Quite a lot of people spend a decent amount of time behind the wheel every day: they have to sit in traffic jams, travel along the highway at a monotonous speed - all this is very tiring. In order to entertain themselves at least a little during a long trip, drivers buy a car TV. Such a gadget is not an essential item in a car, but it will make your trip more comfortable and exciting.
The choice of such products is very wide, and products can differ significantly from each other in appearance, diagonal size and many other parameters. To make it easier for you to choose the best product, we decided to rank the best car TVs of the year. However, before analyzing the characteristics of specific models, it is necessary to understand what indicators should influence the choice of such a device. Let's start with this.
The difference between a TV and a car monitor
For some reason, these concepts are often confused, although the difference should be obvious: monitors only reproduce video recordings from the media. A car TV is equipped with a built-in receiver or a separate TV tuner, so it can not only play pre-recorded movies, but also receive an external signal. Therefore, first you need to decide what you really need: monitors or televisions.
The best stationary car TVs
In-dash
Prology PCM-750T is a motorized car TV with LCD display and touch panel. Equipped with a TV tuner and telescopic antenna, equipped with 2 audio and 1 VGA video inputs. Supports 3 color TV formats, controlled from the panel or remote control, automatically switches to the rear view camera when parking. Viewing angles vertically and horizontally are 130 and 100°. The power supply voltage should not exceed 16 V.
Advantages:
- D / G / F / R: 7 / 17.8|17.8|2.5 / 16꞉9 / 800×480;
- standard size 0.5 din, mirror image function, set of fasteners;
- The monitor is connected to the computer via a USB connector;
- the picture is acceptable; mechanics are smooth, quiet and precise; no noise;
- The equipment fits well into the interior.
Flaws:
- unpleasant button illumination;
- calibration is lost.
According to reviews: the device is worth the money - it lives up to expectations.
Ceiling
Envix D3122T/D3123T is a ceiling-mounted version of a car TV with a built-in DVD player and an analog tuner. The model is distinguished by its large diagonal dimensions and resolution. The interfaces are represented by 2 composite video inputs on a coaxial cable and 1 output. Supports 3 modes CD and DVD, and 5 formats, including MPEG4 and WMA. The kit includes 2 standard memory cards, a remote control, alternative lighting shades and headphones that operate using an infrared transmitter. Sound in the FM range is provided by the transmitter.
Advantages:
- D / G / F / R: 15 / 39.5|39.0|7.0 / 4꞉3 / 1024×768;
- Russified menu; USB port;
- high-quality assembly; functionality; high performance indicators; wide viewing range; angular screen adjustment;
- ease of use; optimal price.
Flaw:
According to reviews: no cons have been found (yet) - users recommend car video equipment.
Method of administration
- Built-in analog receiver. The weakest and most unreliable option. It perceives the signal well only near the source, and reacts poorly to movements.
- If the TV is equipped with a tuner, then the reception will be much better, clearer and will take longer. However, despite the signal amplification, the quality will not be very good, since work continues in analog mode. Various external obstacles and interference will play a big role.
- The digital receiver is capable of providing the highest image quality, stability and clarity of the TV. Of course, the new format has not yet covered the whole country, it is not equally good everywhere, but it allows you to watch a large number of channels. And literally every day it appears in new cities. Before buying a device with such a tuner, you should find out exactly how well these devices perceive digital signals in the region.
When leaving the main coverage area, for example, in the suburbs, you may need an antenna for your car TV. It will allow you to pick up signals over long distances.
Rating of the best car TVs
Many factors are taken into account to determine the best one. But nothing influences ratings more than the opinion of a user who wrote an objective review.
- Demand determined by reviews from owners of car TVs.
- Purpose and installation location: dashboard, dashboard, headrest, ceiling.
- Custom characteristics: diagonal size, format, extension.
- Picture and sound quality.
- Additional functions and factors: number of supported formats and built-in gadgets, variety of interface and type of tuner, availability of high-quality headphones, remote controls, joysticks.
- Reputation of the manufacturing company.
- Price, appearance, compatibility with the interior, durability, maintenance service.
