Samsung plans alternative to Google Android Auto
Samsung apparently develops its own alternative to Android Auto with “Auto Dex”. The system should support over 8,500 vehicle models and could even work on smartphones – even if the car does not offer compatibility.
Samsung plans its own car platform
Samsung reports reportedly on its own alternative to Google’s Android Auto. The platform, known as the “Auto Dex”, is intended to offer a vehicle-optimized user interface inspired by Samsung’s Mobile Mobile One UI design. Particularly interesting: The system could also work in vehicles that do not offer native support for Android Auto.
According to the infiltrated information, Auto Dex should be compatible with more than 8,500 vehicle models of over 100 brands. A travers Screenshot shows a user interface that is strongly reminiscent of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. In the center there is a dashboard with a map view, on the right next to it a music player widget with a playlist link.
On the left edge of the screen you can see a vertical sidebar with time, app list and a link to the app drawer. Recognizable apps include Bixby, navigation, music and Samsung telephone app.
Smartphone display as a headquarters
The user interface also contains a secondary taskbar at the bottom of the screen with Samsung’s typical three-button navigation. The elements indicate that Auto Dex could possibly be used directly on the smartphone display – an interesting approach after Google “Android Auto for Phone Screens” actually stopped a few years ago.
The function was originally introduced in 2016 and made it possible to use an optimized interface directly on your smartphone without the Android car. After the feature was set, Google user referred to the Assistant Driving Mode, which, however, never achieved the same popularity.
Different to the existing Samsung Auto
It is not the first attempt in the area of vehicle integration. The South Korean electronics group already offers an application called “Samsung Auto”, which is limited to certain markets such as China. There the system can be connected to vehicles from various manufacturers such as Audi and BMW via platforms such as Baidu Carlife+ or Iccoa Carlink.
With Auto Dex, Samsung now seems to be striving for a global solution. The name indicates an expansion of Samsung’s known DEX system, which has been able to connect your smartphones to external displays since 2017 and use a desktop-like surface. Dex stands for “desktop experience” and was originally introduced for the Galaxy S8 series.
Market opportunities and challenges
Despite the promising leaks, many questions remain open. For example, it is unclear whether Auto Dex will offer the same integration as Android Auto or whether car manufacturers have to do additional work to support the system. Loud 9to5google Could the function with “some tricks” also work on the smartphone if the car does not offer any support or the user does not have a car at all. In view of the dominance of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in the global market, it would be difficult for Samsung to convince car manufacturers of the integration of a third system.
Android Auto is now available in millions of vehicles and is supported by practically all major car manufacturers. Apple CarPlay has found similarly wide acceptance. Therefore, it is obvious that Samsung rely on a smartphone-based solution that works independently of the vehicle. Auto Dex could be interesting, especially for Samsung folding cell phones with their big displays. Users could attach their open devices to the tap and use Auto Dex directly on the smartphone display.
Start with One UI 8 expected
Industry observers suspect that Samsung Auto Dex could introduce the next version of its user interface together with One UI 8. This is expected to be debut with the company’s new folding cell phones, which will be presented shortly. One UI 8 is based on Android 15 and is said to have various improvements for vehicle use.
