Autopian Asks: What’s The Ideal Size And Configuration For An Infotainment Screen?

Autopian Asks Screens Ts2
ADVERTISEMENT

OK gang, let’s talk infotainment screens. What do you think is the ideal size? How big is too big? How small is too small? Should screens be horizontal (landscape) or vertical (portrait) orientation? Or square? Or round?

Should the infotainment screen be integrated into the dash, or just hung onto that center stack like a picture on a wall–or stood on edge atop the dash? Which brands do the best job of incorporating infotainment screens into the interior design?

You’re welcome to discuss features and functions that belong on the screen versus physical controls, though let’s focus on screen size/integration. To the comments!

2022 Ford F 150 Lightning LariatHere’s Ford’s 15-inch vertical display, as included with the F-150 Lightning in Lariat and Platinum trim levels (notice the volume scroll knob, which I think is just fastened to that screen, with the knob actually actuating the screen to change the volume).

 

Bmw 3s Edge Curve Glow 2This is the 2023 BMW 3-series interior. A single, unhooded, curved panoramic screen incorporates all the gauges and infotainment functions.

 

Tesla Screens 2Tesla’s Model S debuted with a vertical screen (top) before going horizontal in later iterations (a Plaid is pictured here). The 17″ screen has left-right power-tilt functionality so you can adjust the viewing angle.

 

Doug Demuro Byd Han
Screenshot: Doug DeMuro/YouTube

Imb Gejujn

How about a rotating screen? That’s the BYD Han executing the maneuver, as captured by Doug DeMuro. Go ahead, we know you want to. “Thisssss …”

Buick Reatta 3

OK, real talk: do you really need any more than what the Buick Reatta had for us in 1985?

About the Author

View All My Posts

115 thoughts on “Autopian Asks: What’s The Ideal Size And Configuration For An Infotainment Screen?

  1. I have the Bluetooth Cranial Implant so I prefer my screens to be projected digitally into my brainstem so they appear as a crisp floating display in my left eye.

  2. The 8-8.5″ screens that were standard in the early-mid ’10s seem about right to me; then again I’ve never owned a vehicle with a truly giant screen.

    I just don’t see the use of showing more options at a time, or making the icons larger, so outside of showing more of a map, there isn’t much benefit to going larger.

  3. I’d prefer as many dedicated screens as possible. One large one dedicated to map navigation and videos (only when stopped), a smaller screen to music and radio. A multi screen dedicated to occasional use gauges (MPG, manifold pressure, oil temperature and the like). Another centrally mounted small screen dedicated to directional arrow navigation. The speedometer should display the local speed limit.

    Screens should NOT control HVAC, windows, seats, mirrors or vents. Those are button, knob and sliders only.

    1. I’ve never heard of this approach before. I like the idea a lot. Also, small screens, dedicated to one task…….. they’re gauges, not really infotainment screens. Which is exactly why I like it.

      1. This pretty much describes the way “glass cockpits” in larger aircraft are set up. Screens have replaced instruments, but in many cases individual screens provide only a few, related logical functions. They’re grouped and arranged to present information as concisely and clearly as possible.

  4. Perfect size? Double DIN!

    I despise all free hung screens. It looks lazy and low quality. Screens should be integrated. If they stick up above the level of the dashboard, they should have a hood. Period. Screen size should be dictated by interior space. No larger than comfortably fits IN the dashboard.

    All that being said, my preference for most tech in cars peaked in the mid 90s. While I support safety tech, I have no desire for just about anything a modern car screen does.

  5. Shape, size, and orientation should just be thought out by the interior design team in such a way that there is still room for physical buttons for the frequently used features. A full size truck/SUV can handle a 13″ tablet screen a lot easier than my MINI. Form factor should just fit the dash of the vehicle it is in. As others have said, the after-thought look of the tacked on “floating” screen is hideous. The older style Model S screen was much better done than the new one.

  6. My car is several years old at this point and predates the Great Infotainment Stack Tablet Explosion(tm). It has a small (by today’s standards) display in the center stack of about 8″ which I only really ever look at when I’m using the backup camera.

    The screen that I love is the even smaller one that’s nestled between the speedometer and the tachometer just slightly below my eye line. It’s only a few inches in size and monochrome, but it is incredibly useful. By default it’s set to display the name and artist of whatever music I’m playing as I drive so that a quick glance can satisfy my curiosity if I hear something new and want to know what it is. When I use the in-dash navigation, it shows the next turn that I have to make. If a phone call comes in, it displays the caller ID information so I can easily decide whether to answer. I can use the steering wheel buttons to cycle through other information (like average fuel economy, distance to empty, and other stats) but almost never do.

    When I’m driving, I don’t care about the big screen in the center stack; the only screen I reference is the one right in front of me because it has all the information I require in an unobtrusive form factor. When I’m a passenger, I still don’t care about the big screen because I don’t want to fiddle with things on somebody else’s car, and I have my phone anyway. So that center stack screen could be cell-phone-sized, or it could be a JumboTron — it wouldn’t make much difference to me as long as I still have the (very minimal) information that I need right in front of me.

