Hi,
I have Kenwood double DIN unit (Satnav, Apple play etc) The screen is just not visible if there is ANY sunlight on it. Top up or down. I have played around with all the settings (angle, brightness etc) to no avail. Is it just a ■■■■ (expensive) unit or they all (makes) like this?
I think any screen is similar - when the sun is in the wrong place you just get reflection.
It can be made a little better by using an anti glare screen protector to remove some of the reflection.
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The inbuilt unit in my Sport Graphite is also bad for glare, I have to shade it with my hand in bright light to be able to see it. A real pain.
I keep wondering if something like this would help
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I’ve been wondering this a lot prior to making the change myself.
Would be very much interested to know if there’s any brand/unit that provides a bright enough screen to be used in sunlight.
Generally I’ve noticed the peak brightness isn’t really listed on product descriptions, which is a pain.
The sun visor listed above seems worth a shot. Although an amusingly low-fi solution to a silly tech problem!
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Have a play with the screen colour adjustment, if in the settings menu. I did this on my recently sold JVC/Kenwood head unit and dialing the colour/contrast up and I never had problems seeing the screen afterwards.
Which Kenwood unit do you have? (I’ve been thinking about getting a Kenwood DMX8020DABS to replace my AVN2 and am wondering if this will be an issue).
Don’t expect too much from the sun shade. I have one for a sat nav, it doesn’t make things a whole lot better if it’s sunny.
My Pioneer isnt bad af all. Never had an issue with it. It has a capacitive touch screen - no idea if that makes it better for glare than anbody elses.
I’ve got the Kenwood DMX8019DABS in mine and all fine 99% of the time.
A mate has the DMX8020DABS (latest few differences in the main for Android users) and fine.
As above, play with the settings and on the whole fine.
The issue is generally not the unit but the “Position” it’s mounted.
I tend not to look at it too much when driving anyway.
Just an opinion. 
PS- The little Kenwood reverse camera works well too if that floats your boat.
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Thanks.
There isn’t really any need for a reversing camera in a car as small as the MX-5, especially as I already have parking sensors … so of course I will be fitting one when I upgrade the head unit!!
Did you go for the (quite expensive) Kenwood camera, or one of the much cheaper aftermarket ones from eBay/Amazon/AliExpress?
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I know, but can come in handy. (Wife). 
I bought the KENWOOD CMOS-230 REVERSING CAMERA. CAR AUDIO CENTRE £65.(Not sure what they are now).
But at the time I didn’t realise that they were doing an offer of a free camera with the head unit.
So I flogged the freebie and fitted the Kenwood one.
I bought this one below, less than £12 on Amazon. It has the LEDs around the camera lense, you can get them without of course.
Thanks everyone, despite what the manual says, the only setting for the screen is brightness. I guess I will just have to put up with it (or sell it if anyone wants it!? the unit is a DNX7170DABS)
Nope, the only option is brightness. The software is up to date, it just is not what the manual says
Found out a bit more. It would appear the options change depending on what screen you are in. In Satnav you only get the brightness option. But with Apple play you get all the options. All need now is some sunshine to try them out!
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Sure you will crack it.
I still have to fiddle because I can’t remember where certain things are. 
If you wear sunglasses when it’s sunny (and with the top down why wouldn’t you?) make sure your sunglasses are not polarised. Polarised sunglasses make my screen almost invisible.