Best Head Unit for a Chevrolet Silverado

If you own a 2014-2018 Silverado or Sierra 1500, a double-DIN head unit is a straightforward, well-supported upgrade — a real Metra dash kit exists, and the install is a known quantity. If you own a 2019-2024 Silverado or Sierra 1500, stop here: there is no generic double-DIN kit for your truck, and no double-DIN head unit on this page or anywhere else will drop into that dash.

That’s not us being cautious. GM redesigned the Silverado/Sierra 1500 dash for the 2019 model year (the “T1” platform) around a fixed 7-, 8-, or 10.2-inch factory screen, and no mainstream aftermarket dash kit converts that opening to a standard double-DIN slot. The honest path for those trucks is an OEM-shaped replacement screen that mimics the factory unit’s size and shape, or simply keeping what came with the truck. We’ll cover both paths below, but the picks in this article are for the 2014-2018 generation, where the swap actually works.

One more thing before you scroll: the GMC Sierra 1500 is the same truck wearing different badges. It shares the Silverado’s dash, the same Metra kit for 2014-2018, and the same lack of a kit for 2019-2024. Everything here applies equally if you’re shopping for a GMC Sierra instead of a Chevrolet Silverado.

The 2014-2018 swap: what’s involved

The factory radio bay on these trucks uses a swappable pocket below a single-DIN-height radio rather than a fixed double-DIN slot. Metra’s 99-3014G kit works around that: it accepts either a single-DIN radio with a storage pocket underneath, or a full double-DIN (4-inch tall) unit that fills the entire bay. The same kit also covers the 2019 Silverado/Sierra 2500/3500 “Limited” trucks, which carried over the old body style for one more year.

Wiring is where the generation matters. If your truck has the factory Bose premium audio system, the factory amplifier normally stays in the loop and a head-unit swap alone does not require bypassing it. Metra’s AXABH-GM1 is the GM amp-bypass harness for the separate case where you are adding your own aftermarket amplifier and want the factory Bose amp out of the signal path. If your truck has the basic non-amplified system, a standard wiring harness is usually enough on its own. Our research turned up general GM Class-2/OnStar-retention interfaces (the Axxess/Metra GMOS family) used across this platform, but the exact plug-and-play harness part number for the base non-amplified 2014-2018 radio wasn’t independently confirmed — check with the installer or the kit’s fitment page for your exact trim before you order.

Steering wheel controls run through that same GMOS-family interface rather than a universal ASWC-1 box, because GM trucks of this era carry SWC signals over a Class-2/serial data bus instead of simple resistive buttons. Skipping the correct interface is how people end up with steering wheel buttons that do nothing.

Your factory backup camera can stay. Full plug-and-play packages built for this generation — Prolific Audio’s kit built around a Sony head unit is one documented example — explicitly state they retain the OEM camera and sensor system with no modification needed. What you do lose, regardless of which unit you pick: factory MyLink app integration, the factory voice command menus, and — if the retention interface isn’t wired correctly — the audible OnStar chimes and warning tones that are normally mixed into the factory system.

The 2019-2024 trucks: why there’s no clean swap

There’s no honest way around this: a true double-DIN aftermarket swap isn’t realistically available for the redesigned Silverado/Sierra 1500. No generic Metra kit exists for the 7-, 8-, or 10.2-inch factory screen dash, and the “solutions” sold for this generation — Stinger’s HEIGH10+ and HORIZON10/12 are the names that turn up in this research — are OEM-shaped direct-fit replacement screens sized to mimic the factory unit, not a generic double-DIN opening you can put any head unit into. We haven’t independently verified specs or pricing on those replacement screens, so we won’t recommend a specific one here; if you’re set on going that route, check current fitment and pricing directly against your exact trim before buying.

For most 2019-2024 owners, the more honest answer is simpler: keep the factory unit, or add wireless CarPlay/Android Auto through it if your truck is already factory-equipped for it. You’re not missing a real double-DIN option that we just failed to find — it doesn’t exist yet for this generation.

