Pioneer AVH W4400NEX

Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX In Dash Multimedia Receiver with 7″ WVGA Clear Resistive Touchscreen Display.

Pioneer AVH W4400NEX Review

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Even for experienced automotive audio aficionados, choosing just the right car entertainment system can quickly turn into a proper drag.

There’s an almost ridiculous amount of saturation present in this niche, and separating the wheat from the chaff has – arguably – never been more exhausting. Perhaps this Pioneer AVH W4400 NEX review will point you in the right direction, however.

One of Pioneer’s newer double-DIN stereo units, AVH W4400 NEX is a stellar offering all around, though certain parts of it may feel a tad long in the tooth at this point. That said, reliability comes first with vehicles, and this product is nothing if not reliable.

Down below, you’ll find a comprehensive overview of all the information we could offer about Pioneer AVH W4400NEX. Features, gadget compatibility, specifications, box contents, and a handy list of pros and cons of the device. You get the gist of it.

The bottom line, though, you’ll find right here: if you’re on the fence about getting a double-DIN car entertainment unit, AVH W4400NEX should definitely be a serious contender for the proverbial throne.

Quick Overview

Graced with a 7’’ resistive touchscreen display, Pioneer AVH W4400NEX might not use the absolute cutting-edge tech when it comes to presentation, but there’s not much else we could ask for, either.

The device offers all the amenities you could ask for. In fact, not only will AVH W4400NEX play just about any kind of media you could throw at it, but it’s also going to do so with impeccable quality, thanks to its ability to play lossless FLAC audio, which we don’t see all that often.

Pioneer also offers full SiriusXM integration, as well as solid compatibility with modern mobile devices. Pandora and Spotify, for example, should both work out-of-the-box on W4400NEX.

Further, this double-DIN unit can also be connected to your car’s AVIC-U280 – if available – and function as a fully-fledged navigation module if you want it to.

Better yet, it’s even compatible with iDatalink Maestro, if you’re not keen on losing factory features for your Chrysler, Ford, GM, or Volkswagen vehicle. This is extremely handy for those who’ve already gotten used to their cars’ default infotainment units, but want or need to make the switch.

Naturally, Pioneer AVH W4400NEX offers WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity modes, as well as the more traditional (i.e. cumbersome) wired connections.

That ought to paint a clear picture by now. Surely, it’s obvious that this offering from Pioneer doesn’t make many compromises when it comes to functionality. We’ve got more details on the device’s feature-set below, but before we get to that, let’s take a look at what’s inside the box.

What’s in the Box?

You may be surprised by the fact that Pioneer AVH W4400NEX comes in a box that’s positively loaded with extra goodies that a less prominent manufacturer would probably have foregone.

From a handy carrying case all the way to patches of two-sided tape, there’s not much else you could ask for.

  • Owner’s Manual
  • Quick-Start Guide
  • Installation Manual
  • Warranty information
  • USB Type-C Phone note
  • Apple CarPlay note
  • DVD receiver – 10A fuse
  • 6.95’’ touchscreen monitor – comes pre-installed
  • Wiring harness
  • AV/pre-out harness
  • GPS antenna  – comes with an 11.5’ cable attached
  • CD-R33 remote control device
  • CR2025 3V lithium battery – comes pre-installed in the remote
  • 58’’ USB extension cable
  • Microphone with a bracket – comes with a pre-attached 13’ cable with a right-angle 2.5mm connector
  • Two-sided tape
  • Wire-tie
  • 6x pan-head ISO screws (M5x6mm)
  • 6x flat-head ISO screws (M5x6mm)
  • Carrying case
  • 3x self-adhesive clips
  • A full sheet of self-adhesive labels

As we said – there’s a lot of stuff included, and it’s hard not to be thrilled by the fact that Pioneer thought about virtually everything here.

Naturally, if you’re going to use double-sided tape specifically, you may want to stick with a brand that you’ve already got experience with. Otherwise, there’s precious little to complain about here.

