The perfect drivers accessory? - ATOTO S8 Gen. 2 8“ opinion (2024)

capt.mac

Join Date: Oct 2019

Location: Germany

Posts: 10

A few years ago I finally made the move and got rid of the stock radio of my 2006 NC, which I had used up to this point with a GROM BT3 module for „modern age“ connectivity. Being thrilled about the recent improvements regarding Apple CarPlay - especially the introduction of the wireless option and the ease of use - I wanted to upgrade the infotainment in my miata which I use as my daily driver.
After excessive amounts of research and being deterred by the retail prices of the big brand head units with the desired functionality I found the back then flagship ATOTO A6 on Amazon at a reasonable price. Bought it myself as a Christmas gift and was thrilled about all the options the fully functional Android system offered - optional CarPlay dongles, tire pressure monitoring etc. - you name it Android head units have an option.

A while after that I found ATOTO released a new head unit called the S8 - as well being a double DIN head unit but with much more sophisticated internals and even stuff like wireless CarPlay built in (for some models). I quickly made the move and wasn’t disappointed at all. Now my phone steadily connects to my car, being on the wireless charger I put in front of the shift stick or in my jacket or even a bag in the trunk, and I can do whatever I want to through the 7” IPS screen which is perfectly readable even in the bright sun and with the roof down. I plan on keeping that unit a little bit longer as it packs everything I need and still has some to spare for the future. Here’s a picture of my personal setup that I settled with over time:

ATOTO S8 Ultra in 2006 Mazda MX-5 NC
equipped with a dash and reverse cam, wireless charger connected to the fast charging output and a custom UI to match the puristic approach of the miata

However just a few days ago I got the chance to get my hands on the all new 8” floating screen S8 Gen.2 built to fit into just a single din slot, still packing all the things I love my current unit for. Thinking about the older miata’s and also some NC owners who like to keep a single din unit to get some space under the radio I wanted to try the device in my car before finally putting it into a Volkswagen Golf.
Here are some things I noticed compared to my “standard” double din ATOTO S8:

• noticeable bigger screen makes it easier to read and control whatever is on
• option to adjust the height and tilt of the screen up and down offering great flexibility for custom installs
• plug-n-play installation if you already had an ATOTO unit installed before
• no obstruction of the hazard light switch nor the nozzles of the AC (I was worrying about that when I looked at the 10” units back in the research for an upgrade)
• screen is not too big for our tight and compact roadsters’ co*ckpit, yet still makes the user experience even more premium and modern than on a smaller double din screen.

ATOTO S8 Ultra Gen. 2 8" in 2006 Mazda MX-5 NC

As always the unit came with nice instructions for both installation and operation and all the hardware you’ll need for general install. Of course in the NC you’ll need the correct fascia, but there is no need to get a module to get the steering wheel control working - just grab the right pins on the vehicle harness and connect them to the head units ‘swc’ input.
Plus: you also don’t have to do a full “Bosectomy” and throw out the amplifier and corresponding speakers if you have the stock Bose audio system in your car. The unit has an amplified output through the preconfigured harness with the option to get the speakers powered by the chinch outputs instead, which gives you crystal clear sound.

Conclusion:
Despite the bigger screen I’ll stick with the flush mount double din S8 I’m used to. But I think that’s down to personal preference and definitely see the unit as a great and reasonable option for everyone looking for an update. It gives your car a Tesla Model 3 like look and feel and especially if the screen placement in the standard double din spot is not ideal for you, offers so many options to adapt it by some great degree.
The installation in the factory VW Golf after my testing was easy as expected and there the unit shined as well. The specific car only offers a single din slot for radios, so the options on the table were rare. Especially looking out for an Android powered head unit and specific features like (wireless) CarPlay or Android Auto. Despite the smaller casing the unit performs just as well as the double din S8 and offers all the features you might want.

To come to an end, a picture of the complete install in said Volkswagen:

ATOTO S8 Ultra Gen. 2 8" in VW Golf Cabrio Mk. 4