2016 BRZ Panlelo Android Head Unit: 7 Months Later
The BRZ's owner, several months in, still likes the $200 Panlelo: little lag for music, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS, a clean look, steadier Bluetooth than the stock StarLink, and real apps instead of a paid, clunky Subaru subscription.
Full video (3 min): $200 Android Head unit 7 Months Later - Still worth it? (Panlelo) · John's YouTube channel
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The BRZ's owner, several months in, still likes the $200 Panlelo: little lag for music, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS, a clean look, steadier Bluetooth than the stock StarLink, and real apps instead of a paid, clunky Subaru subscription. This 3 min guide covers the Follow-up on the BRZ Panlelo Android head unit after several months of daily use (the video.
Overview
John asks the BRZ's owner how the Android head unit has held up after several months. She still likes it: little lag, and she uses it mostly for music, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and even GPS. Guests notice the radio first and say it looks really clean. The only con she mentions is that calls can be a little hard to hear while driving — something she has also heard about other head units. Overall it still works great, with no other issues, and it's her favorite head unit so far. She would definitely take it over the stock Subaru StarLink: the factory Bluetooth cut in and out, while this one stays connected; stock iHeart Radio and Pandora felt clunky and slow, while these are real, faster apps; and features you had to pay for on StarLink, including GPS with a monthly subscription, come included here. The description's first buy link is a tagged Amazon page for a current universal head unit.
Vehicle & fitment
- Product
- Panlelo / universal Android head unit (tagged Amazon link in the description for a current universal unit; this is the $200 BRZ Panlelo from the earlier review)
- Shown on
- Subaru BRZ with the factory StarLink radio replaced by a Panlelo Android head unit (the same $200 unit from the 2016 BRZ Panlelo review)
- Follow-up on the BRZ Panlelo Android head unit after several months of daily use (the video title says seven months; they picked the unit up in April)
- The stock radio being replaced is Subaru StarLink, which had GPS only with a paid monthly subscription
- This is an owner's impressions interview, not a new dash-out install
Always confirm fitment for your exact year and trim with the seller before buying.
Tools & parts
Tools
Parts
- Panlelo / universal Android head unit already installed in the BRZ
Video chapters
Step by step
- 1
Several months later, still little lag▶ 0:22
The owner has had the unit for several months and still likes it. She doesn't get a lot of lag, and she uses it for music, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS. People who sit in the car notice the head unit first and say it looks really clean.
- 2
Calls can be hard to hear on the move▶ 0:52
The only con she mentions is that phone calls can be a little hard to hear while driving — a quality issue she says a lot of head units have. Otherwise it still works great, with no other issues, and it's her favorite so far.
- 3
Better than stock StarLink Bluetooth and apps▶ 1:12
She would definitely buy this over the stock radio. Factory Bluetooth cut in and out; this one stays connected. Stock iHeart Radio and Pandora felt clunky and slow; these are real, more optimized apps.
- 4
GPS without a StarLink subscription▶ 1:56
Some stock features had to be paid for. The factory radio had GPS, but only with a monthly subscription — she calls that kind of dumb. On this unit those features come included. The stock radio was Subaru StarLink.
Wiring notes
- No wiring in this follow-up — the Panlelo is already installed. This is the owner's long-term impressions versus the stock Subaru StarLink radio.
Get the parts
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links are affiliate links.
FAQ
What vehicle does this head unit fit?
It is shown for the Follow-up on the BRZ Panlelo Android head unit after several months of daily use (the video title says seven months; they picked the unit up in April). The stock radio being replaced is Subaru StarLink, which had GPS only with a paid monthly subscription Always confirm your exact year, trim and factory audio with the seller.
How long does the install take?
John's full video is 3 min. Plan on that much time for a careful DIY install, plus extra if you are new to dash work.
What tools do I need?
Basic hand tools and a plastic trim tool cover most of this install; see the Tools section for the full list.
Does it support wireless CarPlay or Android Auto?
Check the product listing for wired vs wireless CarPlay / Android Auto before you buy; John shows what worked in the video.
Where do I get the parts?
Use the buy links on this page for the unit and any harnesses John used. Some links are affiliate links.
Is this beginner-friendly?
The guide breaks the job into 4 steps with timestamps into the video. If you can remove trim panels carefully, you can follow along.
Full transcript
Show the full transcript (13 lines) +
0:22what are your thoughts on your Android head unit so how I feel about this is I've had it for several months already and I really like it cuz I don't get a lot of lag when I use it I use it mostly for music Bluetooth Wi-Fi and even GPS
0:40and every time when someone sits in my car and they look at my setup they the first thing that they look at is this head unit and they're like wow it looks really clean it's really nice the only cons I've had some times when I call
0:55with this head unit it's a little hard to hear especially when I'm driving but a lot of head units have that kind of quality so for overall I still like it it still works great I don't have any issues with it and yeah it's my favourite head unit
1:12so far do you recommend this overstock like would you buy this over your stock head unit um definitely yes because a stock one I've had issues with the sake head unit just because the Bluetooth was really bad cuts in and out this one the Bluetooth just stays connected I haven't
1:29had it disconnected and that's the only bad thing about this suck yeah and this has apps your stock head unit had apps to retry to use the stock app units it was so slow it was really slow using the
1:30the only bad thing about this
1:33Yeah and this has apps. Your stock head unit has apps too. We try to use the
1:39stock app units. It was so slow. It was really slow using the stock
1:44one and stuff like what was it like the iHeart Radio Pandora. It was just
1:51really clunky and slow where this is like a real app so it's a very optimized
1:56right. Not to mention some of the stuff that you can use on the stock head unit
2:01head unit you actually have to pay for this just comes for free everything is connected to it yeah so the stock one for this year it had GPS but you would have to buy it and a monthly subscription which is kind of dumb it's
2:16it was StarLink radio from Subaru yeah there it is [Music]
Machine-transcribed from the full-length video and lightly cleaned (product names fixed). Watch the video for exact wording.
Next step
