I used Android Auto And Apple CarPlay On Long Drives For A Month And One Is Clearly Better Than The Other
Sun, 06/28/2026 - 1:05pm
Jim1348
19 years
My wife and I typically use Android Auto with Google Maps if we are in the vehicle together. She reminded me very recently that she does NOT like change. I, on the other hand, have tried some different maps to compare and contrast. When I find something I like, I will use it when she is not with me and return to what she likes when she is along.
I still think it is wild that she was all about Google Maps and not using Garmin, until I started using BOTH in our RV. She has even "bragged" to others that "we" use both in our Jayco!
At the end of the day, I do still find Garmins to be much more feature rich than either Google Maps or Apple Maps. However, if you are simply driving from Point A to Point B, they do that quite well. For most people Google Maps or Apple Maps will win most of the time.
I will also go out on a limb here and suggested that some, perhaps many, POI Factory members are not "most people", however.
I have used both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay before, but switching between them on short city drives never told me the full story. Long drives are different. That is when navigation, music controls, calls, messages, voice assistants, overall reliability, and small interface choices start to matter a lot more.
Over the past month, I used both systems on extended trips to see which one actually made life easier behind the wheel.
Android Auto home screen
Related
Android Auto is better when you disable most of your smartphone features
Keep your eyes on the road.
CarPlay immediately felt more polished
Due to the liquid glass design
CarPlay made a better first impression the moment I plugged in my iPhone. Apple’s Liquid Glass design gives the entire dashboard a cleaner, more premium look, and it immediately felt more thoughtfully designed than Android Auto.
The rounded panels, translucent elements, smoother icons, and softer interface touches make CarPlay feel like a proper extension of iOS instead of a basic car projection system. Android Auto, by comparison, still feels more functional than beautiful. It gets the job done, but the interface lacks the same visual depth or polish.
Google has already announced a major Android Auto redesign at Google I/O 2026, but it has yet to arrive on our devices. So for now, CarPlay easily wins the design round.
Third-party widgets are quite useful on CarPlay
Very handy on long drives
To Do for CarPlay
Another feature that surprised me was how useful third-party widgets turned out to be on CarPlay. After a few long drives, I found myself relying on them regularly. Apps like Outlook and Microsoft To Do can surface information right on the CarPlay dashboard, which means I can quickly glance at my upcoming meetings, tasks, and reminders without digging through multiple apps or picking up my phone.
Instead of constantly switching between navigation, music, and productivity apps, I can keep Google Maps front and center while still seeing important information from other services. Android Auto currently lacks this flexibility. Google has already announced widget support as part of its upcoming Android Auto redesign, and I am looking forward to it. Until that update arrives, CarPlay has a meaningful advantage here.
Android Auto still wins on customization
More control
Google Tasks understanding complex requests
Android Auto may not look as polished as CarPlay, but it gives me far more control over the actual driving experience. That flexibility became a big deal during long drives.
I could rearrange my app launcher, move the apps I use most to the top, hide the ones I never need, and even pin my favorite contacts for each access. That makes calling someone much faster and safer without digging through the phone app or relying on voice commands.
I also like that Android Auto lets me tweak the taskbar layout and keep useful controls within reach. On longer routes, having navigation, music, and recent apps available in a predictable spot makes the system feel more practical.
Notification control is another area where Android Auto pulls ahead. I can decide how messages appear, conversation previews show up, and how much interruption I want while driving. CarPlay feels cleaner out of the box, but Android Auto lets me shape the dashboard around my habits. For me, that customization gives it a huge advantage.
Gemini gives Android Auto a smarter assistant layer
Way better than Siri
Gemini understanding a complex request
The main reason I chose Android Auto over Apple CarPlay was Gemini. CarPlay may look better, and Siri is fine for basic commands, but Gemini feels miles ahead once I actually start using it on the road. Gemini makes Android Auto feel like a proper assistant that understands what I want to do and then gets it done across the apps I already use every day.
Deals on Phones & Mobile Gear for Connected Driving
Explore discounts on phones, in-car connectivity, and mobile accessories. Find savings on smartphones, mounts, chargers, Bluetooth adapters, and hands-free gear—browse Phones & Mobile deals for offers that boost comfort and safety on long drives.
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The ecosystem advantage is hard to ignore. Gemini works with Google Maps, YouTube Music, Keep, Tasks, and even WhatsApp. I can ask it to navigate somewhere, play a specific playlist, pull up a note, create a task, or send a message without touching a screen.
The WhatsApp integration alone is useful on long drives. I can simply say, "Send a message to Harshil on WhatsApp and tell him I will reach in 30 minutes."
XDA
Quiz
8 Questions · Test Your Knowledge
Android Auto vs. CarPlay
Trivia challenge
Think you know your way around in-car tech? Put your Android Auto and CarPlay knowledge to the test.
It feels natural, fast, and far less rigid than Siri on CarPlay. Where Gemini really pulls ahead is with complex commands. I am not limited to one basic action at a time. I can say something like "Create a pizza recipe in Google Keep and make a checklist of ingredients in Tasks," and it understands the intent across multiple apps. That is why Android Auto became the winner for me. CarPlay feels more polished, but Gemini makes Android Auto feel smarter and more useful. The possibilities are endless here, and that single advantage was enough to put Android Auto ahead.
One made road trips feel easier
If I were judging purely on design and consistency, CarPlay would win without much debate. But long drives are not just about good looks. They are about how useful the system feels when I am actually behind the wheel for hours. That is where Android Auto pulled ahead for me. Being able to control all my essential apps with complex voice prompts made Android Auto feel smarter and more practical.