Legend
| Designations | Units | Name |
| G | cm|cm|cm | Dimensions |
| F | width height | Format |
| R | pixels | Permission |
| IN | kg | Gadget weight |
| C | thousand ₽ | Price |
| D | inch(") | Diagonal size |
Location
First of all, you should decide where the TV will be located, as this will affect all other characteristics and requirements. The main options for placing the device in a car:
- Torpedoes. From the name it is absolutely clear where this device is installed. A TV located in this way will be convenient for those who spend a lot of time driving, especially in traffic jams.
- Ceiling. If the device is installed like this, then the driver will no longer be able to watch a movie in comfort, but all the amenities will be there for the passengers. Therefore, ceiling TVs are common in large cars, minivans and minibuses. It is also held in high esteem by those drivers who transport passengers, since the screen is clearly visible from any place. Another convenience is that the ceiling “box” can be folded flush with the ceiling when not in use and does not interfere with loading, and for viewing it can be folded back and hung in a vertical position.
- Dashboard. When the TV takes the place of the radio, it does not interfere, does not stand out, but it is only convenient for the driver and front passenger to watch it.
- The console will be located between the front seats. Its target audience is rear seat passengers. This option is convenient when transporting children.
- A small screen built into the headrest will also delight passengers. Moreover, a separate device can be installed in each headrest, therefore, everyone can watch the program to their taste.
- The TV in the sun visor is similar to the overhead TV, but is only useful for the front seat passenger. It is not visible from distant places.
Top 10 car TV models
XPX EA-701
Our rating opens with a portable portable model, which, if necessary, can be connected through a regular outlet. It has a swivel stand that is fairly stable, allowing you to simply place the TV directly on the front panel of the car. The TV is characterized by very compact dimensions thanks to the LCD screen, the diagonal of which is 7 inches (17.5 cm). The aspect ratio of the model is standard, like that of ordinary TVs - 16:9. The picture has a decent contrast ratio of 300:1. The resolution for such a small device is decent - 1024x600 pixels, a little short of HD format, but the image is still quite clear. Color reproduction is natural, colors are not distorted due to wide viewing angles of about 165 degrees.
The body of the product is made of high-quality plastic, the assembly is solid - all elements are carefully adjusted to each other. The frames around the display are quite wide, but this does not affect the quality of perception of what is happening on the screen. The TV is equipped with a telescopic antenna that works with an analog signal; it operates at frequencies from 48.25 MHz to 863.25 MHz. This allows it to receive all television channels broadcasting in our country. It is possible to connect an additional antenna (not included in the kit, you will have to purchase it yourself). There is a 3.5mm headphone jack and a standard USB jack. The TV has a built-in media player with which you can listen to music in .mp3 format, as well as watch movies in .mpeg-4, .wma, .avi and other resolutions.
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Advantages:
- Compact overall dimensions;
- There is a possibility of power supply from a household electrical network;
- Stable stand;
- Stable antenna operation;
- Built-in analog signal amplifier;
- There is a media player.
Flaws:
- The resolution is not too high, although with such a diagonal it is not too noticeable.
Blackview TDM-500
These products will be an excellent addition to almost any car. The TV has advanced functionality. The case is made of high-quality matte plastic, on which dirt and dust are not visible, and fingerprints do not remain. In addition, it is resistant to scratches and streaks. The display has a small visor, which increases viewing comfort when exposed to direct sunlight. You can use this product not only as a TV - you can connect a parking camera, DVR and many other devices to it. The thickness of the model is less than 2 cm. You can attach it to the dashboard using a small bracket that will firmly hold the TV in one position. The angle of inclination is adjusted manually; the hinge responsible for this is very rigid and does not become loose during operation.
The antenna is quite powerful, and a special signal amplifier is provided, so the television broadcast will be played back without any interference. In addition, there are two video inputs. Connects to the on-board network via the cigarette lighter socket. The set also includes a stand. Another important point is the ability to interrupt the broadcast and turn on the parking camera immediately after reverse gear has been engaged, making the parking process much more convenient and safer.
Advantages:
- Small overall dimensions;
- Stylish and very strict appearance;
- High quality materials and workmanship of the device;
- Long service life;
- Wide functionality.
Flaws:
- The screen diagonal is only 5 inches.
