I use Android Auto in my daily life and have tried the vast majority of GPS navigation apps available for Google infotainment. I normally prefer the free ones because I think they offer a good experience (despite the ads and some limitations) and although I like TomTom a lot I generally I’m in doubt between using Waze or Google Maps on Android Auto.

Why the doubt between Waze or Google Maps? It’s simple: I’m clear from my experience that they are generally the most complete, fully adapted to Android Auto, and that Google Maps and Waze, although both owned by Google today, have different strengths and weaknesses.

Android Auto lets you use Waze and Google Maps simultaneously

We’ve extensively compared Google Maps and Waze on Android Auto, and we’re clear that there’s no clear winner.

To summarize, Maps stands out in terms of showing up-to-date maps, being reliable and containing fewer errors. And this is without taking into account additional information about points of interest. On the other hand, Waze has a large community and the ability to report events both in the mobile version and in the most agile Android Auto; As a result, it is faster when reporting accidents, radar and police checks or other milestones on the road. real time. Solution? Both Google Maps and Waze have aspects that are the best of the best.

But as we promised in the title of this article: why should you choose? Although Android Auto allows you to have up to three apps on the same screen, the truth is that the largest window will correspond to the navigation app, and then there will be two spaces for a messaging app like WhatsApp and another space for an entertainment app. Spotify.

But there’s a trick and it happens make sure both apps are open at the same time. The good thing is that Android Auto lets you switch between one and the other by tapping the menu in the bottom bar, where it shows icons of recently opened apps. This way, you can switch from viewing one app to another in just a few seconds.

However, when you’re on the road, it’s best to have one in the foreground and the second with the visual interface hidden but sound notifications enabled. So, in my case I usually use Google Maps in the foreground and Waze in the background with radar alerts (note: in the app, it’s in the route’Settings‘ > ‘Warnings and warnings‘ > ‘Notifications‘), but you can also choose to leave that ordinary Waze interface in the foreground and leave Google Maps below.

With my configuration I have maps and effective routes from Google Maps, but also the alerts that are most important to me from Waze so that I do not miss any unforeseen events that may arise.

Cover | Eva Rodríguez de Luis

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