The 10 Best TVs for Cars in 2022
Portable options for Netflix, Wi-fi, Bluetooth and more
Buying a TV for your car used to be a luxury few could afford.
But today, there are a ton of affordable, high-quality, and flexible devices that can work for streaming, games, and more.
Whether you’re looking for a car TV for kids, adults, or both, we’ve broken down the main types of TVs to installing in your car.
If you’re new to the world of car TVs, don’t fret, we’ve included plenty of detail on what to look for depending on your needs just below.
- Overall Best Car TV: NAVISKAUTO 10.1″ Dual Car Monitors
- Best Premium TV for Cars: A AINAVI 13.3″ Android Screen
- Best Budget TV for Cars: WONNIE 10.5” Dual Screen
- Cheapest Screens – Best Car TV for Babies & Young Kids: FANGOR 7.5’’ Dual Car DVD Player
Best Car Overhead TVs
- Best Overhead Car TV: Pyle Overhead Display
- Best Car TV for Gaming: XTRONS TFT Screen
Best Portable DVD Players/Monitors
- Best Portable Monitor: KYY Portable Display
- Best Portable DVD Player: WONNIE DVD Player
Best Tablet + Car Mount Combos
- Best Cheap Tablet for Car Trips: Fire 7 Tablet
- Overall Best Tablet for Car Journies: Fire HD 10 Kids Pro
- Best Car TV mount: WANPOOL Headrest Holder
Best Headphones for Car Trips
- Best Cheap Headphones for Car Trips: Sony MDR-ZX110
- Best Premium Headphones for Car Trips: Anker Soundcore Life
A quick word on low-quality car TVs
Before we start, we wanted to make our readers aware of the emergence of low-quality, cheap-manufacturer offerings in the car TV market.
There are plenty of great portable screens on offer, but we also came across many overpriced (borderline scams) in our searches.
Where possible, stick to the recommendations we’ve provided below. But if you want to stray to other picks, make sure there is already a large positive reception online (it’s easy for scammers to fake a few good reviews).
Now, let’s get to it!
Types of Car TVs
Today’s feature is broken down into 4 different types of Car TV screens – follow the links to the ones you are most interested in:
- Headrest Car TVs: This is the type of display we would recommend to most users. Often sold in pairs, these are made to wrap around the back of your front seats to provide backseat passenger entertainment. They’re also one of the cheaper options (with premium types available).
Jump to headrest car TVs - Car Overhead TV: As the name implies, these monitors are typically installed on the inner roof of your vehicle (usually between the 2 front seats). This is a good option if you want your kids/backseat passengers to watch the same content (often the best choice for those after a gaming TV for the car). It’s also the best alternative if the back of your front seats aren’t suitable for mounting screens (most sturdy seats are, unless you are the type of front passenger who is constantly adjusting their position).
We would recommend headrest car TVs first as the installation is much simpler and they tend to be more affordable compared to car roof TVs.
Jump to car overhead TVs - Portable DVD Players/Monitor: If you want something that can be moved easily and/or used for other purposes (e.g. a monitor in your hotel room during a car trip) then a portable screen may be your best bet (as long as you’re happy for it to not be mounted).
Jump to portable DVD monitors/players - Tablet + Car Mount Combo: If you’re focussed on getting a car TV for kids/babies, you may want to consider picking up a tablet (or use ones you already own) in combination with separate car mounts. These may cost a little more upfront, but having the tablets for your kids to use at other points provides a lot more value overall.
Jump to car tablets
The best car headrest TVs
This first offering we’ll be reviewing is a smaller type of TV (usually 7-13″) that are designed to be strapped or mounted to the back of your front seats to provide each backseat passenger with a screen for Netflix, Disney+, DVDs, etc (streaming is limited to the premium options).
These are the most popular type of car TV screens and the ones we recommend for a majority of our readers, due to their:
- Low cost compared to other options.
