In this review, I look at the CarTablet Pro Max CarPlay Display & Dash Cam. You can buy this car stereo display for $124.95 directly from CarTablet – https://bit.ly/cartabletpromax.
TLDR: The CarTablet Pro Max is a 10.25-inch car stereo display that offers wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, AirPlay, and a built-in dash camera. It’s easy to mount with two options and provides decent audio through FM, AUX, and Bluetooth. However, its dash camera only records in 720p, and Android Auto’s resolution is lower than CarPlay. While it’s feature-packed, the overall performance is average, and Android users may be disappointed. At $124.75, it may not offer the best value, especially considering alternatives with similar features at a lower price.
Car stereo displays offer a quick and efficient way to modernise an older car interior, making it compatible with modern smartphones. These devices enable features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, screen mirroring for video streaming apps such as YouTube, and even built-in dash cameras to record the road ahead. The CarTablet Pro Max is one such display, promising to bring contemporary functionality to any vehicle. But what makes it stand out among the numerous options available? Let’s delve deeper.
Features and Design
The Pro Max comes well-equipped, with a paper instruction manual, the display unit itself, and two mounting options: a flat dashboard mount and a suction cup windscreen mount. It also includes a USB-C to 12V power adapter with a USB-A pass-through port, a 3.5mm AUX cable, and an optional reverse camera with its accompanying cable.
The display measures 10.25 inches diagonally and boasts a slim profile, although its back section houses a small cluster of I/O ports. These include a USB-C power port, a 3.5mm AUX port, an AV IN port, and a TF card slot for storing dash camera footage. On the front, the display features a generic bezel with a somewhat unnecessary lower chin bearing an automotive logo. A more uniformly sized bezel would have lent the device a more polished and professional aesthetic—a detail overlooked by many brands in this category.
On the top edge, there is a sleep/wake button, while the back is home to the Pro Max’s built-in dash camera. The camera can be extended slightly to provide a better field of view over the car’s interior and dashboard. Its design allows for vertical tilting and limited rotation, accommodating angled placements on the dashboard to ensure a clear, straight view through the windscreen.
Boot-Up and Main Menu
The display powers on in approximately eight seconds, revealing a straightforward menu interface. It includes icons for accessing the dash camera, connecting to CarPlay or Android Auto, adjusting audio output modes, and enabling AirPlay or MirrorLink. Along the side of the screen, a dock provides quick access to common functions such as home, brightness, volume adjustments, and system settings.
The settings menu offers various customisation options, including adjustments for the dash camera and reverse camera. Users can also modify the system language, time, date, and screen timeout settings. However, it is disappointing that the dash camera’s resolution maxes out at 720p, contradicting the brand’s marketing claims of 4K recording.
Mounting the Display
Mounting the Pro Max is straightforward, thanks to its two included options. The suction cup windscreen mount is a familiar design seen with most car displays, while the flat dashboard mount offers a more permanent adhesive-based solution. Both options are easy to install and adaptable to a wide range of car interiors.
However, the 12V power cable, at just one metre long, may limit mounting flexibility. Most users will need to run the cable from the display to the car’s 12V port, often across the central console. In contrast, the reverse camera cable is more generously sized, easily accommodating installation at the rear of most vehicles. The slightly longer AUX cable is also inadequate for routing neatly around the dashboard, although shorter distances to a nearby AUX port could benefit from using an even shorter cable for a cleaner look.
While it is possible to power the display using a USB-C cable from a sufficiently powered USB port or adapter, this setup may interfere with FM audio transmission, which relies on the power cable to act as an aerial antenna.
Audio Options
The display’s built-in speaker is functional but not ideal for music playback. It is better suited for navigation prompts or vocal-based content like podcasts. FM transmission is a widely compatible audio method, and tuning into a set radio frequency is simple. Once paired, audio output is acceptable, though not exceptional, with quality often dependent on the car stereo and any external interference. Unfortunately, the display lacks independent volume control for FM output, occasionally resulting in distorted audio when the transmission is not well-calibrated.
Using an auxiliary cable improves audio quality, offering less distortion and better balance than FM transmission. However, this comes at the cost of an additional cable trailing from the display. Bluetooth audio, on the other hand, provides superior sound quality by leveraging your car’s stereo system, delivering crisp digital audio that is far more enjoyable. Bluetooth also enables the use of steering wheel controls for media playback, adding convenience and functionality.
In speaker, FM, and AUX modes, the display uses its built-in microphone for input. While serviceable, its placement at the rear of the unit can make audio capture sound slightly distant. With Bluetooth audio, however, the system utilises the car’s microphone instead, which is a thoughtful feature that eliminates the need to position your phone strategically.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Wireless Apple CarPlay launches within 9 seconds and takes a total of 20 seconds from boot-up to full functionality. Once operational, the interface performs well, with minimal delay in touch and audio responses. Call quality is solid, and the overall experience is seamless.
Android Auto, however, takes 12 seconds to launch and around 20 seconds including boot-up. While its performance is acceptable, the resolution is noticeably lower compared to CarPlay, which detracts from the experience. Touch input also suffers from minor lag, and call delays are more pronounced. This makes the Pro Max less suitable for Android users.
AirPlay and Mirror Casting
AirPlay functionality works reliably, with minimal lag when streaming video and audio through the car’s speakers. MirrorCast, however, failed to connect with a Samsung S22 during testing. While casting apps like YouTube and TikTok worked without issue, video playback on the Pro Max was unimpressive. Vertical orientation results in a display smaller than a smartphone screen, and even in landscape mode, videos appear constrained compared to viewing on a large phone display.
Final Thoughts
At $124.75, the Pro Max is slightly more expensive than similar displays with comparable features. With only 720p dash camera recording, poor Android Auto performance, and non-functional MirrorCast, it fails to meet expectations for Android users or those seeking high-resolution dash camera capabilities. While the built-in dash camera is a nice addition, its performance is easily surpassed by standalone alternatives.
For around $70, one can find better displays without dash cameras, making the Pro Max a tough sell for budget-conscious buyers. While it boasts a range of features, it delivers most of them in an average and generic manner. There is significant room for improvement before this device can truly live up to its “Pro Max” name.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 – Brief overview
0:17 – Unboxing
0:50 – Features & design
2:15 – Boot-up main menu
5:43 – In-car demo
5:54 – Mounting installation
9:49 – Wireless CarPlay
10:59 – Built-in speaker audio
11:35 – FM Transmission audio
13:17 – Microphone quality
13:41 – Call quality & return delay CP
13:54 – AUX audio
14:51 – Wireless Android Auto
16:00 – Call quality & return delay AA
16:49 – AirPlay screencasting
18:17 – Bluetooth media playback
18:44 – Wi-Fi video dash cam playback
19:13 – Dash camera
19:43 – Optional reverse camera
20:07 – Dash camera footage
20:53 – Bluetooth audio
23:12 – My Impressions