The 2026 refresh made the 13.1" touchscreen standard. For owners of earlier models, the good news is you don't have to trade in your truck, you can retrofit one right now.
If there's one interior upgrade that consistently tops wish lists in the New Defender community, it's the screen. The original L663 launched with a 10-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen, perfectly functional, but compact compared to what rivals were offering. An 11.4-inch option arrived later for higher trims, and now the 2026 model year has made a 13.1-inch curved display standard across the entire range. For owners of 2020–2025 Defenders still looking at a smaller screen, the question is straightforward: can I get the big one, and how?
The answer is yes — and the community has been doing it for a while now.
The Screen Evolution: 10" → 11.4" → 13.1"
Understanding the Defender's screen history helps clarify what's involved in upgrading. Early production Defenders came with a 10-inch Pivi Pro display nestled between the dashboard's signature exposed cross-beam. It was a clean, integrated design, though some owners felt it looked small relative to the cabin's size. The 11.4-inch screen was introduced as an option on higher trims, offering a meaningful bump in usability — especially for navigation.
Then came the 2026 mid-cycle refresh. Land Rover standardised a 13.1-inch curved touchscreen across all Defender trims — the same panel used in the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. The larger display brings haptic feedback, improved resolution, and a more immersive interface that makes multitasking between navigation, media, and climate controls noticeably easier. The shifter was also repositioned closer to the driver to accommodate the redesigned centre console.
Your Upgrade Options at a Glance
| Option | Screen Size | System | Install |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerful UK Kit | 13.1" | OEM Pivi Pro | DIY / Specialist |
| Hunters Prestige | 11.4" or 13.1" | OEM Pivi Pro | Professional (in-house) |
| TTW / Defender Retrofit UK | 11.4" or 13.1" | OEM Pivi Pro | Professional (Nottingham) |
| Sarek | 13.1" | OEM Pivi Pro | Professional |
| Carputech | 13.3" | Android 13 | DIY / Installer |
OEM Pivi Pro Retrofit Options
The OEM route is the most popular choice among Defender owners. These upgrades use genuine Land Rover screens — the same 13.1-inch curved panel found in the Range Rover L460 and Range Rover Sport L461 — fitted with custom brackets and wiring looms. The result looks and feels factory, retains full Pivi Pro functionality including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and haptic feedback, and keeps all vehicle settings and climate controls integrated on-screen as Land Rover intended.
Powerful UK — 13.1" Screen + Mounting Kit
OEM RETROFIT — DIY KIT
The go-to name in Defender retrofits. Powerful UK offers the 13.1" screen separately, as well as a custom-designed mounting kit with brackets, wiring loom, and covers for upgrading from the 10" display. The screen ships with software pre-activated — an important detail, since screens purchased directly from Land Rover typically arrive without activated software. Note: this kit is designed for vehicles with the 10" screen; it's not suitable for those already running the 11.4" display. You'll also need to update configuration files on the vehicle to complete the switch.
→ 13.1" Screen at Powerful UK
→ 10" to 13.1" Mounting Kit at Powerful UK
Hunters Prestige — 11.4" or 13.1" Screen Upgrade
OEM RETROFIT — PROFESSIONAL INSTALL
A turnkey upgrade service using exclusively genuine Land Rover parts. Hunters Prestige handles the entire process in-house at their headquarters, including all necessary components, software updates, and activation — with no watermarks or placeholder images on the finished screen. Reviews from owners highlight the factory-finished look and the significant improvement in usability over the stock 10" display. Available for 90, 110, and 130 models.
→ 13.1" Upgrade at Hunters Prestige
TTW / Defender Retrofit UK — Screen Upgrades
OEM RETROFIT — PROFESSIONAL INSTALL
Based in Nottingham, TTW specialise in OEM-grade Defender retrofits including the 10" to 11.4" and 10" to 13.1" screen upgrades. They use brand-new genuine Land Rover parts and handle programming and activation on site. They also offer a wider catalogue of JLR retrofits — from ClearSight mirrors to Meridian sound system upgrades — making them a good one-stop shop if you're planning multiple upgrades at once.
