Google Maps and Waze are two Google applications that compete to offer maps and navigation, both on mobile and on Android Auto. If you are not clear on which maps app works best on android autoHere we will give you all the keys.
Google Maps was in Android Auto from the start, but Waze joined it a few years later in 2017. Since then, you can use either Google Maps app as you prefer, although they don’t do the same thing nor do they do the same thing.
Coolwalk, better in Maps
Only Google Maps can be made full screen with Coolwalk. Wave, no.
Coolwalk’s Android Auto redesign adds new productivity possibilities to the By default, open two apps at the same time.: The main application takes up most of it, and a second column is used to display additional data, such as the map with the media player.
The problem is, sometimes you’ll want to open the Maps app full screen to avoid distractions, and right now you can only Maximize Google Maps on Android Auto with Coolwalk, and no other apps, including Waze. If you use Coolwalk and want full screen, Google Maps is your option.
Points of interest, better in Maps
In Google Maps, you can search for POI categories. In Waze or write by hand or choose the category of gas stations
In Waze and in Google Maps, you can search for the destination by typing the name or by selecting from the saved sites (which you can manage from your mobile), but for a search for points of interest, by categoriesGoogle Maps will be your ally.
Waze search in Android Auto is pretty basic, allowing you to write text and nothing else, so if you want to search for a restaurant nearby you will have to type in “restaurant”, while in Google Maps you have all the categories at your fingertips. The only category that appears in Waze is gas stations. It’s something.
Share route, only in Maps
One thing you can do in Android Auto and not in Waze, which can be very useful in specific cases, is share your trip. It’s a shortcut to share your location in real time with any of your contacts, using Google Maps technology.
Waze does not have this option in Android Autoso to get the same you will have to use other apps to share the location in real time, and you won’t be able to do it from Android Auto, but from mobile.
On the road, Waze is a bit more convenient
There’s no denying that Waze has a totally different design to Google Maps, and that has its benefits. When choosing a route, Waze shows us the alternatives in a more schematic way, highlighting the time, distance and traffic status of each of them. In addition, they can be seen on the map highlighted and well differentiated with the different colors.
The previewing a route on google maps is rather bland. We will see the distance and time but not the names of each route (through which they pass), and for the traffic condition we have to narrow down the view and look at the preview of the map itself.
In Waze we can see the names of the streets that we are going to take much more easily.
On a route in question, the design more in the style of GPS of a Waze life it’s more practical with simple old tricks that Google Maps mysteriously hasn’t adopted yet. How many times have you had to endlessly zoom in Maps to try to see the elusive street name on the map? In Waze they are much more visible and the names of the streets on the route are also displayed very clearly.
Of course, there is nothing written about the likes and there will be those who think that the interface of Waze has too many things to do, just as some will think that there are too few in Google Maps. In Waze’s dump, there’s a lot of data displayed as an overlay on the map that’s helpful, especially the community reports.
Crash report, better in Waze
When it comes to reporting traffic accidents, Waze remains the champion on mobile and in the car. The default champion, of course: although Google Maps on mobile has a crash report -in some places- It does not appear in Android Auto.
So to report driving incidents, you need Waze, and It will also be easier for you to see the reports other people while driving with this application. Maps also shows similar reports, but with a delay and in a more subtle way.
Satellite view, only in Maps
Do you prefer the satellite view? So your map app for Android Auto is Google Maps, well Waze does not have a satellite view and with 12 years behind him, it already seems unlikely that he will add it at some point.
Which is better?
With all of the above, we can have a pretty good idea whether Maps or Waze is better than Google Maps. From a purely technical point of view, Google Maps is better by integrating better into the system and offering more optionsfrom search by categories to satellite view or route sharing.
However, for the most part, driving, Waze has its advantages. Reports from other users are more visible, you can easily add reports, and directions are arguably more comfortable to follow on colorful Waze than monochrome Google Maps. If you don’t want extra features and don’t care if it’s not maxed out, Waze will be a better option for you to get from point A to point B.
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