# Android Auto 69 Hacker News commenters recommended Android Auto and 62 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 12 of 13 months. **Verdict:** Recommended for bringing familiar phone maps, audio and apps to the car, including older models. Critics most often report flaky connections and breakage after updates. ## Why people recommend it - Better than built-in car systems (4 comments): "Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are better experiences than any first party car interface I've experienced." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48941371)) "the experience is so much worse when it's not integrated with the car" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49127977)) "Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are excellent for navigation and other entertainment." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46535233)) - Modernizes older cars (4 comments): "CarPlay/Android Auto is how you can get a modern infotainment system on a car that's a decade old." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45818987)) "It has a 7" display where the old stuff was and wireless Android Auto." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48774617)) "For people that wish to keep a vehicle for a long time, carplay/android auto isn't just a convenience anymore." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48769689)) - Carries phone apps and preferences (4 comments): "I love being able to carry all my preferences from my phone directly to the car without any additional configuration" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48941706)) "The nice thing about phone projection (Android Auto, CarPlay) is that the tech remains in your phone" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49591350)) "instead just delegate to the smartphone you already have, is a huge and surprising win" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48941352)) - Same interface across cars (3 comments): "The Android Auto experience is very smooth and fundamentally exactly the same." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48772682)) "CarPlay / Android Auto aren't just features, they're consistency" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48770526)) "it's always my Android Auto, regardless of which car I'm driving" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48771704)) ## What people warn about - Flaky connections and failed starts (5 comments): "Both Android Auto and Chromecast are great ideas, but so incredibly flakey." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48950835)) "the android auto has been flawless since we got them. except for updates from google on the phone temporarily breaking things" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48103218)) "Android Auto refused to connect with an error message stating it will not start if VPN is active on the phone." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49187011)) - Gemini voice assistant worse (3 comments): "When they swapped Google Assistant for Gemini as the default voice provider in Android Auto it was so annoying." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48994477)) "without it also then becoming your default smart assistant for Android Auto, where it is useless." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48376108)) "The sheer quality destruction it's experienced since transitioning to Gemini is incredible." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48557978)) - Distracting notifications and interruptions (3 comments): "gets annoying at times (when Android Auto connects on my phone, it tends to stop me from using the maps app on the phone" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48771315)) "Very annoying and distracting, potentially unsafe since I was going around 70 mph while surprised by this." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45841689)) "Half of the times it doesn't connect, when it connects I get useless notifications for everything." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46977039)) - Requires Google services and location data (2 comments): "Android Auto is the only thing on my GrapheneOS phone that still required Google Play Services" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50054828)) "Streaming my location and an OBD dump to Google whenever I'm driving is a non-starter for me" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48139549)) ## Alternatives hackers recommend - [Apple CarPlay](https://hackerapproved.com/p/apple-carplay.md): 149 recommend ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Android Auto", https://hackerapproved.com/p/android-auto/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).