How we picked

Everything below comes from manufacturer spec pages, retailer pricing, and owner reviews gathered in the course of this research — we have not bench-tested any of these units ourselves. Every pick here fits the 2014-2018 generation using the Metra 99-3014G kit path described above; none of them apply to a 2019-2024 truck, and we’re not going to pretend otherwise by listing one anyway.

JVC KW-M865BW — Best overall

This is the pick for most 2014-2018 owners who just want reliable wireless CarPlay and Android Auto without paying for features they won’t use. It has three camera inputs (useful if you’re running a backup camera plus a dash cam) and 5V preamp outputs, which is stronger than most units in this price range. It sits in a standard double-DIN chassis, so it mounts cleanly behind the 99-3014G kit without any extra bracket work.

What you give up: no built-in HD Radio tuner and no built-in navigation, so both depend entirely on your phone being in the truck and connected.

Pioneer DMH-W2770NEX — Best value

Owners consistently report this one just works — 494 reviews averaging 4.4 out of 5 stars, with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto that people describe as reliable rather than fiddly. For a truck that’s a daily driver and doesn’t need a big amp behind it, this is the sensible middle option.

The trade-off is on the audio side: only 2V preamp outputs, which is on the weak end if you ever plan to add an aftermarket amplifier down the road. There’s also no physical volume knob, and some owners note screen glare in direct sunlight.

ATOTO F7WE — Budget pick with physical buttons

Most sub-$200 double-DIN units go all-touchscreen, which means adjusting volume means taking your eyes off the road to find a slider. The F7WE keeps six physical buttons for the functions people reach for most, at the cheapest price point in this lineup that still includes wireless CarPlay and Android Auto.

The catch is naming, not hardware: ATOTO has discontinued the F7WE name and folded it into a newer “A5” line sold at a similar price. That means manuals, firmware updates, and owner reviews are scattered across two different model names, which makes troubleshooting more annoying than it should be.

Kenwood DMX958XR — Best for Bose-equipped trucks

If your Silverado came with the Bose premium system and you’re bypassing that factory amp with an AXABH-GM1 harness, this is the unit to feed it with. Its 5V preamp outputs give a genuine aftermarket amplifier real headroom, and it’s built into a standard double-DIN chassis rather than a modular or floating design, keeping the install simple.

It’s not cheap for what it is: owners report the screen struggles with glare in bright light, and at this price point you’re paying a premium for the preamp voltage rather than for screen size or extra features.

Alpine iLX-507 — Premium alternative

This is the unit to name if you’re going to spend more. It’s one of the only current double-DIN receivers with both wired and wireless CarPlay/Android Auto (most units force you to pick one), plus built-in HD Radio and two direct camera inputs for a front or side camera in addition to the backup camera.

What that extra money doesn’t buy you: built-in navigation. You’d need an optional USB GPS module for that, and SiriusXM requires its own separate tuner and subscription — both real added costs on top of the sticker price.

What you’ll actually spend

The head unit is the biggest line item, ranging from $170 for the ATOTO F7WE to $999 for the Kenwood DMX958XR in this lineup. On top of that, you need the Metra 99-3014G dash kit, and — if your truck has the Bose system — the AXABH-GM1 amp-bypass harness. Neither of those has a firm, verified price in the research behind this article; kit and harness pricing moves around by retailer, so check current listings before you total up the job. If you want camera retention as part of a bundled kit rather than piecing it together yourself, expect that to add to the total as well. Budget for a full afternoon of install time even with a plug-and-play kit, more if you’re also running a new amp or DSP.

When to skip the upgrade

If you drive a 2019-2024 Silverado or Sierra 1500, skip this upgrade entirely — there is no generic double-DIN kit for your dash, and spending money chasing one is a waste. If you’re on a 2014-2018 truck but your factory MyLink system already gives you the CarPlay or Android Auto you actually want, and you don’t care about a bigger screen, better tuner sensitivity, or a stronger amp, there’s a real case for leaving it alone too. This is a job worth doing when the factory unit is genuinely holding you back — not because a bigger screen is available.

Not sure which generation you have or what your exact dash needs? Check the Chevrolet Silverado fitment page or the GMC Sierra fitment page for year-specific kit details before you buy anything.