WHAT IS SMARTPHONE MIRRORING?
Android Auto and Apple Carplay are convenient features that allow drivers to access many of their phone’s functions safely via their car’s infotainment screens. We take a closer look
SMARTPHONE MIRRORING revolutionised the car infotainment experience when it first appeared on new cars a decade ago. It enabled drivers to bypass the often awkward infotainment software car makers had installed in vehicles and use smartphone apps instead.
The first car and phone connectivity system was Mirrorlink, which was first unveiled in 2010. Its availability gradually increased, and it was joined by Apple’s Carplay system in 2014, with Google’s Android Auto arriving a year later. Today, Mirrorlink is no longer widely offered, because it isn’t compatible with popular smartphone apps such as Google Maps and Google Assistant voice control.
That leaves smartphone owners with two choices: Android Auto for phones that run the Android operating system, and Apple Carplay for iphones. Demand for each system is fairly evenly split, with 51% of smartphone users in the UK owning an iphone and the rest opting for Android handsets, according to the latest data from research company Statcounter.
Both systems have very similar functionality, offering the ability to use the phone’s apps via a car’s infotainment screen. They can be used to make calls, listen to music and other audio, use the phone’s sat-nav app and send and receive text messages while you drive.
Drivers control Android Auto and Apple Carplay in the same way as they would the car’s own infotainment system: using its buttons, dials or touchscreen. However, because using a touchscreen while driving can be distracting, you can also use Apple’s Siri service or Google Assistant to operate the system with voice commands and to dictate messages.
Earlier smartphone mirroring systems used a USB cable to link the phone and car, but many new cars now offer wireless connectivity via Bluetooth for all aspects of functionality, including playing music from your phone.
Globally, there are far more Android phones than iphones, so many car manufacturers have signed up to offer Android Auto on all new models. Although some car makers initially shunned Apple Carplay or only offered it as a cost option, it too is now available on most brands. Although the most basic new car trim levels might not come with infotainment systems or smartphone mirroring, the technology is widely available as standard on higher-spec models, so it’s worth checking the equipment list of any potential purchase.
As for your phone, most new handsets can be used for integration with your car. A vast array of Android phones have the necessary software, including handsets from HTC, LG, Samsung and Sony. Android Auto works on any mobile phone that runs at least version 5.0 (Lollipop) of the Android operating system.
Apple Carplay is available on any iphone that uses a ‘lightning’ charging cable. To use Carplay, your iphone must be running the IOS 7 operating system or newer. That means all models from the iphone SE and 5 right up to the latest iphone 12 can use the system.
If your car’s infotainment system doesn’t support Android Auto or Apple Carplay, you might be able to switch it for one that does, so even older cars can make use of this handy technology. A system with Android Auto costs from around £300 (excluding installation) and you can expect to pay between £250 and £400 for one with Carplay connectivity. Suppliers include Alpine, Kenwood, Pioneer and Sony.
‘If your car doesn’t have this tech, you might be able to fit a system that does’