CarPlay or Android Auto: the differences, and why the module supports both

If you are choosing between CarPlay and Android Auto, the decision has already been made for you: it depends on your phone, not your preference.

CarPlay works with iPhone. Android Auto works with Android. There is no cross-compatibility and there never will be.

The useful question is different — what happens in a household with both, and whether a retrofit module has to commit to one.

It does not. Every module we sell supports both.

What they have in common

More than people expect. Both systems solve the same problem in almost the same way:

• Large icons, few options, designed to be read in a glance
• Navigation, music, calls, messages — nothing else
• Voice-first: Siri on CarPlay, Google Assistant on Android Auto
• Messages read aloud, never displayed as text while moving
• No video, no browsing, no games
• Operated by the car's own controls — steering wheel, rotary dial, touchscreen

Both are deliberately limited. That is a design decision, not a shortcoming.

Where they differ

	CarPlay	Android Auto
Phone	iPhone only	Android only
Default maps	Apple Maps	Google Maps
Also supports	Google Maps, Waze	Waze
Voice	Siri	Google Assistant
Interface	Icon grid, fixed	Card feed, more adaptive
Customisation	Limited	Somewhat more
Split screen	Yes, on larger displays	Yes

In daily use the differences are small. Google Assistant is generally better at natural-language requests; CarPlay tends to feel more consistent because Apple controls both ends. Neither is a reason to change phone.

The household question

This is what actually matters when you are buying a module.

Every retrofit module in our catalogue supports both CarPlay and Android Auto. You can pair an iPhone and an Android phone to the same car. One is active at a time — whichever connects first, or whichever was last used, depending on the system.

So a couple with different phones does not have to choose, and you do not have to buy a different module for each.

One practical note: on some modules CarPlay is wireless while Android Auto is wired, because wireless Android Auto arrived later and is not universally supported. Each product page states which. If wireless Android Auto specifically matters, check before ordering or ask us.

What about factory systems?

Here the picture is less even, and it is a real argument for retrofitting.

Many European cars shipped with factory CarPlay but no Android Auto at all, or Android Auto only in certain markets. Audi MIB2/MIB3 and some Mercedes NTG generations are common examples — CarPlay over a cable, Android Auto absent.

If you drive Android and your car has factory CarPlay only, a module is the practical route to Android Auto. That is a fairly common reason people arrive here.

Common questions

Can I switch between the two mid-journey?
Yes, but you disconnect one and connect the other. There is no instant toggle.

Does Android Auto work with any Android phone?
Android 8 or later, which covers essentially anything still in use. Wireless Android Auto has slightly higher requirements and needs 5 GHz Wi-Fi on the phone.

Is one more reliable than the other?
In our experience the difference is between phone models, not between the two platforms. Both are stable.

Do I need a Google account for Android Auto?
Yes, for maps and assistant. Same as CarPlay needing an Apple ID for its services.

Will my module still work if I change phone brand?
Yes. That is precisely why the modules support both.

What to do next

The platform question does not affect which module you buy — the infotainment system in your car does.

Identify that first: BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes.

Or use the vehicle check, or send your VIN to info@oemcarplay.com. Free, usually within 30 minutes.