The Atoto S8 Professional is an aftermarket infotainment system with wi-fi CarPlay, GPS monitoring, and a pile of different options in a design with a critical weak level.
Typically, merchandise come to the market constructed to do a single, particular factor nicely. The Atoto S8 Professional is decidedly not that product, but it surely is a wonderful Wi-fi CarPlay receiver you may have to take further care with when putting in.
My private use case solely wants CarPlay, however I’ve examined the opposite features of the Atoto S8 Professional for the overview. There is a absolutely operational Android pores and skin operating on this unit, and that features a YouTube app, native music app, and apps within the Google Play Retailer.
Atoto appears to have gone all out on options, and extra will likely be launched in future updates. My largest grievance up to now is the archaic nature of updating the firmware, which resulted within the destruction of my preliminary overview unit.
I put in the unit in my 2016 Honda HR-V with a further sprint equipment. It matches the sprint nicely, even with the very giant contact show.
Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi Carplay receiver overview: Design
The Atoto S8 Professional is a double-din unit with a big 10-inch show. There’s not a lot to the unit itself since many of the system is hidden contained in the sprint.
Not like different automobile stereos with shows, the show is not built-in with the precise head unit. As an alternative, it’s mounted by way of a mounting block connected to a periscoping neck so the monitor is floating in entrance of the sprint.
The show is giant however not too large for our car. Some automobiles could have points with the protruding monitor because it might overlap controls, vents, or different objects. Be sure you examine measurements and compatibility earlier than shopping for.
Some CarPlay items, manufacturing facility or aftermarket, try to eschew bodily controls altogether, however fortunately the Atoto S8 Professional doesn’t. The presence of bodily buttons for quantity, mute, house, and observe skipping makes it simple to manage media with out wanting.
Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi Carplay receiver overview: Set up
Putting in the Atoto S8 Professional wasn’t a lot totally different than some other automobile stereo. Nevertheless, you may need to get it professionally put in or assist from a buddy should you’re unfamiliar with the method.
After getting the wires connected to the harness, I observed there was a bundle nonetheless disconnected within the sprint. This seemed to be for the steering wheel, which Atoto does have wires for, however I ignored them for the preliminary set up as these wires weren’t labeled and can be a prolonged job.
The sprint equipment and every thing connected with out concern (bought individually). Be aware that the show has totally different angle and top settings that needs to be set earlier than screwing in every thing.
In an effort to take a look at the most recent options, I needed to set up a firmware replace. To put in that replace, I wanted a FAT32 SD card with an set up file, which matches right into a slot behind the sprint.
I did not understand this till after the system was put in. The sprint equipment I ordered obscured the SD card slot, so I needed to pull the unit again out to insert a card for the replace.
Nevertheless, issues went terribly improper.
A single failure level
There are some things to notice concerning the Atoto S8 Professional. It has a periscoping monitor connected by way of just a few screws and a ribbon cable — all obscured after set up.
Reaching behind the unit and blindly unscrewing totally different screws wasn’t excellent. Additionally, my sprint cannot be eliminated whereas the monitor is put in, so it was crucial to do that on this order.
I believed I unscrewed the mandatory mounting screws for the monitor’s bracket, however I had left one essential screw in, hidden behind the monitor. Once I went to tug the monitor out, the unit got here free from the bracket, and I ripped the ribbon cable from the mounting plate.
After contacting Atoto, they despatched me one other unit to finish the overview. I fastidiously put in the unit and ensured there was a niche for accessing the SD card even with the monitor on.
I will admit this was my mistake, however one anybody might make. It shouldn’t be that simple to by accident rip the monitor free from its mounting bracket.
The screws that disconnect the monitor from the mounting bracket are too simply accessible whereas the monitor is mounted. Plus, the screws are proper subsequent to those you truly should take away, including to the confusion.
In the event you can set up the Atoto S8 Professional with out mishap, it is a wonderful CarPlay unit. Nevertheless, I’ve to ding the general rating for the way simple it’s to break inadvertently.
Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi Carplay receiver overview: Options
The Atoto S8 Professional has a 12nm ARM Cortex Octa-Core processor to maintain issues operating easily on the 10-inch 1280 by 720 show. It’s an LCD with a QLED backlight for improved coloration.
There are two Bluetooth radios, one 5.0 for system connection and 4.1 for tethering web solely. A devoted SIM slot allows paid web and GPS entry, however that is not wanted should you’re counting on CarPlay.
Add media like video and music recordsdata by way of an SD card slot or USB-A port. Web tethering additionally works over the USB-A port.
I used to be additionally in a position to take a look at the Atoto backup digital camera, which is required since my Honda’s backup digital camera will not work with an aftermarket unit. It has a singular function the place it tries to construct a top-down view whereas backing up, which might come in useful in tight squeezes.
Like different infotainment methods, the Atoto S8 Professional runs on Android. Wi-fi CarPlay and Android Auto each seem by way of a Automotive Hyperlink app.
Moderately than being a easy CarPlay launcher, Atoto opens up the system for extra Android options. There are a handful of preinstalled apps like YouTube, plus the Google Play Retailer.
You will want an web connection to reap the benefits of the apps, so both tether your iPhone web or insert a SIM card. The identical goes for GPS options like Velocity Compensated Quantity Management, which raises quantity at speeds over 50mph primarily based on GPS positioning.