→ 13.1" Upgrade at TTW / Defender Retrofit UK
Sarek — 13.1" Display Upgrade Kit
OEM RETROFIT — PROFESSIONAL INSTALL
Sarek offers a premium 13.1" display upgrade kit with professional installation. Their kit is designed for seamless integration with the Defender's existing systems, and they emphasise high-resolution visuals and durable construction suited to off-road use.
→ 13.1" Upgrade at Sarek
The Android Alternative: Going Off-Script
Not everyone wants — or wants to pay for — the OEM Pivi Pro route. A growing number of aftermarket Android-based head units now offer 13.3-inch screens that replace the factory infotainment entirely. These units run Android 13, support CarPlay and Android Auto, and add features the factory system lacks: Google Play app downloads, built-in Wi-Fi, 4G connectivity, and multi-touch capacitive displays.
Carputech — 13.3" Android 13 Touchscreen
AFTERMARKET — ANDROID HEAD UNIT
A full head-unit replacement running Android 13 with a 13.3-inch IPS display. Available in 4+64GB or 8+128GB configurations, starting at $1,099. Supports CarPlay, Android Auto, GPS navigation with offline maps, Bluetooth 5.0, and lossless audio. The unit plugs into the existing wiring harness — no cutting of factory cables required. It's a fundamentally different approach: rather than retrofitting the OEM Pivi Pro screen, you're replacing the entire infotainment system with an Android tablet-style interface.
→ 13.3" Android Screen at Carputech
OEM vs Android: Which Way to Go?
The OEM Pivi Pro retrofit retains full integration with your Defender's vehicle systems — climate, terrain response, camera views, and settings all stay on-screen exactly as Land Rover designed. The Android route offers more flexibility and app access, but you lose native integration with some vehicle functions. If keeping a factory-seamless experience matters to you, OEM is the way. If you want a feature-rich multimedia system and don't mind a different interface, Android units offer strong value.
What's Involved in the Upgrade?
The complexity depends on which route you take. The OEM 13.1" retrofit involves physically removing the existing screen and cross-beam trim, installing new mounting brackets (the larger screen doesn't fit the original mounting points), running a new wiring loom, fitting the screen, and then reprogramming the vehicle's configuration files to recognise the new display. This last step is critical — without it, the vehicle won't send the correct signal to the screen. Suppliers like Powerful UK provide the wiring and brackets, but the configuration work typically requires JLR diagnostic software.
For the Android units, installation is generally more straightforward from a software perspective — the unit ships ready to go and plugs into the existing harness. The physical fitment still requires removal of the dashboard trim and careful mounting, but there's no vehicle-side reprogramming needed.
Professional installation is recommended for either route unless you're confident working with dashboard trim removal and vehicle electronics. Most of the UK-based specialists listed above offer nationwide fitting, and the Carputech unit ships with a recommended installer network.
Is It Worth the Upgrade?
If you spend any time using your Defender's navigation, the answer from the community is a resounding yes. Running maps on the 13.1" screen is, as many owners put it, a completely different experience. The extra screen real estate makes split-view layouts usable, text is more legible at a glance, and the overall interface feels less cramped. Whether that justifies the cost — which can range from around $1,100 for an Android unit to several thousand pounds for a full OEM professional retrofit — depends on how much time you spend behind the wheel and how much the factory-integrated look matters to you.
With the 2026 Defender now shipping with the 13.1" screen as standard, the aftermarket supply of screens and kits should only improve — and owners of earlier model years now have more options than ever to bring their cabin up to current spec.
Have You Upgraded Your Screen?
Share your experience in the comments — which route did you take, who did the install, and was it worth it? The community wants to hear your take.
Tags: New Defender · L663 · Pivi Pro · 13.1" Screen · Infotainment · Retrofit · Technology · Interior
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