Apple CarPlay vs. Android Auto: We Test the Most Hyped Software of the Year

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From the September 2015 issue

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The term “infotainment,” despite being a marketing portmanteau that makes our eyes roll, does neatly sum up the increasing variety of human-machine interfaces that dominates today’s dashboards. Now, Silicon Valley has leapt into the infotainment fray with technology that promises to simplify the often contentious relationship between man and modern machine. New phone-mirroring software from Apple and Google beam their mobile operating systems—redesigned with fewer apps for the car—from your phone to the vehicle’s central display. Automakers are rushing to adopt these phone-integration systems, dubbed Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both to appear hip and to keep drivers’ hands on steering wheels where they belong. Having sampled both phone-mirroring solutions, we can report the following:

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Voice commands rule: Siri’s rigidity requires that queries be submitted just so; Android answers to a more natural crooning.

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		Android Auto		Apple CarPlay
Compatible Apps		20		17
Built-in Apps		Phone, Music, Google Maps, Hangouts		Phone, Music, Apple Maps, Messages, Podcasts, iBooks
Must-have Apps		Google Maps, Google Now		Spotify, Messages
Apps We Wish Were Compatible		Google Docs, Waze		Google Maps, Waze
Voice Activation		Yes, via Google		Yes, via Siri
Weather Updates		Yes, via Google and visible tile		Yes, via SirI
Requires -Standalone App		Yes, the Android Auto app		No

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Our Verdict

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Any technology that takes more phones out of drivers’ hands is good. But both of these systems reduce distraction by reducing usefulness. As much as they promise phone mirroring, they don’t really work like your phone. The only key functions, for example, that allow touch-screen inputs for swiping, scrolling, and button selection outside of the main-screen icons are in the music apps (song and playlist libraries) and phone apps (contacts, recent calls, etc.). And though both CarPlay and Android Auto provide a familiar visual context for voice-to-text or navigation instructions, on the whole, neither feels especially beneficial. Most new cars already offer voice-to-text or voice commands, and some even offer Apple Siri integration. That leaves the ability to beam navigation to the car’s screen (provided the car lacks factory nav) as the most notable reason to use CarPlay or Android Auto. Even then, Google Maps is strictly compatible with Android Auto while CarPlay is stuck with the crummier Apple Maps. Waze and its critical cop-locating feature isn’t compatible with either, so you’ll still be staring at your phone to use this popular driver’s tool. For this reason, and for Android’s integration of the creepy-but-useful Google Now predictive software—it “learns” your life patterns before displaying suggested routes home, weather and traffic updates, calendar reminders, etc.—we’re giving the nod to Android Auto.

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• 2015 McLaren 650S Spider Tested: Catch Me If You Can

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• Four Must-Have In-Car Smartphone Apps

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• Chevy Brings Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to 14 Models for 2016

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