Pioneer's AVIC-W8500NEX wireless CarPlay receiver features 7-inch display

Audio hardware manufacturer Pioneer was at CES 2019 in full force this week to show off its latest wares, including the new AVIC-W8500NEX in-dash receiver with wireless CarPlay support.

Coming in at a hefty $1,200, the double-DIN unit boasts an impressive 7-inch high-definition touchscreen display with thin surrounding bezels, similar to other flagship Pioneer receivers. Below the massive screen are buttons for volume, playback, navigation, system controls, CD/DVD eject function and more.

This year's NEX is Pioneer's second head unit to support wireless CarPlay, which allows users to tether their iPhone without a physical cable. While the technology is convenient and provides a seamless user experience, aftermarket audio specialists have been slow to adopt wireless CarPlay.

Aside from CarPlay, Pioneer's own interface handles a usual assortment of inputs including HDMI, Bluetooth connectivity, support for a back-up camera and more. Like other NEX models, the W8500 also supports SD card playback.

A built-in amplifier offers a maximum of 16W by four channels, with a nominal output of 50W for four channels.

The AVIC-W8500NEX is shipping out now for $1,200.

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12 Comments

entropys 4298 comments · 13 Years

About 5 years ago

While the technology is convenient and provides a seamless user experience, aftermarket audio specialists have been slow to adopt wireless CarPlay.
it certainly is disappointing. But the same can be said for capacitive
displays, decent resolution and up to date bluetooth stacks. There is also the tendency to only include wireless CarPlay in the flagship models with expensive navigation and dvd drives as well.
You would think they would be rolling out the technology as fast as they can access as many segments of the market as possible, because newer cars do not have standard double din head units and the future aftermarket head unit market will be dead. the market for these guys will be ever grow smaller as cars with double din slots for head unit in the dash become fewer and fewer on the road.

edit:
This year's NEX is Pioneer's second head unit to support wireless CarPlay

Actually, Pioneer released quite a few models with wireless CarPlay last year. seven or eight as I recall. The 8400NEX is just last year's version of the 8500NEX.

2old4fun 239 comments · 11 Years

About 5 years ago

repressthis said:

2 cents: that aggressive looking button UI doesn’t do it for me.

From your statement I will guess that you have not used CarPlay. Having had a Pioneer unit in my previous truck and using it in my current F150, the big buttons are much easier to use while driving. The combination of the distance to the dash and rough road makes big targets easier to use.

MissNomer 25 comments · 6 Years

About 5 years ago

From your statement I will guess that you have not used CarPlay. Having had a Pioneer unit in my previous truck and using it in my current F150, the big buttons are much easier to use while driving. The combination of the distance to the dash and rough road makes big targets easier to use.
It's not the size of the buttons that bother me, it's how unfriendly they look. Sharp edges and angles just don't do it for me.

2old4fun 239 comments · 11 Years

About 5 years ago

MissNomer said:

From your statement I will guess that you have not used CarPlay. Having had a Pioneer unit in my previous truck and using it in my current F150, the big buttons are much easier to use while driving. The combination of the distance to the dash and rough road makes big targets easier to use.
It's not the size of the buttons that bother me, it's how unfriendly they look. Sharp edges and angles just don't do it for me.

Sorry I thought the reference was to the buttons on screen. The buttons on the unit never bothered me as I do not use them. I only use CarPlay with volume control from steering wheel switch. Just about everything else is handled by Siri.