Android versus iPhone for Best Navigation Support

[CameraCarl]

Google has recently informed me that my Pixel 6a phone likely has a defective battery. Their offer to fix it will take a week or two, but I can't afford to be without a phone that long. They offer a trade in credit on another Pixel phone, but I don't think I want another one given their recent spate of battery overheating problems.

So I am left buying a new phone. My wife likes her iPhone and I might consider buying one, but I recall reading on these forums that some aspects of navigation are not as good on Apple phones as on Android phones. I seem to remember that information about charge remaining at destination is only available on Android phones. Are there any other advantages in getting an Android phone, or am I unnecessarily concerned?

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[RickMachE]

We use our Pixel 8s (after selling our 6a phones) with Android Auto and GoogleMaps just fine.

 

[MacherAWD]

Just swapped my 6a for a 9a, it's 1/2 the price of an iPhone and AA has more EV functionality than CP

 

[ChrisO]

If you use the iPhone with CarPlay, the navigation will not precondition the battery for charging at a DC charger. Apple doesn’t allow information to be shared with Ford, which they currently need to do this feature.

 

[CameraCarl]

PRECONDITIONING! That what I was thinking of. Thanks for refreshing my memory.

So, is preconditioning important enough to buy an Android phone instead of Apple? I think everyone is going to say "yes."

 

[ChrisO]

I know what you mean about being gun shy. I have a pixel 6a, but mine isn’t on the list for getting any kind of refund or such. That didn’t stop them from giving me the same update to prevent overheating though. The only thing I really noticed, though is at times it says that it charging slowly. If I do buy a new phone, it probably will not be a pixel, but it also won’t be an iPhone.

 

[MacherAWD]

PRECONDITIONING! That what I was thinking of. Thanks for refreshing my memory.

So, is preconditioning important enough to buy an Android phone instead of Apple? I think everyone is going to say "yes."

p.s. and to those folks who say they like their Pixel phones....I really liked mine too, and found it a great value for the money, but two battery recalls for overheating on my last two phones (both the Pixel 4a and 6a) makes me a big gun-shy about considering Google phones ever again.

I think I paid $299 or $350 for my 6a, worked great for almost 5 years, and they just gave me $100 cash for it and Xfinity gave me $135 for it towards the 9a, Solid experience in my book

 

[ChrisO]

Actually my biggest complaint with my Pixel 6a is the cheap USB connector. Mine has gotten to the point where it easily slips out, so for instance I can’t charge it sitting in the car.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

I think everyone is going to say "yes."

No, but there’s no excuse for Apple not implementing the feature, they’ve had the ability to do so for ages. Since you’ve been a Pixel user and a user of Google Map, I’d see little reason to change platforms at this point. As a bonus for remaining loyal to the Android environment you get to keep preconditioning.

 

[Sikkun]

PRECONDITIONING! That what I was thinking of. Thanks for refreshing my memory.

So, is preconditioning important enough to buy an Android phone instead of Apple? I think everyone is going to say "yes."

No.

Unless you DC charge a lot in colder temperatures.

Certainly not important enough to base a phone choice of of for the majority of people who DC charge a couple times a year, mostly during warmer travel months.

It won’t make a difference for them.

 

[E90alex]

I’m of the camp that thinks the preconditioning issue is kind of over blown. In most months it won’t make much if any difference. In the winter in below freezing temps it can help you charge faster on a road trip when you plug into a fast charger.

But also it will eat more of your range since it’s using the battery energy to heat itself, so preconditioning might make you need to stop more often and negate any time savings at the charger.

 

[MacherAWD]

Actually my biggest complaint with my Pixel 6a is the cheap USB connector. Mine has gotten to the point where it easily slips out, so for instance I can’t charge it sitting in the car.

That's what made me get a new phone the struggle to simply charge. I made sure my new phone had wireless charging

 

[RickMachE]

I’m of the camp that thinks the preconditioning issue is kind of over blown. In most months it won’t make much if any difference. In the winter in below freezing temps it can help you charge faster on a road trip when you plug into a fast charger.

But also it will eat more of your range since it’s using the battery energy to heat itself, so preconditioning might make you need to stop more often and negate any time savings at the charger.

Having driven both my Mach-E and Lightning in freezing temperatures, and not ever had preconditioning with my Lightning, I can say for certain, from my perspective:

- Preconditioning does NOT impact enough battery that you'll be stopping more often. We're talking less than 20 minutes of battery heating.
- Preconditioning can save about 10 minutes per stop. With the Lightning, the battery stays warm enough between stops that preconditioning after that first stop is not as big a deal, but the Mach-E's battery cools off a lot. 3 -4 stops a day means saving 30 to 40 minutes per day.

If I had a choice of a phone buy, all things being equal, having the ability to precondition the battery would win.

 

[Space_Pony]

My Samsung S25+ has worked good with the MME. You might check it out.

 

[ex2bot]

I usually use iPhones, but just got a used Pixel 7 from Back Market (.com) for $200 to play with (Android Auto among other things). Thought it would be crappy bc used, but it’s actually really nice.

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