Workshop 12 vs Phoenix Automotive Review: The Cheapest Screen vs the Longest Backup

If the lowest sticker price and a US based seller matter most, Phoenix Automotive deserves a careful look at the exact product page. If long term backup matters more, Workshop 12 is the pick.

What Both Brands Sell

You drive a Silverado, Sierra, F-150, F-250, RAM, or Tundra, and you want a modern screen without buying a new truck. Both brands promise the same result: a big screen with smartphone connectivity, while your cameras, steering wheel controls, climate, and sound keep working.

Workshop 12 is a Canadian brand. It sells Premium Tesla-Style Screens, ultra-wide screens, and digital clusters, plus accessories like OBDII scanners, screen protectors, and the 12 Smart Box. Its catalog runs deep in trucks and performance cars: RAM, GMC Sierra, Ford F-Series, Toyota Tundra, Nissan 350Z and 370Z, Infiniti G37, Hyundai Genesis, Ford Mustang, and Maserati GranTurismo, among others, with larger screens on the way.

Phoenix Automotive sells Tesla-style vertical-screen Android navigation radios, plus OEM-style Android radios and accessories such as backup cameras, DVB-T TV tuners, DVD/DVR modules, and Bluetooth adapters. Its truck coverage on its own site includes Ford F-150 2009 to 2020, F-250/350/450/550 2015 to 2020, Dodge RAM 2009 to 2024, Silverado/Sierra/Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon/Avalanche 2007 to 2014, Tundra 2007 to 2013, and Sequoia 2008 to 2022, plus cars and SUVs including Mustang, Wrangler JL, Grand Cherokee WK2, Edge, Lexus, and Infiniti.

On price, the gap is real, and it is not a like for like win. Phoenix Automotive lists its 13.6/14.5 inch Android 13/14 Vertical Screen Navigation Radio for Dodge RAM 2019 to 2024 from $669.99 USD (variant ladder $669.99 to $999.99 by RAM/ROM tier; the $669.99 variant was shown as sold out on November 4, 2026, so check current availability before relying on the headline price), and its 13/14.5 inch Vertical Screen Android 13/14 Fast Boot Navigation Receiver for 2009 to 2014 Ford F-150 from $509.99 USD. Workshop 12 lists its RAM 14.4 inch 2014 to 2023 at $1,149.12 USD. Fitment years, sizes, and RAM/ROM tiers differ, so compare the exact model before you judge either price.

Phoenix Automotive shows 3.1 out of 5 stars across 310 reviews on Trustpilot, and 3.9 out of 5 stars across 808 reviews on Birdeye. Reviewers on those sites frequently praise the technical support they receive during installation, while also reporting delivery delays and defective units. Read the recent reviews for the exact product you are considering, not just the aggregate.

Comparison at a Glance

Policies and prices change, so check each brand's product page before you buy. This comparison reflects both brands' own sites as of November 2026.

1. History: A Documented Track Record vs an Unstated One

A screen is supposed to live in your truck for years. That makes the company behind it part of the purchase, not background detail.

Workshop 12 Inc was founded in 2015 by co-founders Tim Neil and Rob Williams, and its first product was Brainiac. The idea came from Tim's own project car, a 1989 replica Batmobile he wanted to automate from his phone. He called it the BatBerry, Batman meets BlackBerry, after the company he worked for at the time. Tim spent six years building it in his garage, and Brainiac began as the system to control it: the suspension, the canopy, and the replica weapons on the hood, all from a phone. He and Rob had been building prototypes of connected car technology for it, and they kept running into the same frustration: the exciting new tech only showed up in concept cars, and if it ever reached a production vehicle, it landed in an $80,000 to $100,000 plus car. So they built the thing they could not buy: a computer for the dashboard of the car you already own. Before all-in-one Tesla-style units were the standard upgrade, Workshop 12 was designing vehicle-specific housings that mounted a Samsung Android tablet behind a factory-style bezel, starting with cars like the Subaru WRX/STI, Nissan 350Z, and Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86, then expanding to the 370Z, Infiniti G37, and Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

