Resistive and capacitive touchscreen car stereos, even though they look similar, they aren’t. There are some major differences between these two head units.
First difference is touch sensitivity; capacitive head units will work even with a negligible touch. Resistive units require proper touch as they work with the pressure put on the panel.
They also differ in input, resistive screens can work with anything that puts pressure. Whereas capacitive ones only work with bare finger.
Like these, there are several more differences I have covered in this capacitive vs resistive touchscreen car stereo comparison. Go through and pick the one that fits your needs.
Table of Contents
Overview of Capacitive and Resistive Touchscreen Car Stereo
Before I get into the comparison, let me give you a brief overview of these two units.
1. Capacitive Touchscreen Stereo
In capacitive touchscreen stereo, there is a glass surface insulator that we call the touch panel, it’s where we put the finger to give commands. There is a conductive plate placed underneath that touch panel.
That conductive plate has a very thin film containing electric charges which react to conductors.

In case you don’t know, the human body is an electric conductor. And when the human body such as a finger touches the glass (touch panel), it distorts the electrostatic field.
The controller detects that distortion location and sends instructions to the entire system. That’s how a capacitive touchscreen works.
Capacitive touchscreen stereo head units are super responsive, they’ll act even with the slightest touch. This is the reason why these stereo systems are very popular. Drivers can use them effortlessly while driving.
That being said, these screens won’t work if you’re wearing a glove, they need an electric conductor in order to work such as a human body or a conductor pen, etc.
Good Sides
Drawbacks
2. Resistive Touchscreen Stereo
Resistive screens work differently from the capacitive screen. Unlike capacitive touchscreen, resistive screens detect pressure.
In these screens, there is a clear polyester film on the top which is the outer skin, underneath that there is an air gap and then there is a back layer after the air gap.
When the outer screen is pushed, it makes contact with the glass or back layer which completes a circuit. The system then detects the point being pressed and acts accordingly. Whether it’s your finger, a pen, or pencil resistive touchscreens work with anything.
Having that said, their touch response might frustrate the user sometimes. These touch screens are less responsive, therefore, if you have to do something while driving, that can be a hell of a task
Good Sides
Drawbacks
Head To Head Comparison Between Capacitive and Resistive Car Stereo
I'm done with the overview, now let’s jump into one of the most in-depth resistive vs capacitive car stereo comparisons on the web.
Dual Touch
Capacitive touch screen stereo system allows dual touch, if you’ve to zoom in or out something, it’s possible with it. But resistive touch screen doesn’t support dual touch, they only counts single touch.
Now, do you really need this feature? Well, if you use the car’s stereo system to show you directions, images, etc. then you definitely need that. On the other hand, if you use the stereo system only for audio, then resistive screen stereo should be good enough.
Input
Resistive touch screens will work with anything, whether it’s your finger, a pen, a stick, or anything that can put a pressure. But that’s not the case with capacitive stereo screens, they’ll only work if you touch with bare finger.
That’s a problem if you live somewhere cold and have to wear gloves. To give input, you’ll have to remove the glove and then wear it back which is a hassle.
Touch Sensitivity
In terms of touch sensitivity, capacitive screens are way ahead of the other one. These touch stereo systems will work even with a slight touch. The resistive touch screen is completely opposite of this. Resistive screens aren’t as sensitive as capacitive screens, nor are they fast.
Longevity
When it comes down to durability, resistive screens win. They’re way too durable compared to capacitive screens because they come with thick layers. Capacitive units come with very thin layers which is why they get damaged pretty easily.
Display Quality
One of the main reasons behind the popularity of capacitive touch screens is the display quality. The visuals they offer are clear and sharp which is something you won’t find in resistive screens.
Even in bright daylight capacitive screens perform good and you can’t expect that from a resistive touchscreen stereo.
Ease of Use
You’ll be very comfortable using a capacitive touch screen stereo system because of its fast response to touch, better picture quality, multi-touch functioning, etc. These screens will allow you to use them even while driving.
Unlike capacitive screens, sometimes resistive units can be hard to deal with as they respond slowly.
Price
Compared to resistive screens, capacitive ones are expensive and there are fair reasons for that. Capacitive screens have high sensitivity, they work faster and smoother, and their visuals are sharp and high quality. Resistive ones lack all of that which is why they come cheaper than capacitive units.
Which One’s better?
Ending this capacitive vs resistive touchscreen car stereo comparison with a few last words. If you’re someone who uses the car’s screen for navigation, videos, images, camera, audio, etc. Then a capacitive screen is a must for you. Such activities require frequent inputs which will be hard to do on a resistive touch screen, as they’re slow and less responsive.
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