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Apple may have abandoned its electric car project, but the company is still very much a major player in the automotive space. Watch any recent vehicle ad or review, and one of the first and most consistent things you'll see mentioned is whether it supports CarPlay or not. Google's Android Auto platform is in the mix too, but often times it feels like an afterthought, seemingly considered subpar to Apple's offering — and that couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, for lots of drivers, Android Auto might just be the better option.
This Samsung DeX accessory can turn your car's head unit into a full-blown PC
AutoPro X also works with Android Auto, but only supports Galaxy phones
Samsung DeX is a well-known feature among those who use devices from the South Korean-based manufacturer. If you have a Galaxy phone that supports Samsung DeX, you can connect it to other devices to enable a desktop-like experience. With the ability to use a mouse, keyboard, and secondary display, the feature can be helpful when you need to scale your operations. Now, a device may soon launch to give you such capabilities in an unlikely place — your car.
In this day of modern always-connected smartphones, it’s fair to say that the built-in navigation systems in most cars have become passé. After all, Google Maps can provide so much more detailed and current information on where you want to go, plus reliable and up-to-the-minute traffic information sourced from hundreds of drivers along your route.
Android Auto apps can enhance your driving experience through music, navigation, or communication. Not all the best apps on the Play Store are available for your car. More are added daily alongside staples like Google Maps and Spotify. We collected the most helpful Android Auto apps on the Google Play Store. These apps are also available for your Android phone, and some are available for our favorite WearOS smartwatches, so you can continue using them after you leave your car.
How to report speed traps and hazardous conditions in Android Auto
Android Auto makes it easy to report incidents while driving
Map applications like Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps use crowdsourced data to glean info about road conditions. They also use historical traffic patterns to determine efficient routes and make journeys easier. Community reports inform users about accidents, hazards, speed traps, lane closures, traffic incidents, and road work.
How to change your Android Auto view
Take full advantage of one of the best infotainment systems available
Historically, car infotainment center software has been clunky. In a scenario where you need access to crucial features and functions fast and with minimal distractions, these apps were often bloated with intermediary screens, disclaimers, and splash screens that made them more of an annoyance than a convenience. They're necessary if you don't want to rely on one of the best tablet car mounts or your phone to get directions while driving.
Carsifi Wireless Android Auto Adapter review: A smooth ride for some single-vehicle families
It'll take a specific use case for this adapter to make sense
If you’ve purchased or rented a new car in the past five years or so, there’s a good chance it supports Android Auto, Google’s smartphone projection system that lets you put Google Maps and other Android apps up on your dashboard in a way that’s vastly superior to the infotainment systems found in most vehicles.
Google still hasn't given us a good in-car interface on Android phones
It's been a long and bumpy road
Google has tried to create a functional car interface for smartphones several times already, but it seems to have fallen short every time. Attempts include both features in existing products and discrete apps like Android Auto for Phone Screens. These mixed fortunes haven’t stopped the folks at the Googleplex from trying, though — Google still offers a car-centric mobile UI in Google Maps Driving Mode.
Carlinkit 5.0 review: Reliable wireless Android Auto with a catch
A solid Android Auto adapter — once you get it working
Today, many vehicles support Android Auto, letting you project Google Maps, YouTube Music, Spotify, or whatever other apps you want to hit the road on your in-vehicle display. However, while it's not hard to find a car that includes Android Auto, most still require you to plug your phone in with a USB cable; standard Bluetooth systems don't have the bandwidth to pull it off, so you either need a higher-end trim with built-in Wi-Fi or a wireless Android Auto adapter to bridge the gap. That's where the Carlinkit 5.0 comes in.
The best wireless Android Auto adapter you can buy is $30 off right now
Motorola's simple MA1 wireless USB-A adapter features 5GHz Wi-Fi for fast phone sync
If you've got a vehicle that features Android Auto, in namy cases, it'll require a USB connection to use alongside your compatible Android phone. This may be suitable for some, but what if there was a way to connect to Android Auto without having to pull out your USB cable each time and plug your phone in each time you jump into your car?
Google Assistant is getting revamped on Android Auto with AI in mind
It’ll likely roll out in the coming weeks to everyone
Google developers in the Android Auto office keep themselves busy, because every few months or so, it feels like we see another redesign of the in-car user interface. We’re not complaining, though; it’s a wonderful infotainment system that does (mostly) what we need it to do. Just last week, Android Auto injected itself with some artificial intelligence with a feature called message summarization, which does exactly what it sounds like, using AI to summarize text messages and more. Now, Google is imminently releasing a new Google Assistant design for Auto that should be a really solid upgrade to what’s already there.
