5 reasons why Android Auto is better than Apple CarPlay

Apple may have abandoned its electric car project, but the company is still a very major player in the automotive space. If you look at recent car ads and reviews, the first and most consistently mentioned thing is whether or not it supports CarPlay. Google’s Android Auto platform is also on the list, but it often feels like an afterthought and is considered inferior compared to Apple’s offerings. And that is far from the truth. In fact, Android Auto may be a better option for many drivers.

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1 Google Maps is better

Alphabet’s trusted navigator remains king of the open road

I don’t need to explain much about why this is so special. Google introduced mapping software back in 2005, and Apple Maps was released seven years later in 2012. Today he clearly has much more parity between the two than there was 10 years ago, but I don’t. No one would argue that Google remains the dominant player in this sector. Google Maps is not only available on more platforms, such as Apple’s CarPlay, but also has a wider range of features and provides more accurate and reliable navigation data.

Of course, accuracy and reliability can be subjective depending on location; objectively, Google Maps has more geographic data available. In addition to mapping data, Google had a nearly 10-year lead over Apple in collecting all search engine/business data and all advertising/tracking data pulled in from users. This allows Google Maps to excel in areas such as calculating route times and providing real-time traffic information (for roads and restaurants). It’s not hard to see why using Google Maps as your native mapping software works in Android Auto’s favor.

2 Google Assistant circles around Siri

Apple’s privacy efforts keep the Assistant in the dark

Google Assistant on Pixel 8

Unlike Maps, Apple actually had a head start in the digital assistant space, launching Siri in 2011, five years before Google Assistant, but with its commitment to user privacy and cloud computing. ‘s early stumbles, and refinements really hindered its development. Again, when it comes to Siri and Google Assistant, many agree that the latter is objectively better, thanks to more accurate and efficient language processing and better support for third-party apps. I don’t think users will have any objections.

Broader third-party app support could make a big difference in moving vehicles, where most interaction with the system is done through voice commands. The same goes for the AI ​​features built into Google Assistant. This feature does things like summarize long text messages, so you can spend less time listening to (or worse, reading) messages and more time focusing on the road. . The bottom line is that if you have to decide which voice assistant is better and more capable, you should give it to Android Auto.

3 Notifications are now even more convenient

I want to be able to read the text (if it is safe)

This could be a win or a loss for Apple, depending on how you think about distracted driving. The CarPlay experience is very streamlined and aims to be as distracting as possible for the driver. Everything is done through Siri, including reading and writing text messages, and you don’t receive any interactive notifications that let you tap for quick actions like calls or messages.

Kudos to Apple for putting safety first, but being able to quickly check a text message or tap a message alert for a quick response or call might be safer than actually fiddling with your device. You can certainly argue that it can’t be done. Voice assistants — especially since we already know that Siri doesn’t win any awards for accuracy or efficiency. Again, it’s easy to argue that this favors Apple over Google when it comes to overall notification usefulness, but Android Auto is the clear winner.

Four Improved support for third-party apps

Whoever has the most apps commands the dashboard

Source: Sizzik

Like Google Assistant, Android Auto as a whole benefits from (much) better third-party app support. I couldn’t find exact current numbers to really show the contrast. My understanding is that Android Auto supports thousands of third-party applications, although both the App Store and Google Play Store are bad at rounding these up. , CarPlay app support is still well below the 1,000 mark.

This can obviously change literally at any time, and the question of app support really depends on your individual needs, but on a macro level, you might want to use more niche or obscure apps in your environment. If it’s a car, Auto is simply more likely to support it. And it doesn’t even have to be an obscure app. Facebook Messenger works well with Android Auto, but is not yet supported by CarPlay. I hope the group chat is in another app because I can’t find it here.

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Five Android Auto warns you when speeding

I started thinking seriously about Apple. wish I’ll give you a speeding ticket

One of my favorite little features in CarPlay is that it tells you the current speed limit for the road you’re on while you’re driving. This is perfect for when you’re on a long road trip or traveling to a new area, when you feel like you’re going faster than others and you can’t see the speed limit signs. Just glance at the screen and adjust the speed accordingly. But of course, Android Auto can also go a step further and show you how fast you’re driving and warn you when you’re overspeeding.

There are some asterisks here. First, this feature is not always available automatically. You’ll need to go somewhere in split-screen mode or with a third-party app like his Waze, and functionality may vary depending on your phone’s Android version and car model. It’s also worth noting that while CarPlay doesn’t currently allow you to do this, this is one of the features rumored to debut in the next version of the platform later this year. With all this in mind, we mark this as a “W” for Android Auto.

Does this mean Android Auto is a better car platform?

It’s really up to the user. It may sound like a cliché or a cop-out, but it’s actually the only correct answer here. Android Auto and CarPlay are so close in functionality and experience that I don’t think it’s worth switching your mobile ecosystem to one or the other. The real takeaway from this is that while some might argue that Apple is winning the marketing and mindshare game in this area, Android Auto is clearly better, at least in some key areas. This means that it is an excellent system. And if you and some friends are planning a road trip this summer, you might want to let an Android user take charge of your in-car navigation.