Mapmyindia Mappls ICENAV 7464 overview: your driving partner | 91mobiles.com

Most cars these days, almost all except the base variants in the affordable segment, come loaded with infotainment and smartphone connectivity features. If you don’t, then you might be going through major FOMO, just like I did. I drive an older model SUV that didn’t come with anything more than a basic music system, and was on the lookout for an infotainment system that comes with a decently-sized screen and connectivity features for navigation and entertainment on commutes and road trips. Enter Mapmyindia with its latest line of Mappls Gadgets, a range of devices for vehicles that includes GPS trackers, dashcams, smart helmet kits and what the company likes to call “navitainment systems”. Combining navigation and entertainment in one, these are Android-based in-dash systems that offer a bunch of features designed to aid and enhance your driving experience.

Specs and features

I checked out the ICENAV 7464 model (where ICENAV stands for Integrated and Connected Entertainment and Navigation), which comes in both 9-inch and 10-inch screen size options. On offer is a 1024 x 600 pixel LCD display, video output for rear seat monitors, support for rear view cameras, FM tuner, 4-channel 50W audio output, 360-degree bird view camera support, 1080p media playback, T5 octa-core CPU, 4 gigs of RAM and 64GB storage. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 are there for connectivity, and the device supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, that too wirelessly. It runs Android 10 with a custom car-centric UI on top. Of course, it carries Mapmyindia branding and one of the most special aspects is the NaviMaps app that comes preloaded, offering offline navigation. Two USB ports are made available, and depending upon your car model, you should also be able to integrate existing steering wheel controls and use them seamlessly with the Mapmyindia system.

Interface

While most of the usage is touch-driven, you do get a row of backlit capacitive buttons on the left side of the screen, including standard controls like power, home, back and volume up / down. Home and back functions are also available as soft keys on the top, along with a recent apps key as well. The default Home Screen is made up of large, colourful tiles that give you a speedometer, time and date, and direct access to the music player and FM radio. A static dock is placed on the left, giving you access to the video player, NaviMaps, phone and settings. On the top, you’ll There’s a dedicated app drawer as well, where you can see all the installed apps, and as with any Android phone or tablet, you can swipe down from the top of the screen for accessing the toggles for the quick settings and adjusting the screen brightness etc.

Usage

Based on my experience, the ICENAV 7464 does help quite a bit and adds on to the driving experience. One part of it is the entertainment, wherein you can use the device’s audio player and video player to play media files, either from its built-in storage, or via flash drives connected to the USB port. And since this is an Android-based device and comes with the Google Play store, you can download and use any of the streaming apps available on the platform to play media as well. Do keep in mind that since there’s no built-in SIM card slot, you’d need to provide internet access to the device, ideally via a mobile hotspot that can also work on the go. Otherwise, to download apps and content for offline playback later, you could also use your home Wi-Fi connection provided it can reach your car where it’s parked.

The other key aspect is the navigation, which can work via Android apps such as Google Maps or others downloadable via the Play Store. The built-in option of course, is MapmyIndia’s own NaviMaps that includes offline maps for various states of India. The first time I used it, I got a prompt to update the preloaded maps, and the device went on to download large map files pertaining various Indian states. A GPS antenna is included with the device, and combined with the navigation app and the built-in maps, the system is able to provide offline navigation.

The NaviMaps app, with the power of Mapmyindia’s extensive mapping expertise behind it, offers a detailed look at your surroundings, and switching to 3D enhances the experience further. I like how readable these maps are, with large, clearly-visible icons and arrow markers, complete with a clear indication of the speed limit applicable on the road you’re driving on. Flyovers, lanes and junctions are also marked clearly so you don’t end up missing a turn or need to stop to make sure you’re taking the correct lane.

Yet another important aspect to consider is the support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The ICENAV 7464 offers support for both of these, and that too wirelessly. For anyone not using either of these while driving, you should know that this could be a game-changer during your commutes and road trips — simply because these are designed from the ground up to give you access to vital phone functions (like calls, messaging, navigation, music etc) with minimal hindrance to driving and safety. I tried both, and they work as advertised. The connectivity is seamless for the most part, and the phones connect to the system automatically… though I had to initiate the connection manually a few times.

Verdict

The Mapmyindia Mappls ICENAV 7464 carries a sticker price of Rs 37,990 for the 9-inch model, and Rs 38,990 for the 10-inch version. Needless to say, I think these make for useful additions to your car, and held enhance your driving experience. The wholesome set of features and how the device is able to deliver on the promise makes a big difference, but if I were to point out the two biggest highlights, I’d count the built-in NaviMaps and the support for wireless Android Auto / CarPlay as among the most noteworthy.