Best Car DVD Players in the UK

Car DVD players can't compete with mid-range TVs, that's just the way it is. Due to their limitations in size and connectivities, you cannot expect much from a device like that. Don't get us wrong though. We aren't saying that you should settle for mediocrity, which is exactly why we've put the XTRONS HD106P player so high up our list.

Of course, with TVs, players, and anything in-between, it all starts with the image quality. Generally speaking, you don't get a particularly crisp picture from these players but the XTRONS HD106P is a bit of an exception to that rule. With its native 1024 x 600p resolution, you get a detailed and lifelike image. An HD resolution like that is just the right fit for a 10.1-inch screen. Anything below that wouldn't have given you enough details and anything above that wouldn't make much of a difference as there's only so much space in a small screen like that, not enough to fit all of those pixels.

As far as headrest DVD players go, the XTRONS HD106P is a king of versatility. It comes equipped with a built-in HDMI port, so you can use it as a temporary monitor or as a TV at home. It makes for a pretty great kitchen display too. Aside from the HDMI, the model features the usual array of interfaces, including a USB port and a slot for an SD card. The latter two are particularly important considering there's no shortage of formats that this device supports.

It is capable of reading just about every audio format aside from lossless, including MP3, WMA, and AAC. It works with every movie format like AVI, DIVX, 3GP, VOB, RMVB, DAT, RM, FLV, MP4, XVID, and every other format except for MKV. And, of course, it also reads images, though only in the JPG format.

One thing that is slightly different about the LOGIK L9DUALM13 player is that you get a dual-screen setup, with two different players instead of one. Truth be told, it isn't the only product on this particular market with an approach like that. But most of these setups tend to be really underwhelming, especially as far as the video quality is concerned. Fortunately, that isn't the case here.

Both monitors incorporate a native 800 x 480p resolution. It isn't quite HD but it does get pretty close. Plus, 480 pixels is the standard height of a DVD format, so you'll be experiencing movies the way the filmmakers have envisioned them.

Of course, there are things about these players that we don't like. Most of these flaws are negligible but we would be remiss not to mention the underwhelming maximum volume level. For the most part, the audio here gets the job done, but what you really want on the road is to completely distract yourself from the outside noise and that isn't always possible. Then again, it will seldom prove to be a noticeable issue.

Car DVD players aren't cheap. One could cost you a pretty penny and two can easily do some serious damage to your bank account. That was exactly our train of thought when we've decided to include the Nextbase NB49AM / SDV49AM players to our review. On paper, the product might seem like nothing out of the ordinary. Furthermore, certain aspects of it may even seem underwhelming, like its native resolution of 640 x 234 pixels. But if you take the price tag into account, what we have here is nothing short of spectacular.

Sure, the limited number of pixels won't be able to provide you with a particularly detailed picture. And that's something you will have to live with. But it won't be that difficult to live with it knowing that you've paid around 70 quid for 2 portable TV sets that double as headrest DVD players. Furthermore, with these devices, you get a car mounting kit and a remote control. Now, that's a pretty sweet deal for that price.

Having said that, the Nextbase NB49AM / SDV49AM aren't just about the quantity either. Sure, the native resolution is a little low. But it's not like the picture quality here is disappointing. On the contrary, both players are equipped with fairly solid panels, implemented with true RGB colours that are capable of reproducing a vibrant and rich picture with a realistic tone.

Dissimilar to the previous models in this review, the WZMIRAI wz-DVD2 gives you just 1 headrest DVD player. But the quality of those players is a far cry from what we're dealing with here. That quality is evident in every part of the model. For one, it incorporates a 1024 x 600p native resolution, so you get to enjoy a detailed, vivid, and clear picture and not the blurry disaster that you often get from inferior resolutions. Plus, a resolution like that is the perfect fit for a 10.1-inch screen.

Of course, it isn't just about the resolution nor is it all about the LCD TFT screen, with its trademark colour reproduction and precise image expression. Part of what makes the product so attractive to so many customers is the number of connectivity options.

One thing that you seldom get from these headrest DVD players and portable TVs is the infrared/FM transmitter. With its help, you will be able to connect wireless headphones and enjoy a clutterless, wire-free entertainment without any restrictions.

Furthermore, you can use the said radio transmitter to transfer the player's audio to your car's stereo system. This way, you'll get to appreciate a much more immersive and engaging movie experience.

Hardly there is a person who would shy away from an opportunity to have yet another device with a display in the vehicle not to speak of a portable device capable of running on a built-in battery as well as using the vehicle battery power. Luckily, these are the features that the DBPOWER portable DVD player offers. The autonomous power supply unlocks literally infinite possibilities as for the place of the player use, including the in-car and outdoor applications. You can use a wide range of portable media as the source of video content for this car DVD player. The media includes CDs, DVDs as well as more up-to-date and capacious storage devices as USB thumbs and miniature SD memory cards. The advanced support of source media allows having a whole collection of interesting movies, TV shows and music files, which can be easily played with the DBPOWER player. This portable car DVD player by DBPOWER is equipped with a 9.5-inch display capable of rendering vibrant and rich colours and enables pivoting through 360 degrees even when you watch videos. Owing to its built-in battery this DBPOWER DVD player can be used on the go in practically any environment that is why we suggest using one of these compact laptop bags for its transportation and storage.