5 ways Android Auto beats your car’s own infotainment system – hands down
5 ways Android Auto beats your car’s own infotainment system – hands down
https://www.zdnet.com/article/ways-android-auto-beats-your-car-infotainment-system/
Publish Date: 2026-06-05 11:18:00
Source Domain: www.zdnet.com
Artie Beaty/ZDNET
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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Android Auto has several advantages over your car’s own system.
- Not only does it update often, but it has access to far more apps.
- It also makes setup far easier if you’re switching between cars.
In-car infotainment screens are getting bigger than ever, and most modern vehicles have the equivalent of a tablet built into the dashboard. While some manufacturers’ systems run on Android Automotive, or what’s called “Google built-in,” most have their own software specific to that automaker. The majority of that built-in software is walled off and limited.
Also: I’ve used Android Auto with Gemini for 2 months now – it’s transformed my drives in 4 ways
Android Automotive is a robust software platform that takes advantage of the Android ecosystem and functions much like (or even better than) Android Auto. If your car runs on Android Automotive, there’s not a lot to gain by switching to Android Auto. But if you’re using one of the other built-in systems, you’re missing out on a lot.
Here’s a look at a few reasons Android Auto far surpasses your car’s built-in system.
1. Android Auto gets more apps
Perhaps the biggest benefit of using Android Auto over your car’s built-in system is that you get access to many more apps.
Also: 5 Android Auto mistakes you’re probably making – and how to fix them
Most car infotainment systems have a limited app catalog. You have apps for things like music, navigation, and communication, but you usually don’t get more than one for each category. Android Auto gets you access to multiple options within each category and even access to upgrades like YouTube and widgets for weather, smart home controls, and a calendar.
2. Android Auto gets more updates
Largely, your vehicle’s built-in infotainment system is going to stay the same as the day you bought it.
Many vehicles might get OTA upgrades for small things like bug fixes or performance improvements, but,…
