO.
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WHAT IS CONTAINED IN THE SALES PACKAGE
The sales packaging is very carefully crafted and above all the product inside is well protected from any impacts due to transport. In the sales box we find, in addition to the usual manuals and the P8 display, also a bracket for anchoring to the car glass and a round base for possible use of the bracket mentioned on the car dashboard. We then find the power supply via the cigarette lighter socket, which I'll talk about later because we have some unique goodies of their kind and then an AUX cable for connecting audio peripherals such as old MP3s, a steering wheel remote control, and some brackets and hooks to carry out a cable management once the ATOTO P8 is installed.
CONSTRUCTION AND FUNCTIONALITY
Our ATOTO P8 monitor is made entirely of plastic but of high quality, able to withstand the strong heat that can be generated when you leave your car under the scorching sun of this crazy summer. By the way, I have never encountered any anomalies in the startup of the interface and no color aberrations of the display. On the rear we find a double speaker, but this is not the only way in which the ATOTO P8 manages to convey audio, also counting on FM, AUX and Bluetooth transmission. Also on the rear we find a USB Type-C input to connect a rear/front camera (to be purchased separately), a sensor for self-adjusting the brightness of the display backlight, the screen on/off button and a micro memory slot SD in addition to the attachment for the support bracket.
The P8 is equipped with a 7-inch Ultra Clear QLED display with 1024×600 resolution and 600cd/m2 brightness, which guarantees sharp and vibrant images, which is accompanied by a microphone on the lower left side for issuing voice commands and managing calls . The interface of the main menu is clean and clear and above all the 5-touch touch of the display was fluid, but it is the color rendering that impressed me, allowing an excellent view of the contents on the screen but above all of the maps. Furthermore, we find an anti-reflective treatment avoiding annoying glare and an impressive viewing angle of 178°. The 7″ screen size doesn't overwhelm the car's interior dashboard like larger displays do, something I particularly appreciated.
Particular appreciation goes to the power system, which occurs through a socket to be inserted into the car's cigarette lighter socket, but what ATOTO provides is revolutionary because it offers two USB sockets, one of which is dedicated to charging your smartphone with 24W output and the other dedicated to holding a USB stick containing MP3 music. We also find an AUX input to connect audio sources, making the installation cleaner. The only flaw is that the connection is proprietary, so if we were to break the cigarette lighter power supply we couldn't easily replace it.
I cannot comment on the cameras to be combined with the ATOTO P8 but according to the manufacturer the recording quality is equal to 1080p while at system level access to the feed and recordings is always available, which can be saved on a micro SD card. However, I can comment on the convenient remote control supplied which can be applied to the steering wheel or fixed to any point of the car using double-sided tape. The remote control is powered by a button battery with an autonomy of at least 1 year. With the remote control we can control the volume, play/pause the track, skip forward/back, change the system, manage answered/ended calls and recall the functions dedicated to the cameras as well as the Siri/Google voice assistant . Very convenient for having the main functions of the product under control. The remote control also lights up in the dark.
Having said that, what can we do with this ATOTO P8? Practically everything, in fact in addition to connecting an Android/iOS smartphone and therefore taking advantage of all the features of Android Auto and/or CarPlay in wireless mode, therefore managing calls, controlling music, reading messages etc.. we can also take advantage of the function mirroring of the smartphone, thus potentially being able to exploit all the apps present on the smartphone. So we can, for example, watch a video on YouTube, manage home automation, check emails, but for example we cannot watch Netflix, as the app itself does not allow mirroring. I conclude by saying that ATOTO P8 can be updated, adding new features, as happened in my case.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Operating system: Linux 4.9
- Processor: 53 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A1,2
- Memories: 2 GB RAM + 2 GB storage
- Display: 7 inch QLED 1024 x 600 pixels, 600 cd/m2, anti-glare
- Wireless technologies: FM transmitter, Bluetooth 5.0, dual-band Wi-Fi ac, wireless control
- Audio formats: MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, WAV, M4A
- Image formats: JPEG, PNG
- Power: Cigarette Lighter, USB, USB-C
- Cameras: front and rear
- Audio output: 2,5W speaker, FM transmitter, audio jack, Bluetooth
- Consumption: 2,5A, 12,5W
CONCLUSIONS AND PRICE
For everything it offers, ATOTO P8 has a literally rock-bottom price. At the moment you can find the bundle with the rear dash cam on Amazon at the same price as the basic model, i.e. €144,90, all with Prime guarantee. You must redeem the discount coupon on the purchase page. With ATOTO P8 you will not miss anything for your car's multimedia, having every function you could look for in a product of this kind.
ATOTO P8 is universal, as it adapts to any car, it is easy to install, so you don't have to worry about dismantling anything in your car. A complete, practical and high-performance infotainment system that makes this product one of the best allies for travelers who do not give up technological convenience while driving.