My wife and I typically use Android Auto with Google Maps if we are in the vehicle together. She reminded me very recently that she does NOT like change. I, on the other hand, have tried some different maps to compare and contrast. When I find something I like, I will use it when she is not with me and return to what she likes when she is along.
I still think it is wild that she was all about Google Maps and not using Garmin, until I started using BOTH in our RV. She has even "bragged" to others that "we" use both in our Jayco!
At the end of the day, I do still find Garmins to be much more feature rich than either Google Maps or Apple Maps. However, if you are simply driving from Point A to Point B, they do that quite well. For most people Google Maps or Apple Maps will win most of the time.
I will also go out on a limb here and suggested that some, perhaps many, POI Factory members are not "most people", however.
https://www.xda-developers.com/used-android-auto-and-apple-c...
I have used both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay before, but switching between them on short city drives never told me the full story. Long drives are different. That is when navigation, music controls, calls, messages, voice assistants, overall reliability, and small interface choices start to matter a lot more.
Over the past month, I used both systems on extended trips to see which one actually made life easier behind the wheel.
Android Auto home screen
Related
Android Auto is better when you disable most of your smartphone features
Keep your eyes on the road.
CarPlay immediately felt more polished
Due to the liquid glass design
CarPlay made a better first impression the moment I plugged in my iPhone. Apple’s Liquid Glass design gives the entire dashboard a cleaner, more premium look, and it immediately felt more thoughtfully designed than Android Auto.
The rounded panels, translucent elements, smoother icons, and softer interface touches make CarPlay feel like a proper extension of iOS instead of a basic car projection system. Android Auto, by comparison, still feels more functional than beautiful. It gets the job done, but the interface lacks the same visual depth or polish.
Google has already announced a major Android Auto redesign at Google I/O 2026, but it has yet to arrive on our devices. So for now, CarPlay easily wins the design round.
Third-party widgets are quite useful on CarPlay
Very handy on long drives
To Do for CarPlay
Another feature that surprised me was how useful third-party widgets turned out to be on CarPlay. After a few long drives, I found myself relying on them regularly. Apps like Outlook and Microsoft To Do can surface information right on the CarPlay dashboard, which means I can quickly glance at my upcoming meetings, tasks, and reminders without digging through multiple apps or picking up my phone.
Instead of constantly switching between navigation, music, and productivity apps, I can keep Google Maps front and center while still seeing important information from other services. Android Auto currently lacks this flexibility. Google has already announced widget support as part of its upcoming Android Auto redesign, and I am looking forward to it. Until that update arrives, CarPlay has a meaningful advantage here.
Android Auto still wins on customization
More control
Google Tasks understanding complex requests
Android Auto may not look as polished as CarPlay, but it gives me far more control over the actual driving experience. That flexibility became a big deal during long drives.
I could rearrange my app launcher, move the apps I use most to the top, hide the ones I never need, and even pin my favorite contacts for each access. That makes calling someone much faster and safer without digging through the phone app or relying on voice commands.
I also like that Android Auto lets me tweak the taskbar layout and keep useful controls within reach. On longer routes, having navigation, music, and recent apps available in a predictable spot makes the system feel more practical.
Notification control is another area where Android Auto pulls ahead. I can decide how messages appear, conversation previews show up, and how much interruption I want while driving. CarPlay feels cleaner out of the box, but Android Auto lets me shape the dashboard around my habits. For me, that customization gives it a huge advantage.
Gemini gives Android Auto a smarter assistant layer
Way better than Siri
Gemini understanding a complex request
The main reason I chose Android Auto over Apple CarPlay was Gemini. CarPlay may look better, and Siri is fine for basic commands, but Gemini feels miles ahead once I actually start using it on the road. Gemini makes Android Auto feel like a proper assistant that understands what I want to do and then gets it done across the apps I already use every day.
Deals on Phones & Mobile Gear for Connected Driving
Explore discounts on phones, in-car connectivity, and mobile accessories. Find savings on smartphones, mounts, chargers, Bluetooth adapters, and hands-free gear—browse Phones & Mobile deals for offers that boost comfort and safety on long drives.
XDA logo
Deals
Explore Phones & Mobile Deals
The ecosystem advantage is hard to ignore. Gemini works with Google Maps, YouTube Music, Keep, Tasks, and even WhatsApp. I can ask it to navigate somewhere, play a specific playlist, pull up a note, create a task, or send a message without touching a screen.
The WhatsApp integration alone is useful on long drives. I can simply say, "Send a message to Harshil on WhatsApp and tell him I will reach in 30 minutes."
XDA
Quiz
8 Questions · Test Your Knowledge
Android Auto vs. CarPlay
Trivia challenge
Think you know your way around in-car tech? Put your Android Auto and CarPlay knowledge to the test.
It feels natural, fast, and far less rigid than Siri on CarPlay. Where Gemini really pulls ahead is with complex commands. I am not limited to one basic action at a time. I can say something like "Create a pizza recipe in Google Keep and make a checklist of ingredients in Tasks," and it understands the intent across multiple apps. That is why Android Auto became the winner for me. CarPlay feels more polished, but Gemini makes Android Auto feel smarter and more useful. The possibilities are endless here, and that single advantage was enough to put Android Auto ahead.
One made road trips feel easier
If I were judging purely on design and consistency, CarPlay would win without much debate. But long drives are not just about good looks. They are about how useful the system feels when I am actually behind the wheel for hours. That is where Android Auto pulled ahead for me. Being able to control all my essential apps with complex voice prompts made Android Auto feel smarter and more practical.