That history still matters to existing owners. Brainiac went through two generations (MK1, then MK2 with a magnetic face plate for easy tablet access), got its own Brainiac Car Launcher app on Google Play, and is no longer sold as a new kit. Workshop 12 still supports existing kits, including printing warranty parts, with driver-exposed plastics in heat-resistant materials (PETG behind the dash, Nylon rated to 163C/325F for sun-exposed surfaces, because a dashboard in the sun is no place for ordinary plastic). Nobody else ever sold a Brainiac kit, because it was Workshop 12's own platform. The question that turned it into a company was simple: what if Brainiac wasn't just for the Batmobile? Tim and Rob later took Brainiac to Kickstarter, introducing it to drivers far beyond the forums where it began.

Phoenix Automotive states no founding year on its own site. Its About page says only that it was founded in Los Angeles by car enthusiasts, and it is currently based in Walnut, California. It does mean there is no documented decade-plus track record to compare with Workshop 12's 11 years, and a decade spent fixing fitment problems, answering install calls, and supporting old units is a real advantage when you buy something meant to last.

2. Testing Before It Ships

You want to know whether anyone checked your unit before it left, not just whether it was boxed up.

Workshop 12 does not dropship. Every product is thoroughly tested by its own team before it reaches you. Workshop 12 is upfront that this care can add a slight delay to delivery. You wait a little longer, and the unit that arrives has already been checked by the same shop that will answer your install call. Workshop 12 also confirms fitment before shipping: you can send a picture of your dashboard showing the OEM radio and A/C control panel for confirmation, and Workshop 12 calls every customer within 24 to 48 hours of ordering to confirm compatibility.

Phoenix Automotive states no pre-ship configuration or bench-test program on its own site. Its stated pre-ship step is fitment confirmation via dashboard photos. One product-page disclaimer shows carrier testing only, not per-unit quality control: its Android 13 unit has been tested and confirmed to work with a T-Mobile SIM, while its Android 14 unit has not yet been tested with specific carriers, so carrier compatibility for that model has not been confirmed.

3. Install Support: Who Answers When You Are Stuck in the Dash

Mid-install, a harness connector does not match the video. At that moment, the support route matters more than the spec sheet.

Workshop 12 publishes step-by-step install videos on YouTube and maintains written install guides for its top sellers, and it offers complimentary 1-on-1 video calls during installation. Support is unlimited lifetime support, by video call, from the shop that tests the units, during support hours Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm. You are talking to people who have installed the same unit, not reading a script. Workshop 12 units install the same way, with vehicle-specific connectors and no dashboard modification, no cutting. Workshop 12 was the first company in this space to offer 1-on-1 video calls during installation, a practice competitors have since followed.

Phoenix Automotive describes its units as mostly plug and play, carries demo video and installation tabs on its product pages, and says it can provide live assistance online upon request. Technical support is by phone or the website Contact Us tab and Message Us button, with questions usually addressed within 24 hours if not answered instantly. Its staff are described as proficient in both Chinese and English and able to communicate with both engineers and customers directly. A 1-on-1 video-call install program is not stated on its own site, and neither is a certified installer network, so do not assume either is available when you compare install help.

If you install it yourself and want a live video call with the shop that tested your unit, plus unlimited lifetime support, Workshop 12's promise is stronger. If you are comfortable with video guides plus live assistance online upon request, Phoenix Automotive's stated support may be enough. Check the exact product page and confirm the support route before you buy.

4. Warranty and Returns

A warranty only matters when something fails years later. Workshop 12 offers a Limited Lifetime Warranty on its own products, which it describes as the only Limited Lifetime Warranty in the category. It is tiered: 0 to 60 days means full replacement of confirmed defective hardware (you cover shipping to Workshop 12); 61 days to 1 year means free repair (you cover shipping); after 1 year, repair labor is free but you cover shipping plus replacement parts. Third-party items carry the original manufacturer's warranty only. Returns are 30 days from delivery minus a 12% restocking fee, 31 to 60 days case by case with the same fee, and no returns after 60 days. You pay return shipping, original shipping is non-refundable, and a Return Authorization number is required before sending anything back.

