4 reasons why I prefer CarPlay over Android Auto

To begin with, let’s make something clear — I have nothing against Android or Android Auto. While my daily device is an iPhone 16 Pro, I’ve owned several Android phones over the years, and I’d actually like more excuses to use Android when driving. I want to see the full scope of what modern smartphone tech offers, especially when it comes to integrating with EVs.

If you forced me to pick an in-car platform, though, I’d probably go with CarPlay. There are a few reasons why, some of which boil down to pure preference. I’m even expecting to have my opinion swayed at some point, whether by more time with Android Auto, or future upgrades. Maybe Apple will actually launch its next-generation CarPlay at some point, but I’m not holding my breath on that one.

1 CarPlay seems to be more stable

Your mileage may vary

While Android Auto is hardly a catastrophic mess, CarPlay is more reliable overall. It has an unfair advantage, of course — there are far fewer iPhones on the market than there are Android devices, and all of them come from a single company, so it’s inherently easier to troubleshoot. A complex technical situation is part of the price Android users pay for having more app, device, and interface choices.

Normally, I’d side with product freedom, but reliability is absolutely essential when you’re driving. At best, no one wants to have to fiddle with their phone before starting their work commute. In extreme scenarios, a bug could get someone lost, or cause a distraction at the worst possible time. Consider an experience from Apple’s own history — the original version of Apple Maps led some drivers into the Australian desert.

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