Digma DCM-350
By and large, this is not a TV, but a car monitor, from which a TV can be made by connecting an external antenna to it - a special socket is provided for this. The main thing that interested users in this model was its reasonable cost and small overall dimensions. The diagonal of the liquid crystal display is only 3.5 inches, so there is no need to talk about high picture quality, but it is not always necessary when watching TV programs on the go. The weight of the product is small, there is a special mount on the dashboard, which is highly stable. The product is housed in a case made of black plastic with a matte finish. The display resolution is 320x240 pixels – quite enough for watching programs. The number of captured channels directly depends on the power of the connected antenna. The product can also be used as a parking sensor when reversing.
Colors are rendered naturally, brightness is at a decent level. The screen aspect ratio is 4:3. It is connected exclusively to the on-board network; there is no power supply for operation from an outlet. It can be built into the car's electrical network or powered directly from the cigarette lighter.
Advantages:
- Full color liquid crystal display;
- High-quality assembly;
- Universal and very stable fastening.
Flaws:
- There is no built-in antenna or tuner;
- Low screen resolution.
Eplutus EP-101T
This is the first model in our review that is capable of working with the DVB-T2 digital broadcasting format, as it has a special compact tuner installed. The TV is universal and portable - it is perfect for installation not only in a car, but also in a small room, as it can be powered from the mains. The display diagonal is quite decent - 10 inches. The screen itself is liquid crystal, with wide viewing angles and natural color reproduction. All these factors allow you to create the most clear, rich and rich picture. The model has a fairly powerful antenna that can receive both digital and analog signals. There are several original connectors - in particular, this device is capable of working with SD memory cards.
The factory assembly is of very high quality, the control here is push-button - there is no remote control. The buttons are plastic, quite hard, and can be pressed until you hear a characteristic click. The driver does not have to be distracted from the road if he needs to change the channel: all buttons are easily detected by touch. If necessary, you can connect an ordinary analog antenna. It is possible to integrate a TV into the car's on-board network, and power from the cigarette lighter is also provided. The interface is very convenient, the menu is Russified. The speakers are not very powerful - the sound is quite quiet, so while driving you will have to listen to what is happening on the TV. However, this problem can be easily solved by connecting to the car's speaker system.
Advantages:
- Decent diagonal size;
- Good workmanship and assembly quality;
- Ability to work with analogue and digital broadcasting;
- The picture is quite clear and colorful;
- The device can be used even in small spaces.
Flaws:
- Weak built-in speakers.
AVEL AVS117
Quite large and massive products, which also have a decent weight, which is about 3 kg. The TV is designed specifically to be mounted to the ceiling of a car. In addition to a built-in digital tuner, it has an HDMI connector, USB and a slot for SD memory cards. The model has a large diagonal for a car TV, which is 17 inches with a resolution of 1440x900 pixels, which fully complies with the HD format. The signal reception is stable; if it weakens, then no interference will appear on the screen, since the signal initially passes through the built-in amplifier. The picture always turns out colorful and very clear. Moreover, the product is equipped with a built-in radio receiver and has decent viewing angles. It is worth noting that it can be built not only into the ceiling, but also into the sun visor. This TV has an LED indicator that lights up whenever the car door is opened.
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The built-in speakers will pleasantly surprise you, as they are quite powerful and capable of reproducing the entire frequency range. The TV also comes with a remote control so that the person riding in the back seat can change channels. The total power of the device is 15 W. However, there is no possibility of connecting through the cigarette lighter. The TV will have to be built into the car’s on-board network.
Advantages:
- Quite a large screen diagonal;
- Reliable fastening to the car ceiling;
- High quality picture and sound;
- Availability of a television signal amplifier.
Flaws:
- Decent price;
- There is no way to power the model through the cigarette lighter.
Hyundai H-LCD700
This is one of a line of car TVs developed by engineers of the world famous South Korean company. Options are presented in diagonals of 7, 9 and 10 inches. All of them are equipped with a built-in tuner and television signal amplifier, which allows them to provide high quality images regardless of reception conditions. In addition, the interface is represented by the presence of a large number of different connectors for working with external devices - SD, USB, AV, and so on. The device has a fairly powerful media player that is capable of working with most known audio and video formats. In addition, it provides support for PAL, NTSC and SECAM systems.