- A competitive market means the top products are of a decent picture and build quality
- Included mounts are usually flexible for a wide range of seats
- Designed for individual usage (often sold in discounted pairs) they’re better if you’re looking for a car TV for multiple passengers (e.g. 2 kids sitting in the back who want to watch different shows)
- They often come with all the necessary extras (wiring setups, headphones, etc.)
NAVISKAUTO 10.1" Dual Car Monitors
Overall Best Car TV
SPECIFICATIONS*
Screen Size: 10.1″ | Extras Included: Remote + headphones (x2) | DVD player: Yes | Memory Options: USD/SD up to 128GB | Battery: Car charger-powered | Controls: Buttons & remote
Our score: 95%
REASONS TO BUY
+ Fantastic value
+ Good warranty and support
+ Serviceable quality for kids
+ DVD & memory card options for storage
REASONS TO AVOID
Kicking off our top picks is a choice that we think is what many of our readers will have in mind on their search for the best TV for car trips.
This Naviskauto offering is a pair of 10.1″ monitors with all of the necessities bundled. That includes 2 pairs of headphones (their quality isn’t mind-blowing, but are a serviceable value-add for car entertainment).
The screen is at a decent resolution for the device’s size and boasts some decent UI to play movies/TV shows.
The included DVD player isn’t just decent and lightweight, but also designed to mirror across both devices (in other words, you can set one DVD up to play on both screens for multiple passengers).
We’re also pleased to see the device includes up to 32GB storage for SD/USB content – On top of this, it supports MP4s up to 1080p. This is one of the value-adds of this offering over some of our cheaper picks directly below (which may support SD card movies, but not necessarily full HD or the most common file types, meaning you may have to convert some content before watching).
One disappointment here (even though it’s fairly universal across similar devices) is that the screen mirroring only works for DVD content. If you’re playing movies from the SD card, you’ll have to set up SD cards in both of the devices instead of being able to mirror from one.
The displays also have decent ports available, most notably HDMI-in, meaning you could as easily play content from a phone/laptop/tablet (providing you have the right cables to connect each).
There are quite a few similar dual-monitor offerings out there, so what makes us rate this one the highest?
Overall, we think the NAVISKAUTO hits the sweet spot between price, included extras, screen quality, and memory upgrade options.
Finally, their warranty and customer service have been well-received by a huge array of previous customers. Don’t underestimate the importance of this: although the included car mounts are well received, there is no such thing as a 100% universal car mount, so having a supplier that seems to be (from previous customer experiences) willing to provide alternate mounts is a great bonus add (warranty also helps when you’re buying something intended for kids/babies!).
Simply put, the NAVISKAUTO is the best all-around choice; there are certainly other great options throughout this feature, but if you’re looking for simplicity and value (without going too cheap), these are the best headrest TV screens we’d recommend to you.
A AINAVI 13.3" Android Screen
Best Premium TV for Cars
SPECIFICATIONS
Screen Size: 13.3″ | Extras Included: USB Flash drive | DVD player: No | Memory Options: 16-64GB internal options + TF card/USB port up to 128GB | Battery Life: Car battery-powered | Controls: Android tablet/touschreen
Our score: 90%
REASONS TO BUY
+ Best car TV picture quality
+ Smooth, fast and well-built
+ Wi-fi & Bluetooth support
+ Good screen mirroring
REASONS TO AVOID
If you have a larger budget, or perhaps have older children/adult passengers who will appreciate a premium experience, this next pick is for you.
The A AINAVI screens are a delight; they are very sturdy and well-built while retaining a deceptively thin, lightweight form factor.
But the magic is really in the internals; with a nice, large 13.3″ screen that is not just full HD in resolution, but supports up to 4K video (downscaled) due to its excellent speedy hardware. These good specs don’t just help with video playback, but also ensure the experience on the device is smooth (with fast load times and responsive UI, something that can be a little painful on cheaper TVs for vehicles).
The device doesn’t just have a decent resolution; it’s bright, has decent contrast, and boasts great colors compared to the usual $150-200 screen pairs, it’s one of the best picture qualities we’ve come across that older passenger, in particular, are sure to appreciate.
