Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. Android
  4. Apple
  5. Music
  6. News

Pioneer’s newest in-dash receivers take CarPlay or Android Auto fully wireless

By
Add as a preferred source on Google
Image used with permission by copyright holder

In an increasingly wireless world, new users of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto are often surprised to find out that they need to plug their phone in to connect. That inconvenience will soon be a thing of the past: Pioneer’s latest NEX in-dash receivers let you connect to your CarPlay or Android Auto system without having to deal with a cable at all.

There are three models in the latest addition to the NEX line: the AVIC-W8400NEX, the AVIC-W6400NEX, and the AVH-W4400NEX. No matter which model you choose, you’ll be able to connect either with a cable or wirelessly.

Recommended Videos

“We’re excited to expand our NEX line with models that deliver the latest advancements in smartphone and car-to-home smart home integration,” Pioneer Electronics USA Vice President Ted Cardenas said in a statement. “With our new wireless connectivity option, you no longer need to worry about taking your smartphone out of your bag or pocket before getting in the car.”

There are a few reasons why connecting wirelessly is handy. The first is obvious: no cables. The second is that while this seems to be less of an issue with CarPlay, some Android Auto users find that their phone loses charge while connected. Connecting wirelessly lets you use either a battery pack or 12-volt charger yet still connect to CarPlay or Android Auto. There’s also the issue of legality: in some states, it’s illegal to so much as touch your phone while driving, so keeping it safely in your pocket or bag means this won’t happen.

If you’re new to CarPlay or Android Auto, it’s worth knowing that the platforms support Siri and Google Assistant, respectively. This means that not only do you add functionality to your car with one of these new receivers, but you can also control smart home devices so you can turn on your lights and adjust the thermostat before you even walk in the door.

The most expensive of the new NEX models is the AVIC-W8400NEX, which retails for $1,200, while the AVIC-W6400NEX costs $800 and the AVH-W4400NEX is priced at $700. If you’re new to all of these, be sure to check our guides to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Kris Wouk
Kris Wouk
Former Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
Topics
Waymo wants your next robotaxi ride to feel less like a taxi and more like your living room
Your next Waymo ride could come with Gemini as your travel companion
Adult, Female, Person

Waymo is giving its robotaxis one of its biggest passenger-facing upgrades yet, bringing Google's Gemini AI assistant into the cabin alongside a redesigned in-car interface that reimagines how riders interact with autonomous vehicles. Both features will debut in the Ojai, Waymo's purpose-built robotaxi, as the company prepares to expand access to more public riders. Rather than changing how the vehicle drives, the update focuses on what passengers can do once they're inside, signalling that the next phase of the robotaxi race may be fought on experience rather than autonomy.

For years, autonomous vehicle companies have competed on sensors, safety records and driverless capabilities. Waymo now appears confident enough in those foundations to shift attention toward the cabin itself, treating the journey as a product rather than simply a trip from one location to another.

Read more
Two Indian automakers just beat Tesla at the one thing you’d expect it to own
Two Indian automakers, Tata Motors and Mahindra, just topped a global EV efficiency ranking ahead of Tesla and BYD.
Car, Suv, Transportation

I'll admit, Tesla topping an efficiency ranking felt like a foregone conclusion until I actually saw the numbers. Turns out two Indian automakers just embarrassed both Tesla and the world's biggest EV maker at their own game. 

The first time I read the report, I couldn’t believe it, and I’ve been following the Indian automobile industry for a couple of years now.  

Read more
BYD’s new Racco is Japan’s first electric kei car with over 300 km range
The Racco also undercuts Nissan's Sakura on price before taxes and incentives, which packing in features rarely seen in the kei car segment.
BYD Racco

BYD has entered the Japanese kei car market with the Racco, an electric car built specifically for the country's compact car segment. Its top trim delivers 320 km of range, making it the first compact electric car in the market to pass 300 km, according to ITHome.

Kei cars are a Japanese vehicle class with strict size and power limits, and the segment has long been dominated by domestic automakers such as Honda, Nissan, Suzuki, and Daihatsu. The Racco is BYD's first attempt to compete in that space.

Read more