Foldable Android Phones Experience Call Drops with Android Auto, Possibly Linked to Gemini

Users of foldable Android phones are reporting that voice calls get cut off or disrupted when the devices are paired with Android Auto, an issue that seems connected to the newly launched Gemini software layer.

Engadget notes that the problem shows up chiefly when motorists try to place or take calls via the car’s infotainment system while the phone remains folded. Affected users report hearing choppy audio or losing the call entirely, which pushes them to switch back to the phone’s built‑in dialer. The defect appears absent on conventional smartphones, indicating a compatibility issue specific to the foldable design.

The culprit is thought to be Gemini, a module of Google’s newest Android release that blends AI‑powered functions with system tweaks. Although Google has not issued a formal explanation, the issue coincides with the deployment of Gemini updates to Android, leading analysts to wonder whether fresh code routes are mishandling the switch between the device’s screen configurations and the Android Auto UI.

Android Auto projects a phone’s navigation, messaging and calling capabilities onto a vehicle’s dashboard, depending on flawless interaction between the handset and the car’s head unit. Because foldable phones feature dual screens and moving hinges, they already pose a tougher integration challenge. In the past, developers have had to manage orientation shifts and sensor inputs, and Gemini’s deeper system embedding might have added unexpected incompatibilities.

Google has yet to release an official comment on the issue, and no schedule for a fix has been announced. For now, users experiencing the bug are recommended to leave their phones unfolded when using Android Auto or, where feasible, turn off the Gemini feature temporarily. This episode highlights the wider difficulty of syncing new hardware formats with rapidly changing software platforms, and it will probably become a key focus in forthcoming Android releases and OEM testing rounds.