Even if you’re not especially into customizing, there are some settings you should change right away. By default, Android Auto has some settings that don’t make for the best driving experience. Here’s a look at four of those, and why you should change them now.
1. Decline to start music automatically
This feature can be convenient, but it can also be annoying. By default, Android Auto resumes where it left off every time you start your car.
This capability means you’ll hear the high-energy playlist or intense podcast you were listening to last night before you even back out of the driveway the next morning.
If you’re the only one who uses your car, this feature might be fine, but if you switch cars with family members or have kids getting in and out of your vehicle, you probably don’t want this capability enabled. The good news is that it’s simple to restart your media, so go ahead and turn off automatic start. You can find this option in your phone’s main settings app by searching for Android Auto, then toggling “Start music automatically.”
2. Turn off message notifications
There are at least two message notification settings you probably want to change. By default, Android Auto shows part of any text message that you get. This feature isn’t necessarily a good thing. If you have passengers in your car, you probably don’t want your messages showing every time. In addition, incoming messages take up your display, potentially covering up your navigation instructions or other important information.
You’ll probably want to turn off “Show group conversations” as well. If you’ve ever been annoyed by a rapid-fire group text, you know it can be distracting enough on its own. But in your car, this situation can be even worse when notifications keep interrupting your music or podcast. If you’d rather mute all message notifications, you can. Turn off “Play message chime.” You’ll still see the notification, but your media will play uninterrupted.
3. Remove apps you won’t use
There’s a good chance you don’t use some Android Auto apps. Whether it’s the ones built in from the start or just compatible apps on your phone, such as messaging apps that you rarely use or a music service you tried once, your display will show every potential app on the launcher by default. If you’d prefer to see only the apps you use, you can customize your launcher.
Your Android Auto should be as simple as possible, and decluttering the screen is a big part of that approach. Note that this strategy doesn’t delete the apps from your phone; it just removes them from your car screen. You can put the apps back any time you want. From Android Auto settings, tap “Customize launcher.” You’ll be able to go through and choose the apps you want to appear.
4. Turn on taskbar widgets
By default, Android Auto has icons at the bottom of your screen for your most recently used apps. It’s a convenient way to switch between apps, but I’ve found that it’s not the best use of these icons. Turn on taskbar widgets, and these icons become dynamic quick controls that change depending on which app you’re using. These options may include media controls to play or pause, navigation shortcuts to show your next turn or route info, or context-based shortcuts, such as calling a recent contact.
Flip phones are making a comeback, but most US adults aren’t convinced enough to upgrade.
Smartphone brands are trying new phone concepts, like flip and foldable phones, to give us a bigger screen when we want it, while still maintaining the same functionality as the smartphones we’re used to. There’s the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, for instance, and there’s even a rumor that Apple plans to release its first foldable phone.
And if you remember the popular 2000s Motorola Razr, now there are rumors about the Motorola Razr 2026 — it reminds me of my old pink phone. But gone are the days of a basic keypad and a few ringtones. Smartphone brands are adding AI features, such as creating custom emoji, removing background objects from photos, and live translation.
Yet a recent CNET survey says smartphone users aren’t sufficiently impressed by new features and concepts to consider upgrading their phones. Only 12% are motivated by AI integrations and 13% by new phone designs. Instead, price (55%) and longer battery life (52%) are the biggest drivers of their decision to get a new phone.
If most US adults aren’t sold, why are tech brands so adamant? Let’s dive into CNET’s findings and what they mean for the future of smartphones.
The top three motivations for US adult smartphone owners to consider upgrading their devices are price (55%), longer battery life (52%) and more storage (38%). That’s the same top three as last year: In 2025, price was the top motivator (62%), followed by longer battery life (54%) and storage capacity (39%).
Despite AI’s growing presence, only 12% of smartphone owners say AI integrations would motivate them to consider upgrading.
Only 13% of smartphone owners would be motivated to consider upgrading to a new phone concept, such as a foldable or flip phone.
Over half of smartphone owners (58%) experience frustration with their phone’s battery life, and 31% say their phone’s battery doesn’t hold a charge as well as it did when it was new.
Most US adults aren’t motivated by new smartphone features and designs
Smartphone brands, like Samsung and Apple, are building in convenient features, such as a tool to remove unwanted objects from pictures, AI call screening and the ability to draft a message from a prompt. However, CNET found that US adults would consider upgrading for more practical reasons. Over half (55%) of US smartphone users are motivated by price, including 53% of Apple users and 56% of Samsung users.
Yet brands are still exploring new concepts and features, like Apple Intelligence, a built-in AI feature. Then there’s the rumor of a book-style iPhone, potentially followed by a clamshell foldable design. But that’s not what most smartphone owners are after.
Smartphone owners are more convinced by other design and feature factors when deciding on a new phone, such as camera features (27%) and the phone’s display or screen size (22%). Here are the top motivators to consider upgrading for all smartphone users.
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Zain Awais / CNET
You’ve probably noticed the price of a basic smartphone has increased drastically over the years. Take the iPhone, for example. It was originally $600 for 4GB. But advanced features, the RAM shortage, inflation and tariffs are pushing prices even higher. Now, the baseline iPhone 17 (256 GB) is $800, and the Samsung Galaxy S26 (256 GB) starts at $900.
There’s no way of knowing for sure, but these may be the lowest prices we’ll see on new models for a while, especially as features advance and designs become more complex. So if you’re already in the market for a new phone, you might want to think seriously about pulling the trigger now if you find a good deal.
The top upgrading motivators haven’t changed much over the years
Looking back at CNET’s survey data from 2024 and 2025, and now, people’s motivators for upgrading their phones haven’t changed much. Price, longer battery life and more storage have been top drivers in the past, and despite small dips this year, they’re still key upgrading factors.
Despite design upgrades and new features, smartphone owners are still focused on how much they’re paying and how long they can use their devices without needing a charger. Consumer sentiment about AI integrations dropped hard from 2024 to 2025, but it has edged up slightly in 2026. And smartphone owners aren’t as easily persuaded by phone color or the phone being thinner, either.
Even with these nice-to-have capabilities, smartphone owners are looking at the basics. That includes practical features like battery life and more storage to hold their many important files, photos and apps.
Most smartphone owners want better battery life
Taking a closer look at smartphone users’ hope for longer battery life in a new phone, over half (58%) are frustrated with their current phone’s battery life. Roughly one in three (31%) say their phone doesn’t hold a charge.
The reality is, battery life will decline the longer you have your phone, so you may find your phone’s battery charge doesn’t last as long as it used to. Even though you can replace your phone’s battery, most phone batteries have a lifespan of two to three years before they start degrading.
CNET Director of Editorial Content Patrick Holland examined battery life tests on over 35 current smartphones. And it’s not just iPhones that pack impressive batteries.
Based on CNET’s lab testing, the $1,200 iPhone 17 Pro Max had the best overall battery life, with a 5,088-mAh capacity. Another top performer was the $900 OnePlus 15, with a 7,300-mAh battery.
If you’re looking for a phone with better battery life, consider one with a silicon-carbon battery to increase capacity without requiring a larger phone. The OnePlus 15, Poco F7 Ultra, OnePlus 13R and OnePlus 15R all feature silicon-carbon batteries with large capacities and all performed well in Holland’s testing. Keep in mind that other factors can impact your battery life, like your carrier’s signal, software efficiency and processor.
Methodology
CNET commissioned YouGov Plc to conduct the survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The total sample comprised 2,486 adults, of whom 2,407 owned a smartphone. Fieldwork was undertaken from April 29 to May 1, 2026. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18 plus).
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