Phoenix Automotive offers a 1-year limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship from the date of original retail purchase. A defective product is replaced or repaired at no charge, and for warranty service it sends prepaid waybills and pays shipping to and from the customer's location. After 30 days of receipt and within the warranty period, only free repair is guaranteed, and exchange is at its discretion. Out of warranty, part and labor costs apply. Optional add-ons at checkout include accidental-damage or extended warranty from Clyde.

On returns, Phoenix Automotive headlines free returns with a 30-day money back guarantee and a 1-year warranty, with terms applying. A return must be requested within 30 days of delivery, with or without a reason. For US buyers, a defective, damaged, or not-as-described item gets a prepaid shipping label and a full refund after receipt. For US buyers returning for personal reasons, a label can be provided but the shipping fee is deducted from the refund, with the fee posted when the label is sent. A no-issue unwanted return must be unused, in the same condition, and in original packaging, and the buyer pays return shipping. Shipping and handling fees, if applicable, are non-refundable. A return must be sent within 14 days of return or exchange approval, otherwise a restocking fee may be charged. Late returns for refund carry steep percentage fees: 15% at 31 to 60 days, 25% at 61 to 90 days, and 40% at 91 to 120 days.

Both brands give you a 30-day return window, but the windows work differently after that. Workshop 12 charges a 12% restocking fee in its 30-day window and takes returns case by case at 31 to 60 days, with no returns after 60 days. Phoenix Automotive states no percentage fee within 30 days, but its late-return fees climb to 40% by 91 to 120 days.

One more difference matters years after the sale. Workshop 12 repairs its own screens, with warranty repairs handled directly by its own technicians, which is how it can keep repairing a product long after a fixed warranty window has ended. It is the only company in this comparison that states repairs by its own team. Phoenix Automotive offers a 1-year warranty but does not state where or by whom repairs are done, and it does not state a repair claim by its own team on its own site.

5. Shipping

Delivery timing is where Phoenix Automotive is hardest to predict, because it depends on where your unit ships from.

Phoenix Automotive says items may be shipped from China or US warehouses depending on stock availability, unless otherwise specified in the options. Its About page says it offers free shipping for almost all items, with no free-shipping threshold stated. In-stock items usually ship within 1 to 5 business days after cleared payment, while unpopular or back-ordered items may take 10 days or more to process, and the shipping method chosen at checkout does not affect handling time. Express transit is usually 2 to 4 days after tracking, and standard transit is usually 4 to 10 days but can be slower than a month. If shipped from a US warehouse, US customers can expect receipt within 1 to 5 days after a tracking number is provided. A US-warehouse order can arrive quickly, while a China-origin or back-ordered unit can take much longer.

Workshop 12 ships worldwide from a single Canadian warehouse, with shipping calculated at checkout. Tracking is sent once the unit is tested and packed: general transit is 3 to 8 days after tracking, US delivery is 2 to 3 days once shipped, and the full window is 8 to 15 days from order. For US customers, Workshop 12 covers all USA duties, tariffs, customs, and brokerage fees, so the total you pay at checkout is the total you pay, with nothing extra due on delivery for those charges. Canadian orders are charged HST/GST and pay no customs or duties, since Workshop 12 is a Canadian business. International buyers outside the US and Canada should still check whether duties apply to their country.

Who Should Choose Phoenix Automotive

Phoenix Automotive is a good fit if you want a lower sticker price, free shipping for almost all items, and a simple 1-year warranty, and you are comfortable checking stock origin and delivery timing for your exact order.

The trade is a shorter warranty horizon, no stated repairs by its own team, no stated pre-ship testing program, and delivery timing that depends on stock origin.

Who Should Choose Workshop 12

Workshop 12 is the better choice if you want the brand behind Brainiac, a deep truck and performance catalog including ultra-wide screens and digital clusters, units tested by the shop that will support them, USA duties, tariffs, customs, and brokerage fees covered for US customers, a Limited Lifetime Warranty with unlimited lifetime video-call support, and repairs by its own technicians. Brainiac kits are sold out and are not a current product; the shop still supports existing kits, including printed warranty parts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does shipping take?

