Honestly, I'm enjoying trying devices dedicated to cars of a certain age, allowing them to transform from medieval to futuristic cars. Specifically, today I bring you the PODOFO A3135 wireless display for review, which without any installation effort on your part allows you to have Android Auto and Carplay but also mirroring of your smartphone and many other features that I will tell you about. PODOFO is a brand that perhaps few people know about, but in reality it is a company that has long been producing accessories that aim to bring Android Auto, or Apple CarPlay, to non-compatible cars, all without having to carry out invasive interventions.
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SALES PACKAGE
The packaging appears well cared for and all the contents are protected by more or less rigid plastic to protect everything from any accidental damage during transport. In the package we find in addition to our smart screen, also the instruction manual (English only), a 3.5 mm AUX cable, a suction cup anchoring bracket, a bracket with adhesive, replacement sticker, USB-C cable with the cigarette lighter socket for power.
DESIGN AND INSTALLATION
PODOFO A3135 looks like a large 7-inch diagonal monitor with HD 1024 x 600 pixel touch resolution. It can be easily installed using the suction cup or with the adhesive plate, but in any case it will be easy to remove it if necessary, for example to protect you from probable theft or to preserve the electrical components if you leave the car under the scorching sun. I admit that the feel of the materials used is not premium but I did not notice any particular problems during the tests. On the upper profile we find the on/off button while on the back of the body we find the 2W speaker, as this gadget can deliver audio independently. On the side profile we find the AUX input to connect audio sources, the micro SD slot with support for cards up to 256 GB, an AV input to connect, for example, a rear camera in order to have a sort of dashcam and finally the Type-port C for power.
HOW MANY THINGS CAN PODOFO A3135 DO?
Among the main functions of our magic monitor, we find the possibility of connecting an Android or iOS smartphone to wirelessly exploit both Android Auto and CarPlay. The operation is truly perfect and the pairing procedure is the classic one of the two platforms.
One thing that is really very rare to find on products like this is the mirroring function, meaning you can use every application installed on your phone without limitations. It means that we can enjoy apps like SkyGo on this monitor, control home automation, have full support for Telegram and Whatsapp which are generally neutered on the native Android Auto and CarPlay systems. We can even play, in short, really do everything, because in the end we will replicate the smartphone interface on the display. However, remember that in this mode the touch will not be present. Only for Android systems the TCLink application must be downloaded.
From the system's home screen, we can also change the audio source by choosing FM for example, ideal for old cars like mine. We can then take advantage of the integrated media player to play music and videos. Italian is present as the system language but also a microphone with which to call the Google assistant or Siri and make hands-free calls. Music and video playback formats are: MP3 / WAV / F4V / MOV / MP4 / TS.
There are two aspects that immediately struck me: the connection speed and fluidity of the system, but also the audio that comes out of the speakers, not very high but rather clean. Another aspect is the ease of use, truly within the reach of every user, even the least familiar with technology.
CONCLUSIONS AND PRICE
PODOFO A3135 is available for purchase on Amazon with Prime shipping at a price of around 77 euros by redeeming the discount coupon from the purchase page. It is a complete product, suitable for those who want to make an older car smart or to make your current car smarter which perhaps does not offer a cutting-edge infotainment system. In short, a product that I really recommend and that of course I personally use on a daily basis, at least until I find something better.