    As I’m thinking about this, I feel like I’d really like a HUD while driving. I remember reading about those going into high-end luxury cars a long time ago but have never had an opportunity to drive a car that was so equipped. Is that still a thing? I feel like I’d rather have a HUD than pretty much any type of infotainment display currently available.

  7. The infotainment display on my truck is approximately 20mmx60mm. In includes a 4×7-segment LED panel that can be switched between time of day and current radio frequency. The display also contains several indicator lights.

    It seems perfectly adequate to me.

  8. I think it should be small enough to fit in your pocket (men’s pockets).
    It would also be really cool if it were removable, and could remain powered up and useful outside of the car.
    Maybe some sort of movable mount for it in the car, so you can place it wherever suits you best.

    If only…

    1. Now this is a clever idea!

      I bet in that scenario, given how generally useful they would be, that actual software companies might get into the market, and want to offer an OS and programs for these smart-modules. I’m willing to bet that the user interface and software flexibility would turn out to be pretty good!
      Better than a what a car company could make in any case.

      1. That would be brilliant. It would be worth it just for storing music files. If you could make some sort of cassette tape adapter that plugs into it so you can listen to anything you’ve downloaded while driving…. man that would be cool.

  9. About 10″ or so, and NEVER with things that can only be controlled through it. It’s a nice addition, but every function should have a physical button. When I buy a car (and I just did, a 2023 Integra, so I’m not just speaking hypotheticals) I plan to own it for 10 or 15 years. That screen will become useless in some way during that ownership period, and it will be even MORE useless to the high school kid I eventually sell the car to. So, if you can’t control things when the “infotainment” dies, the car is useless. Thankfully, this car is perfectly usable without the screen, so I’m on board with a screen as a value added item.

  10. 8″ integrated into the center stack.

    The floating ones ALL look like shit. Every last one.

    Giant ones are just an excuse for taking away physical controls. Screw that.

    The only thing you should be looking at on the screen is a map, and 8″ is sufficient for that*. More than that is just begging to be a distraction.

    *especially when augmented by a mini-map in front of the driver, one that doesn’t have much more than turn cues

  11. If I see one more fucking discussion on Autopian about fucking infotainment systems I’m going to lose my shit! Believe it or not a lot of us drove barely streetable muscle cars, barely running beaters, and in my case a Komatsu 930E with a loaded weight of 1.1 million pounds and did it all without a fucking infotainment screen! David and Jason, I love you guys and what you are trying to do, but this shit isn’t it!

    1. Do you think automotive websites need to cater to you, specifically? This is one of few that covers a pretty full range from old beater to new hypercar. If there is an article that you don’t want to read, skip it. You can catch the next one that looks interesting.

      Personally, I like discussions of new cars and the tech in them. Whether I like it or hate it, it’s interesting to see what trends are developing. I skip some of the camper articles, since I don’t see myself doing that kind of camping, though I find some interesting things in them despite that.

      If you think articles about infotainment screens are a waste of your time, skip ’em. Getting mad at automotive journalists isn’t going to change that they need to stay up on the tech in new vehicles to remain relevant.

    2. Jeez dude, calm down. This site publishes a HUGE breadth of topics. If you don’t like one, don’t read it.

      And long before your fancy muscle car, “real” horseless carriages were started by hand, and required manual timing adjustment! Not these new-fangled dual/quad barreled carburetors with auto choke. Why don’t we only talk about these horseless carriages that I particularly care about? Huh, kids these days… Bah humbug.

    3. Jumping on John’s opinion is antithetical to what this site should be, welcoming of opinions whether we agree with them or not. While attacking the writers isn’t good and was adequately rebuked, the rest of his opinion is valid, to him, and who knows how many others. Just because you’re older or like simpler setups, doesn’t invalidate the thought.

      1. Take out the first and last sentences and I think his point comes across just fine.
        “It’s not that the wind was blowing,
        it’s what the wind was blowing.”

  12. Get the computer monitor off the dash and have the driver look at the road instead. An information screen is OK I guess as long as it is no bigger than a cell phone. A driver should not be able to watch video entertainment “on the side”.

  13. My RAM 1500 has the 8.4″ screen and I think it’s the perfect size (keeping in mind how large the dashboard is). I’ve had the smaller Ford screen and found it to be too small to be useful. When it comes to new trucks I see the large tablet screen that new RAMs have to be a major downside, I wouldn’t spec mine with that…..

    1. I do think that RAM has done the infotainment right with integrating it into the dash. It’s also functional as it gives you a flat surface above to place things like shades or whatever. It looks better than just being tacked onto the dash, but you’re right that the screen can’t get too large without ruining it.
      <img src=”https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2019/05/19/PDTN/2e880be0-9465-4ad6-9857-66be199fd6b3-ram-1500-touch-screen.jpg?crop=3000,2000,x0,y0&width=660&height=440&format=pjpg&auto=webp“>

    2. I have the 12.1″ in my RAM and it’s actually really nicely done. It’s like having 2 stacked screens. I can run Android Auto on the top and show my music and controls on the bottom half, along with customizable buttons at the bottom. It’s big, but it’s very nicely integrated into the design and still has physical buttons for most things.

