CarPlay VS Android Auto - WHO IS THE BEST!

"The age-old question of which is better, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto”, has been debated for years. In this video, we will highlight all the important features and make our own judgment on which is truly the best for everyday use. The CarPlay featured in this video is running on iOS 18 developer beta, and we have the latest version of Android Auto, Coolwalk 2024.

My thought. Both are absolute legends when it comes to giving your car a modern look from your head unit, and if you have a larger screen display, they will adapt and adjust accordingly. However, it’s clear that Android Auto gives the user more power, though it sacrifices the luxury appeal that Apple CarPlay offers. I enjoy both equally, especially since I don’t use my car’s interface to play games. My needs are just navigation and media control for my music app, and both are very capable. However, one feature I wish Apple could improve is the notifications. Other than that, CarPlay is perfect for me, but I prefer Android Auto for its straightforward functionality, without the unnecessary suggestions that Siri often provides when I’m simply asking for a nearby location.

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[skejpa]

Android Auto is better definitely. You can see less graphics and more informations. More practical. And also settings is little bit deeper. And you have advantage of english language. Voice control in other (smaller) languages is rubbish...

[tiffanycurtis]

I have a question can you use Pandora with your apps from your phone automatically go to the device and how do you hide? The cord was not all hanging all over the place when you plug it into the cigarette lighter.

[alternatereality]

I tried both Android Auto via Pixel 8 and CarPlay via iPhone 12 on a 2023 Toyota and the experience is smoother on CarPlay. I don't get silent pauses in music streaming (YouTube music, PlexAmp) and navigation arrows show in HUD using Apple Maps but not in Google Maps. At the end I use CarPlay as it is just better integrated and functionally more polished.

[joshualish]

Unpopular opinion, I do not think that apple carplay looks better than Android. I used to use them back to back, and Android Auto was smoother than Apple Carplay.

[custm]

Apple carplay has a lot of catching up to do. Google has propped the doors wide open to customizations i didnt even realize you couldnt even do phone background on carplay and 3d satellite view on google maps is awesome. my coworker uses carplay and freaked out how detailed the view was when he got in my car.

[flysafely]

While I wouldn't change phones because of CarPlay, if each were an app available to the other type user, that I would consider. Though, the only current game changer that I hope Apple includes in a next iteration of Car Play is the messages indicator top left. And, I really like the Android display gives more viewing real estate to the map (for instance) and still has info at a glance on the right I don't care about wallpaper for CarPlay and I don't see how games on that display is anything but a huge distraction to the driver. Give the kids other devices to play their games. Thanks for these videos, I enjoy them and learn a lot.

[Fred_The_Flying_Sandwitch]

In Android Auto you can pinch to zoom and CarPlay doesn’t have that 😡

[DjangoGroen]

great video bro. but i am not gonna choose the phone based on this. i just use whatever i have at the time. right know im on my iphone

[mrwjs]

The Apple AI comment for iOS 18 didn't age well, not any fault of your own.

[krownd]

I like andriod auto better. Apple is very restrictive. Just switched to iOS so I just connect Bluetooth it’s better since the map is useless on CarPlay can’t zoom or scan ahead etc

[Derpalerpa]

I’m not sure if I’m doing anything wrong. I’m using it with my new Samsung S23. I say new cuz it’s out of the box brand spanking new, I know it’s 2 years old.

Anywho, it’s a top tier flagship but Android Auto feels so sloppy and clunky compared to Carplay on my just-as-old iPhone 14. I don’t know if it’s a design/ui thing but it feels like I’m doing something wrong.

[adeelahmed]

I am fairly a new driver but using android auto since the begining, but recently I had to connect my iPhone. To my surprise, CarPlay turned out to be disappointing. First, the assistant doesn’t work with other popular navigation apps like Google Maps and Waze—no one really uses Apple Maps outside of the US. The most frustrating part is that you can’t drag the map or zoom in and out.

This limitation has caused me a lot of headaches, especially living in a city with a complex road network. I often need to drag the map to see further ahead and correct my lane, and without that functionality, it's a dealbreaker. That’s why I decided not to use an iPhone as my personal device, I was planning to buy an iphone.

I even searched online to see if there was a solution, like enabling a specific setting, but it seems like everyone is facing the same issue.

In addition, I’ve noticed other problems with CarPlay, such as frequent freezing or the device completely stopping projection. I’ve tried both wireless and wired connections, but the issues persist.

[实在哈哈]

I love your content and thorough review. My wife owns a taycan which only supports Android Car play wnd and i wonder what android carplay is like

[PARONTHE]

Android Auto produces the worst sound quality ever. I've played Spotify using both phones and the same settings and Android Auto is piss poor the sound quality drops a considerable amount (using Bluetooth or cable)

[BruceLeeRoy]

I use both on a 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee (15 Pro Max and OnePlus Open) the Apple CarPlay works a lot better especially with Siri, I don’t know what’s going on with the Google Assistant but it’s kind of crappy; sending a message is average at best and there’s times when I’m told my wife or dad isn’t in my contacts. Apple CarPlay is near instantaneous connection too while my Android Auto takes about a minute or two, sometimes I even have to manually push the “connect” button. I would say that Android Auto does have Facebook messenger and signal for notifications however, I find myself muting them since they are just more distractions. Apple CarPlay for Jeep also gives you turn by turn directions in the digital dash.

[tailt]

There is something you did not address, I work in a dealer and 99% of times when there is an issue with a malfunctioning system it 99% times an android auto problem. We never get an apple car play issue. We have people with 10 year old iPhones and it always work on the first time. The experience of Android auto is great when it works but like I said it's really unreliable. Sometimes it doesn't even work with budget phones of current year. The issues start a the very core there's just simply to many different android phones with different os, it's not controlled like iPhone os are. I get the customizing part is great but it lacks support. If you get an issue with the phone there's no android auto customer service, but if you get an issue with carplay you can always call Apple support and there is always someone to help. Software support is very important.

[tdata]

I have an S24 Ultra, and an iPhone 16 Pro Max, Carplay is terrible. When in PANED VIEW, you can't send WAZE reports, only in extended view. WHICH being a short man, and having a 14in Nav screen, puts the "report" button to the bottom right corner literally about 2ft from where I sit in my 2023 Tundra. With Android Auto, that report icon is always there. Spotify on Android Auto actually (90% of the time) pauses for you to use Google Assistant. Spotify for Carplay gets 10% quieter so you're yelling over your music. I'm just glad Siri allows you to use Waze for navigation. Also, Siri does seem better at transcribing what I say than Google. It was super frustrating how long it took Google to allow Google Assistant to work with Waze, their own software. Literally two years for me, since I had Android Auto in my 2020 Highlander.

[dailyactivitiesWWW]

They are both I used to be a massive apple fan I have recently switched to android, siri is better to communicate with as he understands me better due to my accent, Google voice on the other hand doesn't work well for me, android or apple they are both good phone from what I can gather at this point it is prefence to be fair

[DjangoGroen]

can i turn my notifications off? i want them on my phone not on my car screen.
i still wanna recieve calls though

[PippeML]

I love Android, but I truly think they need to improve the Andoid Auto... The keyboard ia terrible, too smakk while Apple Car Play has a way bigger keyboard.. in general Car Play buttons/keys are bigger because of course you are in a car, and you are sitting in front of the wheel leaning rigjt to use a touch display with 1 hand... Car Play really has thia in mind while Android Auto doesn't.

Waze is just unusable to me, maybe Im too chunky or "too fast" i always have to type everything twice ir trice in android auto, while in my wife's car play I type ok.