Portrait reference design overview

AI-generated Key Takeaways

The portrait reference design for Android Automotive OS provides a map-based home screen for easy driver access to controls and apps.
This design, optimized for portrait displays, prioritizes navigation, ensures access to key controls, and enables multitasking with minimal driver distraction.
Car makers can customize the portrait reference design to reflect their brand while enhancing usability with strategically placed controls.
The portrait reference design is available in Android 14 or later and is a fully-built, customizable reference system UI.

The portrait reference design gives drivers easy access to controls and apps in the infotainment system from a convenient, map-based Home screen.

Car dashboard with portrait-format screen showing reference design

The portrait reference design is a reference system UI built on Android Automotive OS (AAOS) and optimized for portrait displays. Available in Android 14 or later, it's one of 2 fully-built, customizable reference designs in AAOS. (For a comparison of the 2 designs, see Choose a reference design.)

The portrait reference design helps car makers to:

Enable multitasking: Drivers can see and perform several tasks with minimal distraction on large touchscreen portrait displays.
Increase usability: Commonly used functionality is placed near the driver, with consideration for reach curves and physical anchoring.
Prioritize navigation: Drivers can view and access navigation apps on the Home screen at all times.
Ensure access to key controls: Frequently used controls, such as media, system navigation, and the readily available navigation app are always available on the Home screen to minimize driver distraction.