Kenyan drivers using older Android smartphones may soon lose access to Android Auto, a Google software platform that provides navigation, hands-free calls and messages, entertainment, and voice controls. Android Auto connects to a car's infotainment system via USB or wirelessly using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, relying on the phone's processing power and data.
Google has begun displaying warnings to Android 10 users that their phones will soon stop supporting Android Auto. The notifications appear when an affected phone is connected to a vehicle's infotainment system via a wired connection. The message states that Android Auto will stop working because the device cannot update to the required Android version.
Several Samsung models widely sold in Kenya, including the Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy A50, and Galaxy A80, are among the devices at risk. These phones reached their final official update at Android 10. Devices from Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Tecno that never received an Android 11 update could also be affected if Google formalizes the higher requirement.
Google's official support page currently states that wired Android Auto requires Android 9 Pie or newer, while wireless Android Auto already demands Android 11 or later. The warnings now appearing on wired connections suggest Google may be aligning both requirements around Android 11.
Affected users have three options available to them: upgrading to a smartphone running Android 11 or later, exploring custom ROMs, or mounting their phones directly on the dashboard for navigation. Google has not officially explained the apparent change, though the company has historically dropped older Android versions as maintaining compatibility with them becomes increasingly costly.
Android Auto is widely used by Kenyan motorists who depend on Google Maps for navigation, stream music via Spotify or YouTube Music, and make hands-free calls through aftermarket or factory-fitted infotainment systems in vehicles from various manufacturers. No confirmed cutoff date has been announced, and Google has not yet updated its support pages to reflect what users are seeing.
In related news, Apple's iOS 27, released on September 14, 2026, supports 33 iPhone models, starting with the iPhone 11 from 2019 and extending to the latest 2026 models. However, access to Apple Intelligence is more restricted, requiring at least an iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max, meaning older models can receive iOS 27 but not Apple's AI features.
Key points
- Google's Android Auto may soon stop supporting older Android smartphones.
- Affected devices include popular Samsung Galaxy models widely used in Kenya.
- Users may need to upgrade to a newer smartphone or explore alternative options.