Workshop 12: tracking is sent once the unit is tested and packed; general transit 3 to 8 days after tracking, US delivery 2 to 3 days once shipped, and the full window 8 to 15 days from order. Phoenix Automotive: in-stock items usually ship in 1 to 5 business days after cleared payment, back-ordered items may take 10 days or more to process, express transit is usually 2 to 4 days after tracking, standard transit is usually 4 to 10 days but can be slower than a month, and US-warehouse orders arrive 1 to 5 days after tracking.

Workshop 12 calls every customer within 24 to 48 hours of ordering to walk through shipping, so you are not guessing from a tracking page.

Who has the better warranty?

Workshop 12: Limited Lifetime Warranty, full replacement of confirmed defective hardware in the first 60 days, free repair from 61 days to 1 year, and free repair labor after 1 year (you cover parts and shipping), with repairs by its own technicians and unlimited lifetime support by video call.

Phoenix Automotive: a 1-year limited warranty, with a defective product replaced or repaired at no charge and prepaid waybills for warranty service, plus a 30-day return window.

If you want the longest coverage horizon and repairs years after the sale, Workshop 12. If you want the simplest 1-year promise, Phoenix Automotive.

What if the unit does not fit or does not work in my car?

Send a dashboard photo for fitment confirmation before you buy, with either brand. Workshop 12's return window is 30 days minus a 12% restocking fee, with a Return Authorization required, and no returns after 60 days.

Phoenix Automotive offers a return requested within 30 days of delivery, with or without a reason. For US buyers, a defective, damaged, or not-as-described item gets a prepaid label and a full refund after receipt, while a personal-reason return may have a provided-label shipping fee deducted from the refund. Late returns for refund carry fees of 15% at 31 to 60 days, 25% at 61 to 90 days, and 40% at 91 to 120 days.

Video-call support is available from Workshop 12 if you want troubleshooting help before returning anything. Phoenix Automotive states live assistance online upon request, with questions usually addressed within 24 hours, but no 1-on-1 video-call program is stated on its own site. Workshop 12 also calls every customer within 24 to 48 hours of ordering to confirm compatibility.

Why is Phoenix so much cheaper?

Phoenix's prices are much lower on comparable headline models: a RAM 2019 to 2024 13.6 and 14.5 inch unit starts at $669.99 USD (the $669.99 variant was shown as sold out on November 4, 2026) against Workshop 12's RAM 14.4 inch at $1,149.12 USD, and an F-150 2009 to 2014 unit starts at $509.99 USD. Nobody outside Phoenix knows its cost structure, and low price alone is not a flaw. What you give up for it is the rest of the package: a 1-year limited warranty instead of a Limited Lifetime Warranty, no stated pre-ship testing program, and no stated 1-on-1 video-call program on its own site. If price is your top priority, Phoenix deserves a look. If backup is, Workshop 12 is the stronger buy.

Will my Phoenix unit ship from the US or China?

It depends on stock. Phoenix states items may be shipped from China or US warehouses depending on stock availability, with free shipping for almost all items. In-stock items ship in 1 to 5 business days, back-ordered items may take 10 days or more to process, standard transit is usually 4 to 10 days but can be slower than a month, and US-warehouse orders arrive 1 to 5 days after tracking. The price does not include tax, customs, or government fees, and the buyer is responsible for them. Workshop 12 ships from Canada on a predictable timeline, and for US customers covers all USA duties, tariffs, customs, and brokerage fees.

What do Phoenix owners actually say?

Mixed, on third-party aggregates. Phoenix publishes product-page reviews on its own site, but no site-wide total, so the numbers below are third-party aggregates, not a Phoenix site-wide rating. Trustpilot shows 3.1 out of 5 across 310 reviews, and Birdeye shows 3.9 out of 5 across 808 reviews. Reseller ratings under similar names are not Phoenix's own.

Final Verdict

Phoenix Automotive is a real option, and if sticker price and a US-based seller are your top priorities, it deserves a serious look once you have checked the exact product page.

When you weigh the whole purchase, Workshop 12 comes out ahead where it counts most: the longer backup, from the shop that tested your unit. That combination, quality you expect, service you deserve, is why Workshop 12 has lasted 11 years in a market where newcomers come and go.

If you drive a vehicle Workshop 12 covers, Workshop 12 is the buy.