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Survey: Drivers prefer CarPlay over Android Auto, but Google Maps is still more popular than Apple Maps

Over the years, CarPlay has slowly gained in popularity as more auto makers adopt the platform for in-car use. J.D. Power is out this week with a new report that looks at user satisfaction between CarPlay and Android Auto, and Apple comes out ahead.

According to a survey among drivers, users of CarPlay report “significantly higher satisfaction” than users of Android Auto. On a 1,000 point scale, CarPlay satisfaction sits at 777, while Android Auto satisfaction is 748.

Further, users are growing far less reliant on factory-installed navigation and infotainment systems, the report says. Instead, drivers are opting for platforms like Android Auto and CarPlay, or simply using their phone for their navigation needs:

Factory-installed navigation systems are easily replaced by another device. In fact, 19% of new-vehicle owners who have factory-installed navigation don’t use it and, of these, 70% use another device instead, almost always a smartphone.

While Apple leads in customer satisfaction with CarPlay, Google does still carry a lead in terms of mapping. 56 percent of drivers say they use Google Maps most often, compared to just 23 percent who use Apple Maps most often and 16 percent who use Waze.

However, Google fights back when it comes to navigation. Among owners who use their own navigation system, 56% use Google Maps most often and 16% use Google-owned Waze most often, while only 23% use Apple Maps most often. Even iPhone owners are more likely to use Google Maps than Apple Maps, whereas very few Android owners use Apple Maps.

J.D. Power’s survey comes ahead of iOS 12’s release next month that will add support for third-party mapping applications such as Waze and Google Maps in CarPlay. This update will likely further increase customer satisfaction as it gives users even more versatility.

Are you a CarPlay user? If so, what do you think of it in comparison to Android Auto and car maker infotainment systems? Let us know down in the comments.


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Avatar for Chance Miller Chance Miller

Chance is the editor-in-chief of 9to5Mac, overseeing the entire site’s operations. He also hosts the 9to5Mac Daily and 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcasts.

You can send tips, questions, and typos to chance@9to5mac.com.

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