The case is made of plastic, has a matte coating, which protects well from the accumulation of dust and dirt. The display itself is liquid crystal and has LED backlighting, which makes it possible to significantly reduce power consumption. The TV can be connected to the on-board network via the cigarette lighter socket. In addition, it has a built-in lithium-ion battery, the operating reserve of which will be sufficient for continuous operation for 7-8 hours. The equipment is decent - a remote control, an external television antenna, and an AV cable are supplied with the TV. The viewing angles are very wide. The sound system includes two built-in stereo speakers that provide very powerful sound, so you don’t have to connect the TV to car speakers.
Advantages:
- The presence of a fairly capacious battery;
- Excellent build quality;
- The media player can work with various formats;
- Good built-in acoustics;
- Reliable fastening to the panel.
Flaws:
- Relatively high cost.
Eplutus EP-1019T
This is a TV that has one of the most powerful built-in batteries among the products presented on the Russian market. Its capacity is 3000 mAh, which is enough for a fairly long battery life of the device. In addition, the device has an average-sized display diagonal of 10.2 inches. The screen itself is full-color, liquid crystal with fairly decent viewing angles. Its resolution is 1280x800 pixels, which fully corresponds to the HD format. Manufacturers have equipped the design with a built-in tuner that allows you to work with digital television broadcasting in DVB-T and DVB-T2 formats; the product is also capable of receiving analog channels. The signal is always stable, there is no interference during viewing. There are stereo speakers with a total power of 4 W - for a car TV this is a pretty decent figure.
The aspect ratio of the display is the same as that of ordinary stationary TVs - 16:9. Manufacturers have equipped the gadget with a power supply that allows it to operate from a household electrical outlet. The TV has a built-in media player with which you can view photos in .jpeg, .bmp, .pmg formats, listen to music and watch videos or full-length films. Like most car TVs, this model has fairly wide frames, but they do not interfere with viewing or affect the picture quality.
Advantages:
- Overall dimensions are small;
- Functional media player;
- Powerful built-in tuner;
- Possibility of working from the network.
Flaws:
- The back panel is prone to scratches, so you should handle it with the utmost care.
Digma DCL-700
Rounding out the top three is a fairly cheap, but at the same time very high-quality model that can last for many years. It works exclusively with the television broadcast format; you won’t be able to watch movies or listen to music stored on a flash drive. The manufacturer focused specifically on television and installed absolutely all currently available elements in the product so that the quality of the signal and image is as high as possible. The case is made of plastic of increased rigidity, even with strong pressure on it there are no extraneous squeaks, rattles or other unpleasant sounds. It has a matte finish. The assembly is of high quality: the back panel fits tightly to the front, and between them you can see a gap of a few tenths of a millimeter.
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The display diagonal is 7 inches - not too much, but quite enough for watching programs, and besides, a TV of this size will not interfere with the front panel of the car. The stand is made of metal, the TV is mounted on it using a special screw. The kit includes a fairly compact antenna, which will be quite sufficient for receiving digital and analogue television. All buttons responsible for controlling the product are located on the front panel of the device. There is a built-in speaker system, which is characterized by a decent level of power. The sound in the cabin is quite powerful, and there is also a headphone output.
Advantages:
- Stylish appearance;
- Small sizes;
- Ergonomic location of control buttons;
- Ability to work with digital and analogue broadcasting.
Flaws:
- You won't be able to watch movies from a flash drive.
We understand the variety of car TVs from Digma
XPX EA-1016D
Despite the relatively large diagonal size - 10.8 inches, this product is not particularly large. First of all, users in their reviews note the thickness of the case: in this parameter, this model has surpassed all competitors - only 2.5 cm. The functionality of the device is quite wide - there is an original digital antenna, absolutely all options can be controlled remotely using the remote control. There are a large number of connectors, for example, for connecting a flash drive, memory card, additional external antenna of analog, digital or combined format. The picture has high clarity, contrast, and natural color rendition. I would especially like to note the black balance and white balance. The device can work offline – the capacity of the lithium-ion battery is 3000 mAh. The range with which the TV can operate is quite wide: the device is capable of catching absolutely all channels available on the air.
