Android Auto and Apple CarPlay have greatly improved motorists’ in-car experience – but which of the two smartphone mirroring systems reigns supreme?
You’re either in the Android camp or a member of the Apple ecosphere. The inability to switch between the competing smartphone mirroring technologies immediately makes this comparison a bit void.
However, a fierce debate remains as to whether Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is the better entertainment and communications system. So, we’ll oblige by picking which is the superior technology, and then watch as our comment section is inundated with criticism.
Interface
Now, much like when it comes to criticising a car’s styling, much of these systems’ interfaces should be left to individual preferences. But we can make a few inferences about the layouts, simplicity of menu navigation, and the content that is offered on various screens.
Starting with Apple CarPlay, the latest interface champions big blocky icons and simple navigation between various apps and screens. It’s very handy having the three most recent shortcuts show up alongside the screen, so you can quickly skip between what you’re doing now and the screen you had previously.
There’s also a persistent home button/apps menu icon in the bottom right corner of the display on most vehicles (though some place this shortcut bar on the left, a carry-over from left-hand drive origins).
Above: Apple CarPlay
Apple also provides a handy home screen that shows information such as a small map display, recent song information, and either turn-by-turn prompts, smart home shortcuts (like a garage door open button when you’re close to home) or other reminders depending on the situation.
You can customise the background to a degree, with different wallpapers available to choose from within the settings. With Apple CarPlay you’re able to change this on the fly with the settings on the screen. The same can be done for Android Auto.
The lastest version of Android Auto adopts a similar layout and style to CarPlay with a dedicated home screen showing song information, map displays, and message information. It’ll display whatever the most recent app was for a handy at-a-glance overview. Shortcuts are also seen on the right-hand-side panel for quick access to recent functions.
It’s a minor thing, but the app screen displays icons in a vertical scroll-down format rather than CarPlay’s scroll-across horizontal format.
Above: Android Auto
For mine, Apple CarPlay’s presentation scores a win by a narrow margin for its bright use of colours and its slick text.
Winner: Apple CarPlay
App integration
Between Apple CarPlay and Android Auto both systems offer provisions for native apps including Phone, Maps, Calendar, Music, News, Podcasts/Audiobooks, and Settings. Similarly, you can also get third-party integration for apps like Spotify for music and Waze for mapping, along with a variety of other music streaming, podcast, internet radio, messaging, and navigation apps.
Apple CarPlay’s app display is laid out in a grid formation, which makes it simple to see an overview of what apps you’ve got. Android Auto does the same with its own app layout.
Interestingly, Facebook Messenger is supported on Android Auto but not on Apple CarPlay.
Winner: Android Auto, by a slim margin.
Connectivity
Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can connect through USB cables. In certain cars, both technologies can be accessed through a Bluetooth and wi-fi connection. It is more commonly found that Apple CarPlay is accessed wirelessly rather than Android Auto – for example, Nissan currently only offers wireless CarPlay on its Qashqai and X-Trail models, while Android Auto can only be accessed via a cabled connection.
This wireless technology needs to be licensed from either Apple or Google.
Below: Android Auto
Winner: Apple CarPlay
Voice Assistant
Voice commands are possible on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with the voice assistant called up by a quick press on the home button. This is one of the easiest ways to interact with either software, with both systems understanding simple speech and requests almost every time.
To avoid distraction, voice assistance in the car is a more basic version of what you might expect on your phone or home smart speaker. You can ask questions like ‘what time is it in London?’, ‘What’s the temperature outside/in Sydney?’, or ‘how long will it take me to drive to Yass?’ but you won’t be able to ask for a recipe for chocolate cake, or for a history of landmarks you see on the road, for example.
Winner: It’s a tie
Below: Apple CarPlay (left) and Android Auto
Navigation
Both Apple and Google have their own proprietary map applications that are used as default in CarPlay and Android Auto respectively. You’re not tied to Apple Maps or Google Maps, however. You can use the Google Maps app inside Apple CarPlay, along with Waze, TomTom, and others. We’ve used Google Maps as part of this comparison to keep the functionality comparison fair.
The simpler navigation experience comes on the Android Auto system because you can simply skip between route options on Android Auto while actively navigating, whereas Apple CarPlay will make you go back to the navigation menu to change routes.
Apple users may have noticed that the latest version of Apple Maps provides more detailed mapping of buildings, landmarks, and lane markings. Android users aren’t able to access Apple’s proprietary mapping, however.
Winner: Android Auto
Below: Android Auto (left) and Apple CarPlay
Notifications
While both smartphone mirroring platforms allow notifications, Android Auto is more discreet in announcing incoming calls, texts, and messages. Apple CarPlay’s voice assistant will disable the screen and read out a notification, while Android Auto simply minimises the notification and reads it out. This means you can continue following navigation while having messages read out, for example.
Similarly, incoming calls action a screen blockout on Apple CarPlay, whereas Android Auto shows a smaller banner on the screen so you can continue using the system during a call. Apple does allow a call to run in the background, but you’ll need to tap the home button to deprioritise it. A status indicator at the top of the screen will show a call in progress.
Winner: Android Auto
Above: Android Auto (left) and Apple CarPlay
You can also simply mute further notifications using a small icon that pops up alongside the notification, which is especially handy for people part of noisy group chats.
Conclusion
With recent updates pushing the two smartphone mirroring systems closer than ever before in terms of design, functionality and ability, there are only subtle differences to call out between the two.
Android Auto scores a clear win on its minimalism when it comes to notifications and ease of use, though Apple CarPlay features a slicker presentation overall and the wider prevalence of wireless connectivity.
Based on pure category wins, Android Auto is the superior smartphone mirroring system, thanks to its inclusion of Facebook Messenger, its unobtrusive notifications, and the easier skipping between alternative routes when mapping.
At the end of the day, this won’t stop Apple/Android fans from staunchly backing their own crowd.
Which smartphone mirroring system do you use and what are your favourite features? Let us know in the comments below.
The post Apple CarPlay vs Android Auto: Smartphone mirroring showdown appeared first on Drive.
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