ZDNET’s key takeaways
- You can still use Android Auto, even when there’s no mobile data.
- Using pre-downloaded maps and playlists greatly reduces latency issues.
- You’ll lose access to web-based functions like traffic and assistant responses, though.
I’ve said before that I’m an Android Auto ride or die — it’s my go-to driving software. But sometimes I like to take a more analogue break. This summer, my wife and I took a trip to upstate New York to visit the adorable Hudson Valley town of Catskill. Being a rural, woodsy destination, it was the perfect place to go more off-grid than usual.
Also: Gemini on Android Auto can access my photos, emails, and calendar now – why I’m OK with that (mostly)
While we didn’t rely on paper maps to chart our two-and-a-half-hour road trip, we did put our phones away, turned our notifications off, and tried using Android Auto offline. It was the perfect opportunity to see how well the software (and its trusty sidekick Gemini) worked in different conditions.
1. Tackling zero-coverage zones
The biggest advantage of running Android Auto offline is still being able to navigate with predownloaded maps, especially in areas with little to no signal. In fact, Google Maps still does a decent job of offering multiple routes and pathways to destinations — a useful feat for when you’d rather not go through three toll passes in New Jersey to save yourself 10 minutes.
And you don’t necessarily have to download your whole route, either. We were familiar with the drive getting out of the tri-state area, so I only downloaded the second half of the route, including any restaurants and gas stations along the way.
Also: I was a big wireless Android Auto fan, until I tried wired – now I won’t go back
The ride was mostly smooth, with no hiccups or questionable reroute suggestions. I say mostlybecause the one bit of information that was sorely missed was traffic reports, as an accident along the FDR Drive set us back 30 minutes.
You also can’t freely seek Google Assistant or Gemini for nearby recommendations or scans of local restaurant menus, as I like to do nowadays. But the idea of just wandering about and reading the menu stands as we passed by them had its own charm.
2. Lowering thermal loads
Using Android Auto and CarPlay typically takes a heavy toll on your phone’s battery, as the constant GPS scanning, networking searching, audio streaming, and even sunlight beaming against the device can raise the internal temperature dramatically (and leaving your phone on a wireless charger adds to that).
Also: I’m an Android Auto ride or die – but Apple CarPlay beats it on these 3 features
Operating offline greatly reduces your phone’s processing load, particularly on cellular data and battery usage. Not only are you using less data, which would typically add up if you’re traveling for days, but your phone will also conserve battery because much of the computing is done locally.
For my road trip, I downloaded music playlists and podcasts that I would typically stream in high quality, so I could just stream them all without stressing my phone. A cooler phone means a smoother overall Android Auto experience.
Should you do it?
Dialing down the operating system’s functionality turned out to be a good thing for the trip, as it allowed us to focus more on our surroundings and discover new places and things, instead of letting Google and Gemini map everything out. Going offline effectively removed any text messages, email alerts, and map pings that would otherwise distract me while driving. (I also understand that some travelers may prefer a more guided and structured navigation.)
Also: I’m an Apple Maps fan, but I switch to Google Maps for these 3 tasks
I likely won’t switch to airplane mode for my next commute to work, but when I’m traveling out of state and fully expect service to cut off here and there, it feels good to know that a little preparation can keep Android Auto functioning effectively.
The artisanal baked goods at the HiLo Cafe, by the way — delicious.