An advanced media player is built into the operating system of the device, which is capable of working with absolutely all widespread formats of photographs, audio and video. The search for channels is carried out completely automatically. There are slots for flash drives and memory cards. There is a very convenient release tab on the back panel. The menu is multilingual, Russian is supported. This product can also be used as an ordinary photo frame. The display resolution is 1024x768 – almost equivalent to the HD format, the contrast level is quite high – 300:1.
Advantages:
- Very thin model;
- Decent diagonal size of the product;
- Advanced interface;
- All functions can be controlled via the remote control;
- The latest version of the media player.
Flaws:
- The detachable foot does not always hold the structure stably.
Eplutus EP-172T
We decided to put this model in first place, largely due to the fairly decent diagonal size, which is as much as 17 inches - this is a very large size for a car TV. This product has everything you need to pass the time on a long journey. Like the most modern models, there is a tuner for working with digital broadcasting. The overall dimensions allow these products to be used not only in a car, but also in a small room, for example, in a kitchen, a nursery or a study. There is a cable with a cigarette lighter plug to connect to the car's electrical network. Many users note the excellent build quality of this product. Moreover, this model has support for anaglyph 3D video; the kit even comes with a pair of fairly simple glasses for watching movies in this format.
The built-in receiver is capable of working with DVB-T and DVB-T2 digital broadcasting. In addition, there is a fairly powerful radio receiver. Thanks to the HDMI connector, this TV can be used as a monitor for a personal computer. It’s not suitable for games - the response time is significant, but for work it’s quite suitable. The model has an electronic channel schedule. The kit includes a universal mount that allows you to install the device in any convenient place. If a flash drive is connected to the TV, you can record TV broadcasts onto it. The screen resolution is 1920x1080 - full HD format, with overall dimensions of 38x32x3.5 cm.
Advantages:
- Very wide functional side;
- Provides universal mounting;
- Large diagonal for a car TV.
Flaws:
- It is not always possible to find enough space in the car to install this model.
Stationary or not?
Another issue that needs to be considered before purchasing is the possibility of moving the TV inside the cabin (and not only). We are all accustomed to the fact that the TV practically does not move from its place; for example, we hung the ceiling one, and it stays in place. However, there are devices that do not conform to this dogma. Portable car TVs look very much like a tablet, but they are equipped with additional stands with Velcro that allow you to install the screens in a variety of places, tilt and rotate the monitors at almost any angle, so that everyone can watch comfortably. Portable TVs often have a wider viewing angle than stationary ones.
Which car TV to buy
Depending on the purpose dictating the installation location in the cabin, the options are as follows:
- center dashboard: PCM-750T from Prology;
- near the driver on the dashboard: H-LCD701 from Hyundai;
- behind the first row driver and passenger headrests: ER 9L from Ergo or L0241 from Envix;
- on the ceiling: D3122T/D3123T from Envix;
- in sun visor: DL 786C/TV;
- in the interior mirror: CL-700-TV from Starlight;
- instead of a headrest: AVS0944BM from AVIS.
In addition, thanks to its technical capabilities, mobile equipment can be used in rooms with a 220 V power supply or on a picnic near the lake.
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What do you need to watch TV in the car?
First of all, the car TV itself. In addition, most systems use antennas with signal amplifiers.
What is a car TV?
An ordinary portable TV of small size, which has outputs for connecting to a voltage of 12 V, can also become a car. There are different types of such TVs: more modern ones, with a liquid crystal screen, and older ones with a kinescope. Purely automotive systems include systems where an LCD monitor is installed separately, to which a TV tuner is connected: a device for receiving a television signal. Here you can build in your own monitor, and connect the tuner to an existing standard one.
In addition, there are special ceiling TVs, which are a folder with an opening screen. For passenger cars, as a rule, TVs have screens with a diagonal of 7 to 17 inches. In minivans and minibuses, larger models can be installed - up to 40 inches.
What is the functionality of car TVs?
In general, it is the same as for ordinary apartments. Let us note only a couple of features. Car TVs use the picture-in-picture function much less often due to the size of the screen. And on the contrary: the function of freezing the picture is becoming more and more common, which freezes when the signal disappears, like in a video. This gives greater viewing comfort: the video channel is more susceptible to motion noise than audio, so by stopping the picture for a few frames, you can save the sound and listen to the news normally, despite the fact that the image will be somewhat delayed.