This 6.8-inch display is the easiest way to add Android Auto to any car for under $100
Save over $60 on an Android Auto display with this excellent deal
If you're like me and have an older car that doesn't offer a display of some type, then chances are you probably aren't too familiar with just how incredible Android Auto can be. When synced with an Android phone, Android Auto essentially uses your car's infotainment system to provide access to your phone's smart features like navigation apps, voice assistants, and more.
Android Auto vs. Android Automotive vs. Google Automotive Services (GAS)
Google's car-friendly services can be confusing. Let's break them down
When we use our phones while driving, there's a chance something horrible will happen to us or the family in the minivan on the other side of the road. We need directions and want to listen to a different song. The world might end if we don't respond to that text message that just came in. Still, we must stay focused on the road in front of us.
Google brings its AI magic to Android Auto for message summaries
AI cuts through the fluff to help keep your eyes on the road
Artificial intelligence has pervaded several aspects of our life, from making it easier to snap group photos or just enjoying automatic sorting of spreadsheet data. Thanks to Google, Android is also getting smarter through Assistant with Bard and other additions, with the latest addition coming to Android Auto. Announced alongside the Samsung Galaxy S24 series today, Android Auto will now summarize conversations for you.
Easily add Android Auto to your older car with this wireless display for $100
Upgrade your vehicle to the wireless era with a cool 7-inch screen that supports phone mirroring
Let's be honest, navigating with your phone in one hand and a coffee in the other isn't exactly "safe driving." Upgrade your car with a wireless display and keep your eyes on the road (and your hands on the wheel) where they belong. To make things easier, you can grab this 7-inch wireless car display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto compatibility, and phone mirroring on StackSocial for only $100. That's a sweet 28% off the usual retail price of $140.
Google Maps wants to keep you from missing a charging station and getting stranded
While Android Automotive has more options for parked entertainment than ever
It's CES week, and while that likely doesn't mean much for new smartphone hardware, that doesn't mean Google doesn't have some surprises up its sleeve. In addition to some big changes to Nearby Share and a whole slew of improvements to the company's TV lineup, Google is announcing new features for both Android Auto and cars built on Android Automotive with Google services. Whether you're looking at a new EV or just trying to keep your kids entertained while on the go, there's plenty to look forward to.
Buckle up, Microsoft Teams is coming to Android Auto next month
The 'Sorry, I was driving' excuse won't work anymore
Getting in your car after a long workday is one of those underappreciated feelings. Seeing your office in your rearview mirror and realizing that you won't have to sit in any more meetings for the rest of the day is almost euphoric. Well, unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), our cars are becoming more of an extension of an office than a personal safe space. With the sustained success of Android Auto, Google has continued to push out new and impressive updates, including multiscreen support. The advancements in the Android Auto platform have opened up new opportunities for app developers, and Microsoft is the latest company looking to take advantage.
Android Auto's Google Maps is getting a sleek 3D look
3D buildings are showing up for some while navigating on their phone as well
Android Auto got a major design refresh not too long ago that allowed more efficient utilization of your car’s screen. Depending on the display size and aspect ratio, Android Auto could display multiple apps side by side, like YouTube Music running on one side with Google Maps taking up the other half. It now looks like Google Maps on Android Auto is getting a more immersive view that its phone app has supported for long — 3D buildings.
Motorola’s MA1 Android Auto wireless adapter is down to its best price all year
Want easier access to Android Auto in your car? You can get it for just over $60
Wireless Android Auto adapters have become more popular than ever in 2023, and we’re rounding out the year with one of our favorite devices at its lowest price for a long time. The Motorola MA1 is one of the most popular picks to get wireless Android Auto in your car, and now it’s almost $30 off with the price hitting $61 for the foreseeable future. We've previously seen it around the $60 mark, but that hasn't been for over a year with the price usually around the $70 mark or higher throughout 2023.
Artificial intelligence has been around for a while, but the introduction of OpenAI's ChatGPT last year took things to the next level. It didn't take long for Google to jump on board, although some may say the company was late to the party. Nevertheless, Google has spread out AI functionalities across a wide range of its products, including Workspace and Search. Google is now seemingly looking to bring some of its AI magic onto Android Auto, specifically to summarize long messages.