Another super important inclusion over the cheaper options is that this is a tv for cars with wi-fi & Bluetooth. Not only does this give you so many connectivity options with your car and other devices (e.g. Bluetooth headphones), but the wi-fi support enables you to access live streaming (if you have good mobile data during your car journey).
In other words, this is one of the best car TVs for Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and more (it’s worth adding though, that many of these services have options to download local videos that you may be able to use with some of the cheaper options).
One minor omission on these devices is that they do not include a DVD player. We think the manufacturer figured that for those looking for a premium device in 2022, you’d likely be focused on digital content (but if DVD is important to you, look at our other headrest screen options).
Now, other than a lack of a DVD player, there is very little not to like about these dual vehicle screens, other than the price tag included that matches the excellent features.
We’d say that many of you may be happy with the cheaper TVs on offer.
But if you have the budget, or specifically are looking for large, high-quality screens with better connectivity features, then these AINAVI offerings are the best car TV screens on the market we’ve come across.
WONNIE 10.5'' Dual Screen
Best Budget TV for Cars
SPECIFICATIONS
Screen Size: 10.5″ | Extras Included: 1 remote | DVD player: Yes | Memory Options: SD card/USB up to 32GB | Battery Life: Up to 5 hours | Controls: Buttons/remote
Our score: 85%
REASONS TO BUY
+ Amazing value
+ Fair picture quality for budget device
REASONS TO AVOID
WONNIE has created a cheaper offering to our top pick while retaining many of the critical areas that make it an excellent headrest TV set.
Boasting a similar screen size, DVD player, and build quality, the WONNIE dual screen set is a fantastic value offering.
Its picture quality isn’t anything too impressive, but it’s certainly serviceable for most types of content.
One feature we appreciate here is the included battery which means you don’t need to always have the device powered by the car mains if that is inconvenient for your car setup.
(We appreciate that as a budget choice, this may still be expensive for some, see our next pick for the cheapest set we’d recommend).
So, with similar specs to our top pick at a slightly lower price, why do we not put this as the best overall TV for vehicles?
Well, although it’s a close race, the NAVISKAUTO has a couple of extra features we think will be worth the money:
- An extra 6 months of warranty with excellent customer feedback; for a portable device that is often used by kids/babies, we think this is an excellent value-add
- WONNIE has slightly less support when it comes to digital filetypes, most notably MP4s (the most common for downloaded movies) – this means that if you plan on using an SD card/USB stick for movies, you may have to convert them on your PC first which is a bit of a slog for a device that is about adding convenience to your journies.
With that said, if these extras do not seem all that important to you, the WONNIE screen pair is an excellent choice and the best cheap TV for cars we’ve come across.
FANGOR 7.5’’ Dual Car DVD Player
Cheapest Screens - Best Car TV for Babies & Young Kids
SPECIFICATIONS
Screen Size: 7.5″ | Extras Included: Remote | DVD player: Yes | Memory Options: USB or SD up to 32GB | Battery Life: Up to 3 hours | Controls: Buttons & remote
Our score: 85%
REASONS TO BUY
+ Incredibly cheap for 2 units
+ Decent size for younger children
REASONS TO AVOID
Although we’d recommend the 10″ screens above for older kids where possible, we’re quite impressed by the amount of value included in this package.
At an incredibly low price, you’re still getting 2 screens with a DVD player, memory card options, a basic battery included, and decent car mounts.
The memory card options, like our above pick, also only support basic video formats (no MP4) so will likely require conversion for most types of content.
The screen quality is decent for a 7.5″ screen, but don’t expect anything too impressive (the size is quite small so bear this in mind, this is largely why we consider it a car TV for babies and young kids primarily).
One important omission to bear in mind is the lack of an HDMI-in port, you won’t be able to stream content from a phone/tablet/PC with this device.
We’ve been through a few negatives, but that’s only to make it clear that it’s a more basic, budget device.
For the price, you are still getting 2 good quality screens that serve as great entertainment devices, if your budget can’t stretch much further, these are still excellent vehicle TVs to pick up.
