3 Apps to Get iOS 18’s Vehicle Motion Cues on Android

iOS 18 brought several new accessibility features. One of them was Vehicle Motion Cues which helps avoid motion sickness when using your phone in a car or moving vehicle. This feature, however, isn’t available on Android natively. But that can be solved with simple apps. Let’s understand more about vehicle motion cues and how to get them on your Android phone.

What Causes Motion Sickness in Car?

When you use your phone or laptop in a moving vehicle, like your car, your eyes tell your brain you’re still, but your inner ear senses the motion. This mismatch confuses your brain, and that confusion can lead to motion sickness. It’s basically your brain getting mixed signals and being unable to figure out what’s happening.

This causes motion sickness. Symptoms include nausea, headache, dizziness, and more. This is completely normal and often happens to passengers instead of drivers, who are already using their brains to control the car. Therefore, they are better able to predict the motion.

How Vehicle Motion Cues Feature Prevent Motion Sickness?

It’s generally recommended not to use your phone or read a book while sitting in a moving car to avoid motion sickness. However, this is where the Vehicle Motion Cues feature comes to the rescue.

When enabled, it displays animated dots on the screen that mimic the vehicle’s movement. So your eyes see the same motion that your body is experiencing. This reduces the sensory conflict between your eyes and other senses that trigger motion sickness.

How to Get Vehicle Motion Cues on Android

Android has yet to receive the Vehicle Motion Cues feature. Android 16 DP1 is already here, but we haven’t seen anything related there yet. In the meantime, we found some third-party apps that mimic the iPhone’s Vehicle Motion Cues feature and help reduce motion sickness when using your Android phone in a moving vehicle.

Note: All of these apps require permission to display over other apps.

App 1: KineStop Car Sickness Aid

The KineStop Car Sickness app is built to reduce motion or travel sickness when traveling. Just like iOS 18’s Vehicle Motion Cues, it displays floating dots on your Android phone’s screen that move along with the car’s motion.

Apart from dots, you can also place different themes on your screen, including landscape, monochrome, horizon, sea, space, and more, based on your liking. There is an option to autostart when you’re in a vehicle; it does so by requiring permission to access physical activity. You can also add it to the quick settings panel.

I have used this app personally during my recent 3-hour-long journeys in a car’s rear seat, and it really works in controlling kinetosis or motion sickness, especially on hilly roads with lots of twists and turns. You can actually use your phone, read posts on it, and watch movies without experiencing a headache or becoming nauseous.

App 2: Motion Cues

Motion Cues is a rather simple app that enables an overlay of different size dots on your Android phone’s screen. All you need to do is install the app and hit Start. These dots will then follow the movement of the vehicle you’re in and keep the dots in motion with how your car is moving.

This will help mitigate the motion sickness problem. Thankfully, the dots do not cover the entire screen; instead, they’re on either side, letting you comfortably use your phone (for example, watching a video or reading a book) without too many overlapping elements.

While the app is quite basic in its functionality, it serves its purpose well and can be a lifesaver for those prone to motion sickness during travel.

App 3: CueMotion Vehicle Sickness Aid

CueMotion is another app that brings Apple’s Vehicle Motion Cue feature to your Android phone. Unlike KineStop, which requires a subscription for customization, CueMotion lets you change the color and size of dots being displayed on your screen for free.

It also has a dark mode feature. However, it may not be as effective as other apps because the dots move too slowly, and I hoped there would be an option to increase the sensitivity. But on the contrary, if you don’t want jerky dots on your screen, you can always prefer this app.

Apart from these, I also tried Vehicle Motion Cues and MotionEase car sickness aid apps. Both are good, but they support ads. They also require a premium purchase for ad removal and customization.

Reducing Motion Sickness on Android Phones

Getting iOS 18’s Vehicle Motion Cues feature on your Android is easier than you think. While it’s currently only possible through third-party apps, I’m assuming Google or another Android phone manufacturer like Samsung will add it in the near future to their phones. It’s a great feature for better health and wellness, allowing for comfortable phone use even while traveling.

Ritik Singh

With over 7 years of experience in tech, Ritik currently heads content at Techwiser.com. His journey began by sharing his knowledge and helping other people in online communities. This passion led him to a career in tech journalism, fueled by a formal education in Electronic Media. He then went on to roles at GadgetsToUse and PC-Tablet, where he honed his skills as an editor. He's also contributed to popular publications like HowToGeek and TheWindowsClub. With a portfolio of over 2,000 how-tos, reviews, and in-depth guides, Ritik has helped millions of readers navigate their tech, from smartphones to smart homes.