Both Google's Android Auto and Apple's CarPlay have been making headlines of late because of the fact that they have started shipping as built-in infotainment systems in a number of cars.
The new in-car systems will represent a new front for Google and Apple to go head-to-head. However, which one is better?
Before we get into the differences between the two systems, it is important to note the similarities, of which there are many. The first thing to note is that both systems rely extremely heavily on a user's smartphone. In fact, the bulk of the software is actually built into the software of the smartphone that will power Android Auto or CarPlay. Those with Android 5.0 Lollipop and above or iOS 8 and above actually have Android Auto or CarPlay on their phone and they likely didn't even know it.
Not only that, but Android Auto and CarPlay have many of the same input methods. The two rely heavily on voice control, but they also use touchscreens for input when necessary.
It's important to clear the air when it comes to Android Auto and CarPlay. Many questions have been asked about them, leading to a lot of confusion. The first thing to note is that most car manufacturers will be shipping cars with both Android Auto and CarPlay, meaning that users will not be locked into one operating system and their car resale value will not change. Users will not have to decide which operating system they want when they purchase their car. Another important thing to remember is that both operating systems will update through the user's smartphone, which is really one of the best things about them.
Now, there are of course key differences between the two infotainment systems. Android Auto has largely been hailed because of its connection with Google Now, which essentially allows the system to know where a user needs to go and when. For example, if a user gets an email confirming flight information in Gmail, that morning, Android Auto will ask if they want to be directed to the airport without the user having to initiate directions. Of course, Apple doesn't have an email service, so CarPlay doesn't really work the same way.
CarPlay does, however, have its own advantages. CarPlay, in classic Apple fashion, is extremely simplistic and very well designed. The user interface is very similar to the iPhone interface, essentially removing a learning curve that might be in place for Android Auto, which is essentially Google Now in a car. That's certainly not to say that Android Auto is difficult to learn, but it might take a little more effort than CarPlay.
In the end, what it really boils down to is what phone a user has. The infotainment system in the car should not dictate what kind of smartphone a user buys, but rather the other way around. Both are very functional and both have a very interesting future ahead of them.