The best overhead monitors and car roof TVs
Next up is the other common mounted option in cars.
Overhead car screens are usually installed on the roof between the front 2 seats to allow backseat passengers to all enjoy the same entertainment.
With this in mind, this option is great for those who:
- Want their passengers to watch the same content together
- Are more interested in a gaming car TV screen (passengers can play multiplayer games together on these displays)
- You have a larger vehicle and want multiple rows of passengers to have access to entertainment
Installation can be a little tricky, so bear this in mind before making your final purchase (you can usually find someone to complete the installation fairly cheaply).
Pyle Overhead Display
Best Overhead Car TV
SPECIFICATIONS
Screen Size: 17.3″ | Extras Included: Remote | DVD player: No | Memory Options: USB/SD Card up to 32GB | Battery Life: Car battery connection | Controls: Remote
Our score: 90%
REASONS TO BUY
+ Great picture quality
+ Good price for what’s included
+ Well-built and sturdy once installed
REASONS TO AVOID
The most impressive solution we reviewed is the Pyle overhead display. There’s a lot on offer in this car roof TV at an impressive mid-range price point.
Firstly, the picture quality is one of the better options on the list, with a bright, 800P screen that supports 1080p content and a large 17″ dimension, it’s the ideal size for a screen made for multiple passengers’ eyes.
The device has lots of good compatibilities, with HDMI-in, and 32GB memory support (including a wide range of video files like MP4, making your media setup less time-consuming when you’re getting the memory card ready for the road).
We appreciate the audio options available here too: the stereo speakers are of decent quality, but you also have cabling available to set up your car stereo to output sound for your content.
We sound pretty positive, so why do we tend to recommend headrest TVs before this type of offering?
Well, the major con is that overhead displays can be a nuisance to set up, they require more power draw, and it’s often advisable to get a professional to install them on your roof.
Headrest TVs, on the other hand, are very simple to mount without being an enthusiast (and even when there are problems in fittings, our top choices have some pretty decent customer support in finding alternative mounts).
If you’re not intimidated by the setup challenges, this Pyle offering is an excellent choice and our pick for the best car overhead display on the market.
XTRONS TFT Screen
Best Car TV for Gaming & Premium Users
SPECIFICATIONS
Screen Size: 17.3″ | Extras Included: Remote | DVD player: No | Memory Options: USB/SD Card up to 32GB | Battery Life: Car battery powered | Controls: Remote
Our score: 90%
REASONS TO BUY
+ Great full HD picture quality
+ Sturdy & well-built
+ Good HDMI mirroring for Playstation/Xbox
REASONS TO AVOID
If you have a slightly higher budget or are looking for an overhead car TV for gaming, this next pick is for you.
In many ways similar to our top Pyle pick, the XTRONS TFT screen boasts a nicely sizes 17.” inch screen with great picture quality, speakers, and media compatability.
Where this screen differs is in its resolution: the display is a gorgeous 1080p/full HD which is a notable increase for gaming on Playstation 4/5, Xbox One X & Nintendo Switch.
Even if you’re not a gamer, the full HD resolution can be a gorgeous inclusion for movies too.
It really comes down to your budget, the XTRONS typically runs about 20% more expensive than our top pick.
If you have that extra budget, we think it’s worth the premium if you’re serious about screen quality (but if not, the Pyle display is still a great choice and our top pick for a reason).
The best portable DVD players and portable monitors
If however, that doesn’t sound like a problem to you, and you also want the convenience of being able to easily use the device elsewhere e.g. take it into your hotel room once your car trip is over) then these are well worth considering.
KYY Portable Display
Best Portable Monitor
SPECIFICATIONS
Screen Size: 15.6″ | Extras Included: Smart Cover| DVD player: No | Memory Options: None | Battery Life: Standard power adapter connection | Controls: Touchscreen
Our score: 80%
REASONS TO BUY
+ Beautiful 1080p picture quality
+ Thin, light, and well-built
+ Good device compatibility
REASONS TO AVOID
The KYY portable display is stunning to look at, inside and out.
