Science & Tech · Gadgets & EVs · 6 hrs ago
A month with Apple CarPlay revealed strengths and gaps for an Android Auto user
A longtime Android Auto user switched to Apple CarPlay for a month, using an iPhone 17 in a Hyundai with an 8-inch screen.
The user found CarPlay's design more polished and said it fit the screen well without taking over the display for incoming calls.
CarPlay also offers widgets from third-party apps such as Microsoft To Do, Outlook and Asana.
These widgets let drivers glance at tasks or appointments from the dashboard.
The user missed Poweramp, which they use to play music stored on their phone, and also named Musicolet among the Android Auto apps they missed.
The experience shows that CarPlay's design and widgets appealed to this user, while their preferred offline music apps remained a drawback.
A writer who had used Android Auto for years tested Apple CarPlay exclusively for a month.
He found CarPlay’s interface more polished and better suited to his Hyundai’s 8-inch display.
He also valued CarPlay widgets from third-party apps, including Microsoft To Do, Outlook and Asana.
He missed using Poweramp to manage his offline music collection.
The writer said Android Auto remained functional but its interface was beginning to show its age.
- Who
- Parth, a technology analyst and writer who uses Android Auto.
- What
- He switched to Apple CarPlay exclusively for a month and compared the experience with Android Auto.
- When
- The test lasted a month; the article was published on Oct. 11, 2026.
- Where
- In his Hyundai, which has an 8-inch infotainment screen.
- Why
- Curiosity led him to try CarPlay, though he had been happy with Android Auto.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Apple CarPlay was never really on my radar, mostly because I was happy with Android Auto.
CarPlay feels like a natural extension of iOS on my iPhone 17, not a separate interface designed for my car.
I have been using Poweramp to manage my offline music collection, and it has become an essential part of my daily driving experience.
Parth used Apple CarPlay exclusively after connecting his iPhone to his car.
Android Police published Parth’s account of the month-long test.
- Test duration
- One month
- Car display
- Hyundai 8-inch infotainment screen
- Phone
- iPhone 17
- CarPlay widgets
- Microsoft To Do, Outlook and Asana
- Missed Android Auto app
- Poweramp
Sources
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