GoKawiilKerry Wan/ZDNET
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
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.
Last weekend, my wife and I decided to visit the cozy upstate town of Catskill, just off the Hudson River in New York. But instead of doing the usual and letting Android Auto and all its Gemini wisdom guide us, we agreed to become minimalists for a day.
Not to the extremes of using a physical map to navigate the two-and-a-half-hour road trip, but with our phones tucked away, notifications turned off, and using Android Auto offline only. Just months ago, we found ourselves underprepared for a drive through the desert valleys of the West Coast, so we figured this would be a great follow-up.
Also: 5 ways I speed up my Android phone beyond clearing system cache - all for free
Let me be clear: Using Android Auto offline is not a lifestyle everyone should proactively adopt, as I quickly discovered there are far more limitations than benefits. But there was also a charm to using the automotive software in its rawest form. And at times throughout the ride, we were both surprised by what the operating system could handle with no data.
... continue reading