Externally, the device lives up well to its portable intentions by boasting a thin, light, yet strong build that certainly feels made to withstand being moved around a fair amount.
Internally, the screen is full HD with one of the best picture qualities available on the list (including a 1000:1 contrast ratio and good brightness to provide great whites and blacks). The 15.6″ screen size compliments the 1080p resolution will, providing a nice, large, crisp image that is great not just for watching movies, but also being a practical second monitor for a laptop if required during your trip.
With great picture quality, a nice slim build, and the ability to use it in many different ways, you may be asking why we don’t rate this a higher in the list as far as car TV screens go; as good as this KYY device is, there are a couple of drawbacks compared to the above options.
Firstly, you need mains power to use this (no battery or car charger options), many cars have these options now but it’s worth making sure your setup can accommodate it (there are also many car chargers – > mains convertors, but make sure your car’s voltage can support such a connection).
Secondly, unlike overhead and headrest TVs, a portable monitor has no built-in memory card reader/video support. In other words, it’s just a screen, not a media player, you will need to have another device (phone, laptop, etc.) to connect to play content.
If these things don’t detract you, then you’re getting a truly beautiful display that can be used in many versatile ways across a road trip, it comfortably sits as our top choice for the best portable car monitor.
WONNIE DVD Player
Best Portable DVD Player
SPECIFICATIONS
Screen Size: 14.1″ | Extras Included: Remote | DVD player: Yes| Memory Options: USB/SD Card up to 32GB | Battery Life: Car battery, mains adapter, and internal battery up to 6 hours | Controls: Remote
Our score: 90%
REASONS TO BUY
+ Basic device, but incredible quality for the price
+ Plenty of battery options
+ Supports SD/USB content despite DVD focus
REASONS TO AVOID
Our next pick is not really comparable to the KYY portable monitor as it’s designed with a different type of car user in mind.
The WONNIE DVD player is one of the cheapest offerings on this list and offers some pretty compelling value for the price point it’s at.
Boasting a nicely sized 14.1″ screen, DVD player, basic memory card support, and rechargeable battery, there is a good amount of features included that make it a great budget choice for basic movie watching.
We also really appreciate that a basic car mount strap is included (this may not be as universally fitting as some of our other picks’ mounts, but it’s a nice value add nonetheless).
We also like how on top of the internal battery are car charger and AC adapter options, making the power options here more versatile than many of our other picks.
Now with all that said, there are some drawbacks.
Firstly, the picture quality is decent and the sound serviceable, but overall, they are not particularly impressive compared to many of the options on the list.
The memory card format also shares the limited filetype support that some of our budget headrest TVs have. In other words, as a DVD player, it’s perfect, but if you’re trying to play files from the memory card, you have to convert to different file types (and perhaps even resolutions) before playing.
(Note: If you’re looking at at least a pair of screens for your backseat passengers, then the budget headrest TVs we recommend above will likely better value because they are offered in pairs).
All in all, the WONNIE player is an excellent cheap alternative for car entertainment, especially if you want something that can be easily placed in other positions, or you’re looking for 1 device instead of 2. It’s the best DVD player for car trips we’ve come across.
Best car tablet screens + car mounts
If you already own a tablet or two for your kids (or are interested in buying them), by simply buying tablet car mounts, you can repurpose these devices to effectively act as overhead car screens for your backseat passengers.
We think this can be a great fit because:
- Tablets can be a little pricier, but offer more value overall (your kids can use them elsewhere/access more apps)
- Because its a device they use more often, their entertainment will be readily available (you won’t have to “set up” the device every time you go on a long car trip, your kids will likely already be familiar with them)
- Most tablets today come with decent screens
Although we like the benefit of having a static headrest TV that you don’t have to move in and out, the tablet option is certainly compelling.
The only other thing to consider is tablets, not being designed for car usage, won’t come with headphones (but we recommend some very cheap suitable options further below).
