Time to Fix Android Auto? More Than Half of Google's Users Are Ready to Jump Ship

In Android's case, the flood of Android Auto bugs happening all over the Internet certainly doesn't help, especially as more users want to remain connected behind the wheel.

Statistics published by Stocklytics based on Statista data reveal that no more, no less than 57% of Google's users are ready to jump ship when they buy the next phone. Only 25% of the respondents (that's one in four Google phone buyers) claimed they would stick with the search giant when the time comes to get a new phone.

While the study didn't look into why so many people plan to move to another brand, Apple benefits from significantly higher brand loyalty.

Only 34% of iPhone owners would consider giving up on Apple's smartphones on the next occasion, while 50% said they were likely to stick with the company in the long term.

Android Auto and CarPlay have become incentives for phone customers to choose one of the two sides, as they allow users to connect their mobile devices to their vehicles and interact with their apps while driving. This is one of the reasons Apple doesn't want to upgrade the second-generation CarPlay to a stand-alone operating system, allowing users to run the experience with an iPhone connected to the head unit.

Meanwhile, developers also noticed the trend and started focusing more on the experience behind the wheel. More apps land on Android Auto and CarPlay, allowing users to remain connected even when they keep their eyes on the road.

However, the experience with Android Auto has long been a crazy rollercoaster ride, with certain features, including voice commands, breaking down occasionally for some users. Adopters also struggle with random disconnects and connection issues, often due to bad cables or because of changes introduced in the latest updates.

The experience with CarPlay is significantly more stable and reliable, albeit the debut of the iPhone 15 allowed Apple users to get a taste of Android Auto's awful part. The iPhone 15 comes with a USB-C port, so users could no longer rely on their Lightning cables to connect the device to their cars. Because not all USB-C cords are the same, despite looking similar, users ended up struggling with CarPlay, as Apple's in-car experience doesn't launch with charging-only cables. The issue was eventually resolved when users understood they needed high-quality cords in their cars (something that also applies to users in the Android Auto world).