Don’t you just hate it when you’re driving somewhere alone, and that annoying song comes up, so you have to reach out for your phone to change it? Well, we hate it too! And it’s dangerous as well!
So let’s talk about mobile-car correspondence apps today. There are two apps that are most popular in this field – Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. They are very similar, but they do have a few differences.
The main difference between Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is personalization: Android Auto gives a lot more flexibility starting from changing the appearance of the screen through the car’s dashboard to brightness and wallpaper adjustment, showing album colors, etc.
We have created this article for you today in the hopes that our Apple Carplay Vs Android Auto comparison will help you see where these apps meet and whether they drift apart. Keep reading to learn more about them!
What Is Apple Carplay?
Apple CarPlay is an amazing mobile application that was introduced to make your life easier on the go. It was introduced to all iPhone models since iPhone 5 and had been running since then.
You have to connect Apple CarPlay to your car, and then you will be able to get access to your phone through the dashboard in your vehicle. Once it has been set up, you will be able to use CarPlay to do everything from navigating Apple Maps to returning text messages with your voice.
It is a very convenient app that will act as the perfect copilot in cases whenever you need one. The app will definitely make car rides go smoother than before. If you are a fan of innovation that furthers comfort and convenience, then you are going to enjoy Apple CarPlay as much as the next person beside you.
What Is Android Auto?
Android Auto is a mobile app made by Google to be installed on all Android phones worldwide. This was designed to let you set up an enjoyable ride for yourself in your car, all the while keeping your eyes locked on the road.
Android Auto is an innovation that ensures your safety with convenience and ease of use. You have to pair up the app through your Android smartphone to the car’s operating display screen.
After successful pairing, you will be able to get complete control of your phone without even reaching out for it. With this app, you’re connected to Google Assistant through your car, so you can ask for directions to specific locations.
The app makes texts themselves just upon dictation and even makes calls hands-free. This app has much wider accessibility because it is not conjoined to a niche like the iOS market.
Differences Between Apple Carplay and Android Auto
A lot of Android Auto features are the same as Apple Carplay.
But of course, there are differences too.
Apple and Google are huge competitors, so even though the differences aren’t going to be there by a huge mark, it will still be enough to create a considerably different user experience.
Dock Position
In Apple CarPlay, you have the Dock on the left. Information such as the signal strength of your mobile network, active apps, and the time. At the bottom, you will see a symbol that opens useful widgets like a music menu, navigation buttons, and so on.
On Android Auto, everything is a bit more scattered. The shelf is at the bottom, the apple launcher is far to the left, and so is the time WiFi strength and battery percentage. On the right, you have the notifications center as well as the microphone.
All widgets can be found at the very center of the screen, and this is where you have to control the apps. The time is on the left, whereas the signal strength, WiFi strength, and battery percentage are all listed on the top right corner.
Scrolling Up Down or Left Right
You have to scroll horizontally to move from one place to another. Whereas on the Android Auto, you have to scroll vertically. Horizontal scrolling is a tad bit more convenient, but once you get used to it, the vertical scrolling will be just as smooth an experience for you.
Personalization
This is an ongoing point in the android auto vs apple carplay debate, but it’s undeniable that Android gives you much more flexibility than Apple. Through Android Auto, you will be able to change the appearance of the screen through the car’s dashboard.
You will also be able to change the mode from Light to Dark so that your eyes don’t have to adjust to the bright light while you’re on a nightly drive. You can change the wallpapers, show the album covers of music that you’re listening to, and so on.
With CarPlay, you will be able to do these things too, but you will need to follow a longer route. You can only make these changes in your car’s display through your iPhone. This slightly dampens the point of such an innovative technology, but with Apple, it is what it is.
Mismatching Features
There are features you can find in Apple Carplay that you won’t have in Android Auto. On the other hand, there are features on Android Auto that Apple CarPlay doesn’t have.
- On CarPlay, there is a messaging app that you can find on the screen, while Android Auto simply doesn’t have that.
- CarPlay has a Now Playing app for music, but Android Auto doesn’t.
- Android Auto has a weather app, but Apple CarPlay doesn’t.
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Benefits Of Using Apple Carplay
You have hands-free control of your actions on the phone. We often need to use our phones, but that distracts us from driving. With CarPlay, you don’t have to put yourself in danger every time you want to change a song.
Apple CarPlay will give you access to the very detailed Apple Maps that come with an integrated system of vocalized step-by-step directions so that you never get lost again.
The directions will be dictated to you, so all you have to do is follow directions without taking your eyes off the road.
You can receive phone calls without touching your phone. Remember Doctor Strange right before his accident? Yeah, something as cool as that can happen in your car as well! You don’t need a fancy luxury for that anymore. You just need Apple CarPlay.
Text while you’re on the go! You don’t have to type – just say what you want to say out loud, and your speech will be turned into letters and sent to the recipient of your choice without any hassle whatsoever.
The calendar on top keeps you updated with the day of the month that is running currently. You can listen to Audio Books, podcasts, and so on.
Last but not least, you will have access to some Google apps through Apple CarPlay, so you can have the best of both worlds.
So with Apple Carplay, you just have to command it to get it – and that’s their policy.
Drawbacks Of Using Apple Carplay
The only problem with Apple CarPlay is that it will only work with Apple phones. But you probably knew that already; no one is surprised.
Apple creates a niche, and they would like you to stay in it. That means you won’t be allowed seamless access to a lot of third-party apps. You have to stay within Apple’s limited ecosystem of apps.
Benefits of Using Android Auto
Again, Android Auto is much the same as Apple CarPlay. You will have hands-free access to all of the tasks that previously took your attention away from driving. So, you are going to have a much safer journey wherever you go once you are connected via this app.
You will be able to navigate by using Google Maps, which has a large database and can virtually assist you in any location, so you will never be lost again. You won’t have to rely on a reluctant human copilot for assisting with navigation. Because of Android Auto, you can do everything on your own and do it better.
You will also be able to text with your voice, make calls on command, listen to Audio books, change music, and so on. Google Assistant will help you through it all.
But one of the biggest advantages of having Android Auto is that it goes through a lot of updates that keep adding new features to it. Apple doesn’t have that vision; they keep things much more simple.
If you are a tech-savvy person, you will enjoy Android Auto more. There is, for example, a recent addition that allowed a new feature that will warn you about speed bumps and obstacles on the road even before you approach it – this is insanely helpful when you’re out there on a drive after nightfall.
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Disadvantages Of Using Android Auto
You will get access to only one Apple app through Android Auto, whereas Apple Carplay has access to three Google Apps.
You might also have trouble connecting it to the car wirelessly; in that case, you will be advised to get a USB-C cable for it, and that can be a bit inconvenient for sure.
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Apple Carplay Vs Android: Which One Is The Topper?
Well, this largely depends on the phone you have. Android users should get Android Auto because they have the same operating core, and going for the same reason, Apple users should opt for the Apple CarPlay.
Wrapping Up!
Both of these systems are designed to help you keep your hands on the steering wheel instead of reaching out to your phone. However, keep in mind that you will need some time to get used to each of these apps because they take up mental space.
Our advice to you would be that you should first get used to command the system before starting to rely on it full force when you’re out on the road.
In terms of functionality, both the apps are very similar and niche-oriented.
Regardless, we hope that this Apple Carplay Vs Android Auto Comparison has helped you to understand these mobile apps a bit better. Go ahead, explore this innovation, but practice caution all along.
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