What channels can you watch in the car?
Let's start with the fact that initially there is digital (not to be confused with satellite) and analogue television. Analogue is about 15 main channels: the same as on your home TV. Digital television is still not widespread in Russia. In Moscow there are several commercial broadcasting channels, and in St. Petersburg the weaker transmitter is compensated by the presence of 5 non-commercial channels. Analogue television provides acceptable sound quality, but picture quality in suburban areas leaves much to be desired. Digital television provides a fairly high quality of image and sound, but its reliable reception area is much smaller than that of analogue television. However, to view it you need a digital TV tuner.
Is it possible to do without an additional antenna?
Portable models have their own antenna, but it is only enough to watch programs while sitting in a car within the visibility range of the TV tower. You won’t be able to watch TV either outside the city or while driving without an additional antenna.
Where and how can I install a TV in the cabin?
Portable LCD TVs, in principle, can be located anywhere in the cabin. Often, the TV comes with brackets that allow you to place it on the dashboard, hang it from the back of the front seat headrest, or hang it on the sun visor. Ceiling models are mounted, respectively, on the ceiling, in place of the lampshade, or in the space between the front seats.
How are TVs connected?
Portable car TVs, as a rule, have a plug connector for plugging into the cigarette lighter socket. Systems where the monitor and tuner are installed separately are connected locally to the low-voltage 12 V mains directly. For ceiling models, lamp power cables are used.
What can you connect to your car TV?
DVD player, rear view camera, parking sensors that support animation, navigation system, including one that works in Russia, and a game console.
Who makes car TVs?
The most famous ones whose products are presented on our market include Alpine, Kenwood, LG, Philips, Prology, Samsung and Sharp. Well, a whole sea of Chinese and Taiwanese goods.
How much does a car TV cost?
Prices for portable LCD TVs plugged into the cigarette lighter start at RUB 3,000. The cost of the antenna is from 1,100 rubles. and higher. A purely car monitor + tuner kit will cost 5,000-7,000 at a minimum, and 30,000 rubles at a maximum. and more (depending on the complexity of the installation). For a ceiling TV they will ask from 15,000 rubles.
Is it legal to have a TV in a car under traffic regulations?
In any case, it is not prohibited: Russian traffic regulations say nothing about video or audio systems in a car. The TV is subject to a general requirement for items transported in the cabin - it should not physically interfere with visibility from the driver’s seat and interfere with control. The question of whether the TV on the dashboard should be turned off while driving or not is not specified in the rules.
Additional options
A car LCD TV can not only receive a signal, but also play discs, music from flash cards, etc. However, all this should be foreseen at the purchase stage, since you can purchase the simplest device with a tuner that will pick up TV transmission, or you can choose a more complex model.
For example, it would be nice if the monitors have additional outputs for connecting a DVD player. Then you can have your own video library in the car or show your child cartoons on a long journey.
The best mobile car TVs
Installed on the dashboard
Hyundai H-LCD701 is a portable LCD panel with a tuner, a plastic rubberized body and a telescopic antenna. Supports the MPEG4 system and 3 TV broadcasting standards, plays 4 formats, including MP3, and is controlled on the touch panel or remote control. Equipped with a USB port, AV input, headphone jack, slot for SD/MMC (memory cards), power adapters. Mirror and inverted displays are possible, as well as viewing along 2 vectors at an angle of 120°. The 128 channels that are received are tuned in automatically.
Advantages:
- D / G / F / R / V: 7 / 18.5|12.0|1.9 / 16꞉9 / 480×234 / 0.4;
- stand, headphones, remote control, shutdown timer;
- inscriptions in Russian, the ability to be powered either from a cigarette lighter or from a 220 V network, compatible with a rear view camera;
- multifunctionality, solid equipment, excellent picture quality, sound without distortion;
- convenient fastening, reasonable price, stylish design.
Car TV - what is it?
Just a couple of decades ago, using a TV in a car was impossible. These devices had a kinescope based on a cathode ray tube and had a decent size. Portable models, of course, fit somewhere on the passenger seat. But it was unrealistic to power such a TV, because it required full 220 V.
