Apple Carplay Ultra vs. Google Built-in: How to compare the next-generation automatic software rivals

When my hunger became impossible to ignore, I drove over $250,000 Aston Martin on the Los Angeles coast with aston Martin over $250,000. But then I did not do anything other cars on Earth have not allowed: I asked Siri to blow up the AC and cool the air. That’s because the 2025 Aston Martin DBX I drove was the first way I came to. Apple Carplay Ultraan upgraded version of the company’s automotive software.

Apple debuted Carplay Ultra at WWDC 2025 last month. This year’s version of Aston Martin DBX is the first method to be released alongside it (paired with an iPhone running iOS 18.5 or later). Driving a luxurious crossover, I messed around with other features that are not available in normal carplay, from climate control to checking the pressure on the radio and car tires. Ultimately, Ultra offers deeper access to more automotive systems. This is a good thing.

This reminded me of many new features announced at Google I/O in May: Google Bilding allows users to directly control the system of more cars through the software interface (in that case Android Auto). When I sat on my new Volvo EX90 SUV and received a demonstration of Google built-in, I saw what this new integration of Google software has to offer: climate control, support for Gemini AI, and even warnings about car maintenance issues.

However, the names are as follows: With Google Built-in, car manufacturers need to incorporate Android deep into the mechanisms inside the car. In comparison, Apple Carplay Ultra Support doesn’t seem to need to do much work for automakers to prepare their vehicles. (Aston Martin already includes a sufficiently sophisticated CPU, allowing CarPlay Ultra support to its 2023 and 2024 lineup via firmware updates.)

Both solutions reflect different approaches to Apple and Google’s next version of CAR software. Apple is lightweight and appears to have little commitment from the automaker to integrate CarPlay Ultra into the vehicle (as long as it has the right processing power). The Google Built-in requires much more integration, but it’s very self-sufficient so even if you leave your Android phone at home you can still get many of its features (aside from sending messages and calls).

Driving with Apple Carplay Ultra: Controlling the climate, radio, and more

When I was driving Aston Martin’s Los Angeles on the Apple Carplay Ultra, after returning to being a much more humble everyday driver, I was able to learn about new features I lacked.

Finally, I was able to summon Siri and ask him to play a particular song (or just a band) and get it to be pulled up on Spotify. Apple’s assistant now has access to climate control, so I asked to raise the AC and it exploded completely. I asked to find tacos and it suggested some fast food restaurants – well, it’s not perfect, but at least I’ve heard of it.

For my peace of mind, Aston Martin has held the physical knob through gear shifts, controlling fan speed, temperature, stereo volume, and countless road options on the car (e.g. driving assistance) if the driver prefers traditional controls, but almost all of them could also change on the interface. Currently surrounded by unique, recognizable apps in the CarPlay interface, such as radio controls (AM/FM and satellites) and car settings.

Ultimately, it becomes one of the greatest benefits of Carplay Ultra. Once you enter an unfamiliar vehicle (such as rentals), you know exactly where everything is. They are also struggling with the automaker’s own software and are not trying to figure out where certain settings are located. It’s not a complete replacement – in the case of Aston Martin, there were still some settings controlled by the luxury car manufacturer (like the ambient light predicted when the door is open).

As Aston Martin did, the reliable ubiquity of Apple’s CarPlay software will become even more important as cars replace analogue string clusters on screens. The default screen behind the wheel shows two traditional dials with Aston Martin coloring (for speedometers and the other for RPMS), so there’s still a touch of signature style from the high-end carmaker. However, you can swap for other styles, from other dials in customizable colors to full-screen map options.

Each of the half dozen or so dashboard options was replaced via a square touchpad smaller than the wheel dime next to the other touch controls. With the dual dial display type, I swipe vertically to rotate the center square (map orientation, current music or other app information) or swipe horizontally to switch to another dashboard option. Whichever you choose, the bottom bar contains all the warning lights the driver will recognize from analog vehicles. Even with a digital display, it’s not safe from the check engine light (this is a good thing).

The Apple Carplay Ultra hasn’t done everything I want yet. You can also ask Siri to roll Windows (as Google is built in – we’ll go into detail later), which will unlock or unlock certain doors. If Apple is connected to the car enough to read the pressure on each tire, we hope it will link it to the engine reading and tell you in plain language what maintenance issues have arisen. Well, I wish it could connect remotely to the car and blow up the AC before I enter (or warm, warm) so that some of its own car apps can do. Also, Apple Maps and Waze is included at launch, but Google Maps support is not supported, but will come later.

These are not major flaws, and show where CarPlay Ultra can better meet the needs of its drivers with future updates despite potentially dangerous security concerns for CarPlay Ultra to use it for remote climate and unlocking capabilities. However, compared to Google’s more detailed approach, it shows where today’s limitations lie.

Google Built-in: Deeper Car Integration – And of course, GeminiAI

This is because the day after the Google I/O keynote speech quieted in May, participants leapt between focus sessions and upcoming software demos. It was an ideal time to check out the Google built-in. This was properly shown on a high-end Volvo EX90 electric SUV (not as expensive as the Aston Martin).

As mentioned above, the Google Built-in has deeper integration with the vehicle than what you saw with the Apple Carplay Ultra, allowing users to change climate through its interface and access other systems that include voice requests. For example, to turn on Defroster, go beyond the AC control and raise and lower a specific window relative to the speaker position. The camera in the car (in the rearview mirror, if you remember) means that the correct window tumbled down when my demonstrator asked me to “roll this window” pointing to my left shoulder.

The Google Built-in is also connected to Gemini, Google’s AI assistant. This is what the company calls “Google Live.” During the live session, I was able to request music and directions just like Siri, but my demo went further as the demo turned to place a Gemini by requesting a generator AI-friendly request, such as asking Gemini to “give a family proposal to participate” and send specific texts to contacts.

The demonstrator then asked Gemini for recipe advice – “I have chicken, rice and broccoli in the fridge, what can I make?” – as an example of a query, someone might ask at a drive home.

Because it is signed to your Google account, Gemini can see anything connected, such as emails and messages. Also, because they are trained with user manuals from each car manufacturer, if the warning light is on, the driver can ask the voice assistant what it means – no more flipping through the dense manuals trying to understand what each alert means.

Some features don’t require a mobile phone, Google built-in has other benefits. However, there are also drawbacks, such as the need to update the car software, which requires more work at the end of Google to ensure that the car is protected from issues and exploits. You cannot fix it on the latest version of Android. They should backport the vehicle to fix it to an older version that may still be on.

This deep integration with Google Built-in has many advantages of Apple Carplay Ultra (a familiar interface, easy to access feature), cranked to more extent. Certainly, it’s easy to improve its functionality as it will certainly benefit from natural interweaving handoff control fans and Gemini fabrics with Google’s investment. However, greater reliance on Android within a car’s system can become a concern as the vehicle ages. Is the software supported? Will it be slower or exposed to security exploits? Many questions remain regarding opening the car to the phone software interface.