Summary of "Apple Maps vs Google Maps vs Waze on CarPlay!"

Navigation Apps Comparison on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

The video provides a detailed comparison and review of three popular navigation apps on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze. The focus is on their technological features, usability, and reliability as satnav solutions in cars.

Key Technological Concepts and Features

1. Compatibility

Apple Maps: Exclusive to Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac).
Google Maps: Default on Android but available on iOS; widely supported on many platforms including some car multimedia systems.
Waze: Third-party app owned by Google, available on both iOS and Android.

2. History and Data

Google Maps (since 2005) has the largest dataset and widest device support.
Apple Maps launched in 2012 with early issues but significantly improved by 2025/2026.
Waze started around 2008, acquired by Google in 2013, and retains a unique community-driven approach.

3. User Interface and Experience

Apple Maps: Clean, minimal, polished UI with native iOS design elements like “liquid glass” in iOS 16; dynamic map zooming and UI animations (e.g., map shifts when texts arrive).
Google Maps: Rich POI data integrated with Google Search and reviews, but less fluid UI animations.
Waze: Similar to Google Maps but with a playful, cartoonish style and unique icons (e.g., a character mascot).

4. Navigation Features

All apps provide standard route options, real-time traffic updates, and speed limits.
Apple Maps and Google Maps allow adding stops (e.g., fuel stations) along routes; Waze adds stops but tends to search nearby rather than strictly on route.
Voice navigation uses Siri voices for Apple Maps, Google Assistant voices for Google Maps, and offers many voice options including celebrities for Waze.

5. Map Views

Google Maps is the only one offering satellite view on CarPlay.
Apple Maps and Waze do not have satellite view on CarPlay (though Apple Maps has it on other devices).

6. Offline Maps

Apple Maps and Google Maps support offline map downloads (configured on the phone).
Waze does not support offline maps.

7. Points of Interest (POI) and Reviews

Google Maps excels with extensive POI data and user reviews (though limited on CarPlay).
Apple Maps shows third-party ratings and useful info like hours and payment options on CarPlay.
Waze focuses primarily on navigation speed rather than detailed POI info.

8. Community Reporting and Alerts

All three apps support user reports for crashes, traffic, speed cameras, and hazards.
Waze’s community reporting is the most robust and foundational to its popularity.
Apple Maps and Google Maps have integrated reporting features that update other users in real time.

9. Additional Features

Calendar Integration: Apple Maps and Waze integrate calendar events for navigation; Google Maps currently does not.
Sharing ETA: Apple Maps allows sharing ETA with contacts directly from CarPlay; Google Maps supports this on the app but not yet on CarPlay.

10. Voice Control

All apps support voice commands via Siri on CarPlay, allowing hands-free navigation control.

Reliability and User Preference

Google Maps is considered the most reliable overall with the largest dataset and best traffic avoidance.
Apple Maps has improved significantly but has had reliability issues in the past, especially in complex urban areas.
Waze offers strong community-driven real-time updates but is car-focused and lacks multi-modal transport navigation.
User poll results showed Google Maps as the most popular, followed by Waze, then Apple Maps.

Conclusion

Google Maps is the overall winner due to its comprehensive data, satellite view on CarPlay, and multi-modal navigation capabilities.
Apple Maps is favored for its clean design, fluid UI, and calendar integration within the Apple ecosystem.
Waze remains a strong contender for community-based traffic updates and fun voice options but is limited to driving navigation.

Main Speaker/Source: The video is presented by a tech reviewer (unnamed in subtitles) who has personally tested all three apps over several years and shares practical demonstrations and opinions based on real-world use.