Google Maps Works More Smoothly on Android Auto Than CarPlay, Test Finds

Google Maps runs on both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, yet the same app behaves differently depending on which system is driving the screen, according to Engadget. A tester ran matching searches, route edits and basic navigation jobs back to back on both platforms using one infotainment display in the same vehicle.

The basics came out roughly level, Engadget reported. Each system offered a speedometer, lane guidance, incident reports and suggested detours, plus the usual switches for keeping tolls, motorways and ferries out of a route. Gaps only became clear once the tester moved past simple point-to-point trips.

The biggest split involved Gemini, Google's assistant. On Android Auto the tester could begin a conversation by voice alone, with no need to reach for the display. A Gemini button later showed up inside Maps on CarPlay, and it coped with back-and-forth questions after being tapped, but there was no hands-free way to bring it up. Google's own support page still listed Gemini as unavailable on CarPlay when the test took place.

Route edits also came together faster on Android Auto, per Engadget. The tester asked for a fuel stop, then a pharmacy without starting a new conversation, and alternative ways home appeared straight away. CarPlay managed comparable requests after Gemini was running, but the response was clearly slower. The assistant was not flawless either: it occasionally stalled on a loading screen and dropped a connection once.

Comparing stops along a route marked another difference. Android Auto showed several choices together, with ratings and the extra travel time each would add. CarPlay lists results one by one and relies on Previous and Next buttons, so weighing up options takes more work, though it still surfaces details such as fuel prices and detour times.

Map controls diverged too. Android Auto kept zoom within easy reach and responded to pinch gestures in the test. On CarPlay, the tester had to switch into a separate map-control mode, and pinching did not work. Engadget noted that CarPlay uses its own map template and controls, while Android Auto's navigation framework accepts tap, scroll and pinch input.

One more point went to Android Auto when a Home shortcut appeared on screen without delay. The tester drove a 2025 Kia Sonet.