Review on SCU MAXCON Carplay Android Bluetooth RCD360 by Eddie Pollard

Original review: This radio is an upgrade for my 2012 GTI which originally had an RCD 510. I'm very happy with the look as it looks completely stock. It is important to note that the RCD330 Plus does not have access to the Sirius XM radio. This wasn't a problem for me as Apple CarPlay was the main reason I bought this device and I can still stream XM using the Sirius app on my phone. The device looked brand new with no scratches. Installation was easy. Everything worked according to the plug-and-play principle. Just make sure you order the correct antenna adapter, also available from Revain. All buttons on my steering wheel work. I noticed that the USB port is active when the car is off, but there were no battery drain issues. The only issue I've noticed is that CarPlay can be a bit buggy. I have no problems with my phone in my other car so I know it must be this device. From time to time the audio from my phone cuts out. Sometimes it happens in the middle of a move. In other cases, the problem occurs as soon as I connect my phone. CarPlay works correctly on the screen, but the music from my phone doesn't play through the car speakers. Removing and replacing the USB cable always solves the problem immediately, but it's annoying. I've tried using regular cables and official Apple cables but the crashes persist. Another annoying thing is the rear camera. Since I don't have such a camera in my car, the radio gives a warning that the camera is not active. Sometimes the warning goes away when I start the car, but most of the time it doesn't go away. I have to press X to manually close the message. Overall, despite the hiccups, accessing CarPlay with a stock-looking head unit is well worth the small outlay. I'm in no way an Apple fan, but for me the CarPlay UI offers a better user experience than any other modern car I've driven. Update 12/29/2019 I just upgraded my rating from 3 to 4 stars. . After about a month of use, I realized why CarPlay was buggy. My phone was still connected to the OEM Bluetooth module. After permanently disconnecting from Bluetooth in the car and only relying on the USB connection to the radio, all audio interference stopped. The only reason I'm not giving five stars is because the radio is constantly looking for a backup camera. Since my GTI 2012 doesn't have it, I have to manually clear the alert by pressing X on the screen when CarPlay is active. Normally, if CarPlay is not used, the warning message will disappear by itself when the vehicle speed exceeds 24 km/h.