  14. Like other human appendages, it is often not the size that matters, but how one uses it and what information it can carry? I mean you can have 43″ screen but if it is 720p it will still suck.

  15. Unobtrusive is the goal. Small, large, whatever. Don’t remove physical controls to put it there, don’t have it jutting up blocking any of the windshield, and don’t make me use it to perform normal car functions. And let me use Android Auto. No matter what, do not move instrument cluster functions to the infotainment screen.

    Ford’s knob in the screen is nice, but they still put the rest of the controls as touchscreen, and they use that knob for HVAC and audio. Which I thought I wouldn’t mind, but I realize passengers or other drivers do mean that I might need to use both.

    And none of this crap Chevy’s trying to pull with replacing AA/CP with their proprietary system. Just let me plug my phone in and let it run things. I don’t want to set up a bunch of crap on my car to do a worse job than my phone does.

    And certainly none of the Model 3 nonsense where they get rid of the instrument cluster because you can just look over to the infotainment screen. Nope. Give me my cluster, even in an EV. I still want my speed, my fuel level, and any warnings to be directly in front of me. I might accept a HUD, but not the infotainment.

      1. I still don’t like looking to the middle to find the necessary info. If you’re driving something that needs additional gauges beyond what fits in front of you, I can appreciate that decisions must be made. I prefer those gauges to be angled toward the driver and be the least likely to be looked at in normal operation (prioritize speedometer, fuel, tach in front of driver).

        I also very strongly prefer those gauges be separate from your navigation, radio, etc. The only exception I can think of, and only because of specific use case, would be Jeep putting some of the off-road specific stuff on that screen, and only then because they also have a forward camera showing there. So it’s not only a use case that is specific to very low speeds, but you are looking at that info in tandem with the camera.

  16. Infotainment dates a vehicle super bad, as it can’t keep up with modern tech.

    I either say go with:

    1. No screen at all, single din stereo with BT, and phone mount
    2. Integrated iPad/Tablet mount; with charging connection, run CarPlay to the car.

    Every single time some company tries to do their own OS it usually works like utter garbage. Tesla did an okay job, but even their older models now feel dated. Make it a seperate tablet and make an App, so you can keep your car up to date.

  17. Personally I would like none. Failing that, I am accepting of the screen in my Giulia which is integrated into the dash and has a nice wooden frame like a vintage TV. I don’t like it when it just looks like an iPad glued to/on top of the dash. Less is definitely mere with infotainment in general.

  18. It can be a 4-foot-wide monstrosity…as long as I can turn it off. Or even better, retract into the dash.

    Over the Christmas holiday, I rented a new Mercedes C-class, and it was my worst interaction with a screen since the last time I watched an M. Night Shyamalan movie. It was enormous and so horrifically bright that it impaired night driving. Naturally, I tried turning it off.

    Because the brain geniuses at Mercedes put critical lighting and HVAC controls on the screen, it’s legally not allowed to turn off. So instead, the controls on the screen stayed as woefully bright as ever, and the rest of the screen just set itself to the color black, which still emitted lots of light because God forbid the extra $2.18 gets spent on a proper OLED display in a $50,000 car.

    Unlike what I assume will be the majority of the cantankerous commentariat in this thread I’m not against infotainment screens in principle. I’m against half-baked, ill-conceived, customer-contemptuous, cynical implementations of infotainment screens. Which, in fairness, is a distressingly large proportion of them.

    1. You would have really liked the SAAB Night Panel – hit one button and almost everything goes black – a feature that should have been picked up by others, but never was. I miss the SAAB 93…

  19. Large enough to show me what my stereo’s doing (which track or radio station I’m on, how far into the song I am if it’s paired to a device or on CD, and ideally title/artist info as well) and, in the absence of an analog clock, what time it is. The 7″ screen in the ’14 Sonic LT I drive occasionally is overkill, especially since that car doesn’t even have a backup camera.

    From the Sonic’s screen on up, I’d prefer it to be dimmable separate from my gauges, at least. Evidently BMW’s experimenting with turning off the infotainment screen when you’re in track mode – just give that a separate physical button beside the screen, independent of mode selection, like Saab’s Black/Night Panel, and let my tunes continue to play in the dark.

  20. They’re all to big and useless to me. Just a screen big enough for the mandatory backup camera would be OK. That same size is fine for Apple carplay/Android auto.

  21. What’s the right size of infotainment screen?
    Come on, this is a website actively targeted towards microcar enthusiasts and taillight fetishists. Anybody that thinks these should exist at all is relatively uncommon in your reader base.

      1. Everyone is different.

        For me I found swapping the crappy OEM CD/radio headcount for a cheap Chinese double DIN aftermarket touchscreen was a revelation. No more squinting at my phone plus the sound quality was way better even with MP3s. Count me in team touchscreen (except for HVAC, seats, mirrors, locks, vents and doors).

Leave a Reply