Key Features

Solid Screen, Simple UI

Resistive screens may well be extremely passé in 2021, but you’ll be happy to hear that AVH W4400NEX isn’t even half as bad as the technology might imply. Sure, you do need to press harder than you would on a phone, but it is what it is.

Media playback itself is far better than it has any right to be on a 7-inch WVGA display; especially one that’s stuck at a measly-sounding 800×480 resolution. Yet, there’s little to take issue with here. It just works, and it doesn’t look half bad at all.

The UI, too, might look like it’s still stuck in 2015, but there’s much to enjoy about a simple and neat Android-looking interface. After all, this is a car infotainment unit: simplicity is ideal.

Stellar Integration

The last thing you want and need is for your brand-spanking-new double-DIN to do away with some features your car may have had in its factory-default state.

Pioneer AVH W4400NEX can, thankfully, hook up to virtually every automotive standard interface you might have access to. From AVIC-U280 for navigation integration to the exceedingly handy iDataLink Maestro, it’s hard to go wrong with this unit.

And that’s without even referencing the surface-level WiFi, Bluetooth, and physical interactions with your gadgets. Android and Apple phones will both interface with W4400NEX through a variety of formats, and reliable voice control ensures minimum fuss with maximum enjoyment.

Great Media Support

Pioneer AVH W4400NEX supports just about every popular media format under the sun. We feel confident in saying that the vast majority of media you have will play basically right away.

This means that you can stream music from your Spotify or Pandora subscriptions when you feel like it, or reach into your vintage collection of goodies when that’s more appropriate. Easy as pie.

Specifications : Compatibility

Down below, we’ve assembled a handy spec sheet and media compatibility list for you to peruse if you need them.

Pioneer AVH W4400NEX Spec Sheet

  • Detachable 7’’ WVGA resistive motorized touchscreen
  • Double-DIN installation footprint
  • Fully customizable Pioneer UI/UX
  • Compatible with both Apple and Android devices
  • Supports audio playback from CDs, DVDs, SDs, and USBs
  • Plays lossless FLAC (up to 192kHz/24-bit)
  • Compatible with most standard auto-expansion and customization formats (SiriusXM, AVIC-U280, iDatalink Maestro)
  • Internal 14 Watts RMS/50 peak x 4 channel amp
  • 13-band graphic equalizer
  • Comes with a remote control
  • Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth
  • Voice control (on compatible integrated devices)
  • Can connect to up to two auto camera devices
  • Offers GPS integration
  • Two USB ports
  • Single SD-card slot

Pioneer AVH W4400NEX Compatibility

As was mentioned before, AVH W4400NEX is fully compatible with both Android and Apple devices, and you should have no problems using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, depending on what OS you might be using.

Of course, you will want to confirm that your device supports these features in the first place, but other than that, chances are that you’re in for a smooth ride.

Pros
Cons

FAQ

Yes, absolutely. There are two USB ports available, which means you can charge up to two devices simultaneously. You will, of course, need to supply your own cables.

The device supports up to two external cameras, so if you have them, getting them plugged in should be all you need to do for them to work.

The Pioneer AVH W4400NEX is a double-DIN unit, so it should fit most relatively modern vehicles without issue.

You’ll be happy to hear that this device supports virtually every type of modern media you might have. CDs and DVDs included.

While you may need to plug in an additional cable or two, or perhaps use iDatalink Maestro to recover specific firmware features, AVH W4400NEX does indeed offer support for integrated steering wheel controls.

Whether that’s a simple or involved process, however, will depend entirely on the make and model of your vehicle.

Final Verdict

All in all, Pioneer AVH W4400NEX might not be perfect, but it offers a whole lot of bang for your buck.

Even though the technology at the heart of this unit is no spring chicken, it definitely holds up in day-to-day use, and outside of fringe wireless connectivity issues (some of which are bound to be resolved by the currently available firmware update), there’s not much else we could rightly complain about.

If you’re looking for a new double-DIN infotainment device for your vehicle, we believe that Pioneer AVH W4400NE should, at the very least, be one of the options you’re considering.

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