Fire 7 Tablet
Best Cheap Tablet for Car Trips
SPECIFICATIONS
Screen Size: 7″ | Extras Included: Front and rear-facing cameras| DVD player: No | Memory Options: 16/32GB internal – up to 512GB external with SD | Battery Life: Up to 7 hours internal battery | Controls: Touchscreen
Our score: 95%
REASONS TO BUY
+ Unparalleled value for quality of device
+ Great app/streaming compatibility
+ Good battery and storage size potential
REASONS TO AVOID
The Fire 7 is one of our top-scoring devices on the list for a reason.
There is so much on offer here at what feels like an almost too-good-to-be-true price.
Starting with its features, the Fire 7 boasts great internal memory options (16GB/32GB) with up to 512GB external storage (way more than our other options on the list) with a great internal battery for up to 7 hours and decent quality front/rear-facing cameras.
One important thing to bear in mind is that 7″ is on the small side for a car TV screen. If you have older kids or adult passengers, it’s very likely you’ll enjoy the HD pick directly below.
That said, the tablet packs a punch in the screen it does have: with a bright, 600p IPS panel, it’s a gorgeous display with a crisp resolution for its size.
Working alongside the screen is a set of specs designed to not just be a portable media player, but a fully-fledged tablet for a variety of app usage (if you’re using intensive apps regularly, it can be a little slow compared to the below pick, but as far as a TV screen/media viewing device goes, it’s perfect).
If you’re looking for a TV for your car with wi-fi and Bluetooth support, this is an excellent alternative over the expensive premium headrest TV we recommend earlier in the article, it’s the cheapest wi-fi supported device on the list so good for those focussed on live streaming content.
All-in-all, the Fire 7 is a fantastic offering. With so much versatility in memory, device compatibility, and connectivity all packaged in a good durable build and a decent screen. There’s a lot to love, especially at the price point, which is why we rate it the best tablet for car trips today.
Fire HD 10 Kids Pro
Overall Best Tablet for Car Journies
SPECIFICATIONS
Screen Size: 10.1″ | Extras Included: Rear/front cameras, 2 year warranty | DVD player: No | Memory Options: 32GB internal + microSD up to 1TB | Battery Life: Internal up to 12 hours | Controls: Touchscreen
Our score: 90%
REASONS TO BUY
+ Good screen quality and fast specifications for a great price
+ Durable and with 2 year’s extensive warranty
+ Great battery and memory options
REASONS TO AVOID
Now as much as we love the Fire 7, if you have a higher budget or older passengers, the Fire HD 10 is one of the best tablets for a premium car entertainment experience.
Boasting a larger 10″ screen with a full HD screen and great secondary picture specs, the screen is simply stunning and will provide an excellent viewing experience for any type of content (including the variety of apps/games you can access on Fire tablets).
The faster specs of the HD 10 also make the overall experience of using it faster than any other device on the list, with excellent loading times and a tried-and-tested UI that any type of user will find pleasant to navigate.
We’ve specifically recommended the kids version as it usually offers better value for older kids/teenagers, but if you want to use this as an adult-orientated device when it’s not a car screen, the “adult” Fire HD 10 version is a great choice.
The Fire 10 has some other features over the Fire 7: namely a battery life of up to 12 hours, SD cards up to 1TB, and a 2-year warranty with decent coverage (a great value-add for a device designed for younger audiences).
With all of this said, why do we give this a slightly lower score compared to the Fire 7? It’s really down to price-point and usage.
If your primary focus is on a device that is primarily going to be used as a car TV screen, then the Fire 7 will likely do the job fine.
If however, you can see yourself using the tablet/s for more extensive things (like the other apps available), if you have a higher budget or if you have kids/passengers that you think will enjoy the higher quality screen more, then the Fire 10 is simply a stunning choice.
Not only is this one of the best tablets for car journies, but it’s one of the best basic tablets available in any category.
Best Car TV mount: WANPOOL Headrest Holder
This universal headrest is a great choice not just for its cheap price and suitability across 7-10″ tablets, but also in the fact that it can mount vertically or horizontally (in other words, it can be used on seats that have an integrated headrest).