With the advent of LCD TVs, everything changed. Their thickness has been reduced to a quite acceptable 10-15 cm. Now almost any TV can be installed in the car interior. Some people even mount a 30-inch LCD panel! For example, this can be done inside an SUV by placing the screen in the back of the rear seat. But real car digital TVs, of course, do not have such a large diagonal. They involve simple installation and watching a video for a short time. The screen diagonal of such TVs varies from 6 to 12 inches. Installing larger devices may already cause some problems.
Car TVs are divided into three categories:
- Ordinary small TVs - they differ from their older brothers only in their miniature display and installation method. Some models are so small that they are held on the dashboard using a vacuum suction cup! Also, such devices are mounted using a bracket to the roof of the cabin. In short, there can be many installation options - it all depends on the type of car and the desires of the owner.
- A headrest TV is a separate class of miniature devices. These TVs are little larger than a regular smartphone. Their main drawback is that the driver and the passenger next to him will not be able to watch the video. Such devices almost never receive advanced functionality; they often do not even have a TV tuner.
- A TV in the form of a rear-view mirror is a very simplified device. It can only be called a TV conditionally, since the device most often does not include a TV tuner or any large number of connectors. And in terms of the power of its components, such a gadget is comparable to some kind of GPS navigator in the form of the same rear-view mirror. And such a device will not produce the most contrasting picture - the layer with the mirror interferes with this.
As for how much a car TV costs, reviews of which are mostly positive, we are usually not talking about the largest sums. Still, this is not a smartphone or laptop, which contain very powerful and expensive components. The exact numbers depend on the size of the device, configuration, and its capabilities. In particular, you can easily buy a car TV for 6-7 thousand rubles. And if you have a Bentley, then you can get confused by ordering a device from abroad with a gold-plated case and a leather remote control. It is clear that such a purchase will cost tens of times more.
TV in a car without a TV tuner?!
It would seem that any TV must have a TV tuner, otherwise it is impossible to watch TV channels! However, car TVs are an exception to the rule. Many of them simply do not have room for a TV tuner. In this regard, it would be more correct to call them car monitors. But for this you need to create a separate product category, and this takes a long time, and buyers will get confused... In short, many online stores call absolutely all devices designed for viewing video content inside the car as car TVs, even if TV channels cannot be received using such a device.
Interestingly, the presence of a TV tuner does not mean anything. You must first clarify whether it is analog or digital. Yes, there are still car TVs on store shelves that can only pick up an analog signal. In principle, you can watch television this way. But only for now - someday in our country the broadcast of analogue TV will definitely be turned off. After this, watching TV channels will only be possible using a set-top box. However, we must admit that people in the car are much more likely to watch what is stored on a USB flash drive or memory card.
Surprisingly, the presence of a digital TV tuner does not mean anything. Some models of car TVs were released quite a long time ago - more than four to five years ago. Such devices can only support the DVB-T standard. Its broadcast in Russia lasted a very short time and has now been discontinued. In short, you definitely won’t be able to catch a digital signal on such a TV. If this is very important to you, then you need a car TV with DVB-T2. And this is a very rare occurrence - it is almost impossible to find such TVs in Russian stores.
By the way, many portable TVs, which we wrote about in a separate article, can also be considered automobile ones. Often these words mean the same thing.
Best Car Headrest Monitor
AVEL AVS0943T
This TV needs to be mounted in place of your favorite headrest. Please note that the device is painted black. If your seat is beige or some other color, then buying such a TV is pointless.
In fact, this product is a regular monitor equipped with a 9-inch screen. The device does not have a TV tuner, so watching TV channels in any form is impossible. But there is a DVD player here! If you don’t want to buy discs, you can put the video material on a memory card (MMC and SD) or USB flash drive.
This model collects a lot of positive reviews on the global web. However, some people will consider the device outdated. The fact is that the display of this monitor has a very modest resolution (800 x 480 pixels). And the software is unlikely to please you - it is not capable of playing any heavy files.
Advantages:
- A large number of video inputs;
- Convenient use;
- There is a USB port and a memory card slot;
- Built-in DVD player;
- The remote control has a wide coverage angle.
Flaws:
- The driver will not have access to the TV;
- There is no TV tuner;
- Low screen resolution;
- There is no support for MKV files.
