The smartphone revolution in India has reshaped the country’s automotive landscape, with an increasing number of car manufacturers integrating support for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay into their onboard infotainment systems. These platforms offer seamless user experiences across different vehicles, enhancing convenience and safety for drivers by enabling hands-free operation for tasks such as messaging, calls, and music playback. While both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto serve a similar purpose, each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Let’s delve into a comparison to determine the superior choice for Indian car owners:
Comparing Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
To determine the superior service in India, we thoroughly tested both systems across categories crucial to car owners in the region. This article highlights the performance of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in each category, concluding with a definitive winner.
1. Navigation
An always-connected system in your car offers significant navigation advantages. Navigation is indispensable for modern car owners, facilitating seamless travel across India. With a reliable navigation system, reaching any destination in the country becomes effortlessly achievable.
For navigation, Android Auto excels. Utilizing Google Maps, it offers top-tier navigation. Testing it with various locations, including those with complex Hindi names, Android Auto consistently recognizes and navigates without fail.
Apple CarPlay presents a unique scenario. Not because Apple Maps pales in comparison to Google Maps (which it does), but because it lacks navigation support in India entirely. Yes, you heard correctly. Apple CarPlay fails to fulfill its fundamental purpose. Unfortunately, I can’t demonstrate a non-functional feature, but I can display the Siri icon, which is all you’ll encounter when seeking directions.
Champion: Android Auto
2. Music
People likely listen to more songs while driving than at home or in the office. Music alleviates the boredom of traffic jams, making our commute more bearable. In our tests, both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay performed similarly well in playing music, effortlessly identifying and playing songs.
We tested various English, Hindi, and Punjabi songs, and both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay successfully recognized and played all of them. Apple CarPlay demonstrated slightly faster responsiveness in song recognition and playback. However, it’s worth noting that Apple CarPlay exclusively supports Apple Music, whereas Android Auto offers compatibility with the Gaana app, boasting a superior collection of Indian songs compared to Apple Music.
Winner: Tie
3. Calls
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto offer a top safety feature: handsfree call handling. They facilitate both answering and making calls through voice commands. If you’re frequently on calls, these systems prove invaluable. We tested calling various contacts and encountered no issues.
Our assessment involved instructing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to call contacts with multiple entries. Both systems adeptly recognized these instances and prompted us to select the desired number to dial. In terms of call functionality, both platforms excelled, leaving no room for complaints.
Winner: Tie
4. Messaging
In the realm of messaging, Android Auto surpasses Apple CarPlay. Apple CarPlay adequately handles reading and responding to messages, yet Android Auto supports a broader range of messaging apps. Currently, Apple CarPlay only supports standard text messaging and WhatsApp, whereas Android Auto also accommodates Telegram, Skype, Hangouts, and additional platforms.
Considering your choice of messaging platform, both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay can effectively read and respond to messages. I tested various message formats, including normal text and WhatsApp, all delivered seamlessly. If your primary platforms are WhatsApp and iMessage, Apple CarPlay matches Android Auto’s performance. Yet, Android Auto edges ahead due to its broader support for messaging services.
Victor: Android Auto
5. Notifications
Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay display notifications on the dashboard in real-time. If left unattended, they fade into the background, with each system handling this differently. Apple CarPlay presents notifications as classic iOS badges within the app, while Android Auto adopts a scrollable card view for all notifications. This approach enables quick review and dismissal of irrelevant notifications, a feature I prefer over Apple CarPlay’s method.
Victor: Android Auto
6. User Interface
Before proceeding, it’s worth noting that user interface preferences vary from person to person. Despite Android Auto’s functional interface, Apple CarPlay has certain advantages.
Overall, I found Apple CarPlay more fluid than Android Auto. Android Auto feels sluggish and lags behind in speed and performance. Additionally, Apple CarPlay’s interface is more modern. Another factor is the dedicated assistant button in some cars, which works seamlessly with Apple CarPlay, making it easier to call up Siri than Google Assistant. For these reasons, the point goes to Apple CarPlay.
Winner: Apple CarPlay
Android Auto vs Apple CarPlay: The Winner
After reviewing all points, the winner is clear. Android Auto unquestionably triumphs. Apple CarPlay lost due to navigation issues, a primary function of such platforms. Even in regions where Apple Maps function, the absence of Google Maps support is a deal breaker.
Aside from navigation, Apple CarPlay competes evenly with Android Auto in all areas except messaging. However, Apple could easily add support for third-party messaging services, as it did for WhatsApp. Nonetheless, at present, Apple CarPlay pales in comparison to Android Auto, the undisputed champion of this contest.
Optimal Driving with Android Auto Connectivity
Entering this comparison, my expectations for Apple CarPlay were modest due to Apple’s limited presence in India. However, aside from navigation and messaging, Apple CarPlay performed admirably against Android Auto. If Apple were to focus on the Indian market and adopt Google Maps as its default navigation app (an unlikely scenario), it could rival Android Auto with its swift and seamless user interface. Share your opinions in the comments below!
Pritam Chopra is a seasoned IT professional and a passionate blogger hailing from the dynamic realm of technology. With an insatiable curiosity for all things tech-related, Pritam has dedicated himself to exploring and unraveling the intricacies of the digital world.
