A strange feature omission has made using Android Auto a little more confusing than its mobile variants for some time, but that’s about to change. In Google Maps for Android, iOS, and even Apple’s CarPlay, the user interface will display a live speedometer that just gives you another indication of how fast your vehicle is going. This may seem unnecessary, but it’s a quick and easy way to take a look at the dashboard and compare your current speed to the posted speed for the road you’re traveling on. Google Maps added the speedometer to its iPhone and CarPlay apps in 2024, but we’re just now seeing it rolling out to Android Auto for beta users and those lucky enough to access the server-side update.
As reported by 9to5Google, users on Reddit have started sharing their experiences with the new real-time speedometer, although it is part of the Google Maps beta, which allows users to quickly access the new features for testing and development purposes.
If you want more details, the user who first shared the information is from Canada and is currently using Google Maps version 26.29.02.946673643. They also explained that, like other platforms, Maps for Android Auto will show travel speed as well as the displayed speed on the current road, unless a displayed speed is unavailable, in which case only your current speed is visible. There’s nothing else unique about the new visual indicator, besides it’s been available in other Google Maps variants for years. When comparing Google Maps to Waze head-to-head, the speedometer feature is now a miss, as both services now include this feature on all surfaces.
Google Maps and Waze use the same GPS speed calculations
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The live speedometer you see in Google Maps and Waze is based on GPS technology and associated data. Interestingly, you will notice that the speed displayed in these apps differs slightly from that displayed on your vehicle’s dashboard. Can you guess which one is more accurate? It’s actually the speed provided by GPS which generally tends to be closer to your actual speed, but many factors come into play.
Indeed, the speed displayed by your vehicle is calculated by the system measuring tire rotation, but it also applies a small adjustment to take into account a margin of error, so it can be overestimated by around 3 to 6%. The speed displayed on your vehicle’s speedometer is usually a bit faster than that displayed via GPS navigation apps, which you may have encountered before. In comparison, GPS apps track your current location over time and calculate speed based on distance traveled.
Ultimately, since Waze and Google Maps use the same technology to calculate speed, you’d think they’d be close in accuracy. However, some Google Maps reports show lower speeds than Waze and a vehicle dashboard. Google recommends always confirming your speed on your vehicle’s speedometer for this reason. Additionally, GPS data may be affected by obstructions or signal losses disrupting the speed reading. Driving through a tunnel, dense forest cover, parking lot, or urban areas with tall buildings can affect the GPS signal. Waze and Google Maps also share a big problem when it comes to collecting your data – something you should keep in mind if you rely on them.