YouTube works fantastic, however you definitely should not be utilizing it except the automobile is in park. I want that the video stopped mechanically when the automobile was in movement, however that is a setting that’s off by default and is user-toggled.
That is an AppleInsider overview, so I will not dwell on the Android facet of the unit. The next choices exist however are completely non-obligatory and don’t have an effect on CarPlay.
TrackHU
Effectively, I say accessible, however after updating the Atoto S8, the TrackHU app did not seem. However this is what the app does should you’re in a position to get it put in and dealing.
TrackHU is a automobile monitoring service that connects over GPS by way of an put in SIM card. It is ready to refresh the car’s location each 15 seconds.
There are execs and cons to this method. It is correct and helps control your car, particularly within the occasion that it’s stolen.
Nevertheless, if the S8 Professional is turned off, there is not any GPS monitoring.
Since I could not get the app working, I caught with my most well-liked monitoring technique: an AirTag. I’ve one caught in an obscure location on the car, and it will work whether or not the automobile is on or not.
ChatGPT in automobiles with Drivechat
In the event you’re the sort of one that would discover ChatGPT in automobiles helpful, then Atoto has an answer with DriveChat. Model 1.5 is accessible now, and there are plans to introduce extra superior methods later.
The brief video, which humorously transcribes Elon Musk as “Ellen Musk,” does not actually say what is feasible with DriveChat, and Atoto’s web site is not a lot assist both. It appears the purpose is to have the chatbot present solutions to journey inquiries, but it surely is not clear if it might act on info and open apps like Siri.
I am not bought on the concept, but it surely’s there if you’d like it. Fortunately, it’s totally non-obligatory.
My luck is not on my facet for the Atoto S8. The DriveChat app appeared after I put in the mandatory replace, but it surely opens to a clean display so one thing is damaged for now.
Since I did not get to attempt the function, it will not have an effect on my overview rating. Atoto assures me that DriveChat 2.0 will likely be prepared for prime time, so should you’re keen on making an attempt the function, that is the replace to be careful for.
Utilizing the Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi Carplay receiver
When you’re in your automobile and your iPhone has paired with the Atoto S8 Professional, it is simply CarPlay all the way in which down. In the event you’ve used CarPlay previously, there’s nothing stunning right here.
Nevertheless, there are some tips to getting every thing going, particularly should you share your car. Wi-fi CarPlay depends on a mix of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and it is rather clingy with this unit.
In case your companion was beforehand linked to CarPlay and also you need to join, you may should have them toggle Wi-Fi off whereas tapping your system title within the Atoto Telephone app’s Bluetooth menu. Sure, that is as convoluted because it sounds.
After getting the right system to attach, you choose the system hyperlink app. It says it ought to mechanically launch when the system connects, however that hasn’t been the case in my expertise.
In the event you open the system hyperlink app too quickly, you may see a connection loading display. This connection course of can take a number of seconds at instances.
As soon as linked, it is clean crusing from there. CarPlay runs because it ought to, and the contact display is aware of faucets.
One notable drawback with the unit is the shortage of computerized brightness adjustment. If you need the show to be dimmer or brighter, you exit CarPlay again to Android, faucet a solar icon on the high of the show to cycle between 4 presets, then return to CarPlay.
I will additionally be aware that the audio mixing is relatively opinionated with the Atoto unit. You will need to spend a while within the Android equalizer app to be sure to’ve received the correct sound.
Wi-fi CarPlay and far more
I’ve owned automobiles with built-in CarPlay and used aftermarket options earlier than. The Atoto S8 Professional has been one of many extra secure items I’ve owned.
There’s a mile of particular options included within the Atoto S8 Professional. If these curiosity you, then you definitely’ll doubtless be proud of this unit.
I really like the massive, responsive show, however I am sure there are extra price-friendly choices for these searching for items with out the bells and whistles. Nevertheless, should you do get the Atoto S8 Professional, you may have a working unit with few complaints — should you do not break it.
Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi Carplay receiver overview — execs
- Huge vibrant show
- Responsive and accepts multi-touch gestures
- Bodily buttons maintain controls easy
- A number of angles and top ranges accessible
- Whole Android system accessible exterior of CarPlay with extra options coming
Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi Carplay receiver overview — cons
- Simply broken
- Non-intuitive pairing technique at setup
- Options like DriveGPT and TrackHU are lacking regardless of being within the product description, even after an replace
- No over the air updates
- Entry to included SD card slot for firmware updates not attainable with out disassembly for some sprint configurations
- Show brightness is not computerized and solely accessible by exiting CarPlay
Ranking: 2.5 out of 5
The Atoto S8 Professional units out to do every thing a consumer may need to accomplish from the driving force’s seat after which some. The only failure level drops the rating considerably.
It is a good unit with an awesome show that serves up near-flawless Wi-fi CarPlay, however there are doubtless lower-priced fashions accessible in case your solely purpose is entry to Wi-fi CarPlay.
The place to purchase the Atoto S8 Professional Wi-fi CarPlay receiver
Atoto sells the S8 Professional on Amazon for $479, however there is a $45 coupon accessible. Additionally, use code 6MT8VXDO for a further 5% off.
Take a look at the complete Atoto S8 series to seek out the right unit on your car.