Best headphones for car entertainment
Although many of our picks above come with included headphones, it’s worth checking before you purchase as some options don’t.
If not, don’t fret, we’ve included the best options to pick up here.
We’ve focussed on over-ear headphones as you tend to want some noise-cancellation for long car journies (your kids will still hear you if you call for them!).
The 2 picks are also rather cheap as we expect most backseat passengers aren’t going to need the highest home-quality headphones around (if you are an audiophile, however, you can look at another feature we have).
Best Cheap Headphones for Car Trips: Sony MDR-ZX110
The MDR-ZX110 may seem almost too cheap, but for car journies, we think the sound and build quality of these are a treat and exactly what most passengers will need (especially younger kids).
Best Premium Headphones for Car Trips: Anker Soundcore Life
If you have older kids or adult passengers, the Sony MDRs would still suffice, but if you have the budget, the Anker Lifes will give you a sound much more akin to a premium cinematic experience (while still not costing 100s of dollars like some audiophile solutions demand).
What to look for when buying a TV for your car
Value
An obvious point, but the different types of car display offerings tend to run for notably different prices (with headrest TV screens usually offering the best value, especially when sold in pairs).
If you have a higher budget, then your focus will be on devices that have higher screen quality, battery life, and wi-fi functionality (for Netflix/Disney+ streaming instead of local device storage).
Screen quality & size
Most passengers (especially car TVs for babies and kids) will be fine with the standard 7″-13″ screens on offer for most offerings (these are similar in experience to the screens you find on long-haul flights).
Quality for portable TVs is usually dictated by the price and resolution, with the more premium options having crisp, 1080p/full HD screens (this isn’t a requirement by any means, but we’d try and go for at least 600P options if your budget can allow for it).
Wi-fi/Bluetooth availability
TVs for cars in the cheaper range tend not to include these features.
If you want to stream content from Netflix, Disney+, Amazon, and more live, you will need a car TV with wi-fi included (alongside a mobile data connection), some of our premium options in this post include this.
We would say that this isn’t a necessity however, many portable/headrest car TVs run on local storage. A lot of Netflix/streaming service plans include the option to download some content locally, we think this is the more economically viable solution for most of our readers.
Installation/mounting
With the 1000s of different cars our readers will be driving, it’s impossible to offer any universal recommendation on what the best car TVs are for your specific vehicle mounting.
With that said, headrest TVs and the mounts included tend to be designed with the variability of cars in mind (often simple straps to attach to your front seat headrests).
If you have any doubt about your car’s suitability for TV mounting, we’d suggest trying to read the myriad of customer reviews available on some of our top recommendations. You may not find your exact car being used, but you’ll likely come across similar vehicles being used for the TV mounting.
UI
This isn’t a huge factor, more of an afterthought, but for kids especially, you may want to consider how easy the content is to access (e.g. is it a touchscreen, does it have a remote, is there voice control?).
Most TVs for cars are designed with easy usability in mind, but more expensive screens will tend to come with better controls.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it! We’ve been through a lot of car TV options in today’s feature, we appreciate it can be a little overwhelming to pick between so many different types of screen.
If you’re still unsure about your decision, we’ll leave you with a brief final summary of our thoughts:
- Car overhead TV: Best choice for most, easy setup, affordable and designed for each screen to be used by 1 passenger
- Car roof TV: Good choice for passengers who want to game on the same screen & car enthusiasts who are comfortable with a more complex install
- Portable monitor/DVD player: Good choice for those who aren’t too interested in mounting to the backseats and instead want something that can be easily taken out of the car/used for entertainment by the front seat passengers
- Tablet with car mount: Good choice for those who can find other uses for tablets (e.g. kids).
All of these options are great for car entertainment, if you stick to our top picks, we think you’ll be pleased regardless of what you go for.
Safe travels!
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About the author
Kaelum Ross
* Specifications throughout our articles are double-checked and intended to inform our users, but should not be treated as factual information. When making final decisions on your products, please check the manufacturer pages to confirm the fine details.