Car stereos have come a long way in a short period of time. The stock stereo that came installed in my 2007 Ford van had two knobs and listed “the ability to store AM and FM stations” as a feature. Modern stereos are essentially touchscreen computers that allow drivers to make phone calls, listen to text messages, get directions, and play music without taking their eyes off the road and, in many cases, their hands off the steering wheel.
Up until now the easiest way to add things like Bluetooth and navigation to an older vehicle was to upgrade the stereo, which can be difficult and/or expensive to do. Now, with the JOY-1026, vehicle owners can add “smart” features to their otherwise “dumb” stereos quickly and easily.
According to their website, Sjoybring’s JOY-1026 is a “portable smart multimedia dashboard console with dual cameras.” It’s not a description that rolls off the tongue, but after using the JOY-1026 for about a week, it makes sense. The device features so many options that it’s difficult to decide where too begin and which to discuss first.
At its core, the JOY-1026 is a smart touchscreen device that connects to car stereos via Bluetooth, a 3.5mm (headphone) aux cable, or an FM transmitter. This allows owners to stream music, make phone calls, use navigation maps and access Siri through any vehicle’s stereo. And if the speakers in your vehicle are garbage or you don’t have a working stereo, the JOY-1026 has built-in speakers.
The JOY-1026 supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both of which display your smartphone’s apps on the device’s surprisingly large touchscreen. I connected my iPhone 15 Pro Max to the JOY-1026 via Bluetooth and was able to access all my navigation apps (Apple Maps, Google Maps, Waze) as well as my music apps (Apple Music, PlexAmp, Spotify, Pandora) and other apps like Apple Podcasts and Downcast.
Additionally the JOY-1026 supports Apple AirPlay and Android Cast. Unlike CarPlay, AirPlay requires a WiFi connection between your phone and the JOY-1026. Once established, users can mirror their phone’s screen directly onto the JOY-1026. This allows owners to access many apps that are not compatible with CarPlay. Not all apps are compatible with AirPlay and some (like Netflix and many video streaming services) specifically prevent it from working, but I was able to stream video from YouTube, Twitch, and Plex from my phone to the JOY-1026. Watching videos while driving is illegal in most places and isn’t a good idea in general, but every parent who has spent time sitting in a vehicle waiting for their kid to get out of school will appreciate the feature.
In addition to its phone-connectivity features, the JOY-1026 includes two cameras: one front facing and one rear facing. The front facing camera is built into the backside of the device and faces the road ahead. The rear facing camera is actually a wired backup camera that will require installation. The cameras offer three resolution settings: 720p/720p, 1080p/1080p, and 2.5k/720p. The JOY-1026 includes a removable 64GB TF (Micro-SD) card for saving videos and photos. Like most car-based cameras, videos are split in either one minute, three minute, or five minute chunks, and once the card is full the device deletes the oldest video file to make room for a new one. Video files are stored in .TS format which can be played in VLC and most major video players.
Sjoybring’s JOY-1026 retails for $249, but with this link you can get $50 off bringing the total down to $199.99. Even with the discount that’s a lot of money and so the question is, is it worth it?
The short answer is, if you have an older stereo and want Bluetooth, smart phone capabilities, and cameras, the answer is a resounding yes.
Not all cars support double-DIN stereos, and not all cars that do are simple to upgrade. The touchscreen stereos on Amazon that include CarPlay cost around $200 and while many of those include a rear backup camera, none come with a front facing camera and few (if any) support Apple AirPlay and come with the DVR features of the JOY-1026. Additionally, installation of those stereos will require a wiring harness and a bezel. To get those features you would need to add something like the Vantrue N2 Pro, which my wife recently purchased for $169. With both of those devices we’re up to nearly $400 (twice the discounted price of the JOY-1026) with a lot more work and still not have all the features.
i spent a few days using the JOY-1026 in my car. It only took a couple of minutes to connect everything via Bluetooth, attach the device to my dash and start using it. I was able to use Siri to obtain directions, play music on Spotify, listen to podcasts and more. If you have a “dumb” older stereo and want to make it smart, the JOY-1026 from Sjoybring will do it.
$50 Discount Link: Sjoybring.com
