Over the past few years, the introduction of new features for CarPlay has been sparse. However, with the debut of CarPlay Ultra and the upcoming updates in iOS 26 for the standard CarPlay, the landscape has shifted dramatically. Here’s what to expect this autumn with iOS 26, marking CarPlay’s most significant update in years.
## New ‘Liquid Glass’ Aesthetic
As part of Apple’s design overhaul across platforms this year, the new ‘Liquid Glass’ aesthetic of iOS 26 is making its way into vehicles as well. This upgrade means that app icons and various UI components have been redesigned, and you’ll have the option to tailor the appearance using different icon styles, choosing from Default, Dark, and Clear—with the latter featuring several unique variants.
## Widgets in CarPlay
A few years back, CarPlay widgets were revealed as an element of Apple’s “next generation of CarPlay” project. This newer version ultimately became CarPlay Ultra, yet luckily, Apple is also introducing widgets to the standard CarPlay interface. In iOS 26, your car can showcase any widgets from the apps installed on your iPhone. Therefore, apps won’t require specific CarPlay compatibility for you to access their widgets while on the move.
## Video in the Car via AirPlay
Have you ever found yourself in the car needing to pass the time? CarPlay in iOS 26 enhances that experience by supporting video playback in the car. When your vehicle is parked, CarPlay allows you to view videos on your car’s display. This feature utilizes AirPlay technology, and third-party apps can implement bespoke support. So the next time you’re charging your electric vehicle, waiting to pick someone up, or in a similar scenario, CarPlay will be there to entertain you.
## Live Activities
This year is monumental for Live Activities, a feature previously exclusive to the iPhone and Apple Watch. Alongside its introduction on the Mac and iPad in macOS Tahoe and iPadOS 26, CarPlay now includes support for Live Activities. Essentially, any Live Activity occurring on your iPhone will also be displayed in CarPlay—ideal for monitoring flights, sports scores, food deliveries, and more.
## Messages, Phone, Maps Enhancements
Apple has a multitude of new functionalities slated for system apps in iOS 26 that will enhance CarPlay as well. Here are a few particular improvements I want to emphasize for Messages, Phone, and Maps. Messages will finally incorporate tapback support in your vehicle. This widely used feature will allow you to swiftly and easily add a thumbs up, heart, or any other tapback to your friends’ messages. Pinned conversations are now accessible in the car too.
The Phone app receives a significant UI update in iOS 26: incoming calls will no longer occupy your entire screen; instead, they’ll present in a compact view, allowing you to access important navigation information seamlessly. Additionally, if your vehicle is equipped with a multitouch display, Apple Maps will let you engage with the map using multitouch for the first time.
CarPlay introduces a distinctive ‘Smart Display Zoom’ feature in iOS 26, providing enhanced flexibility in utilizing your limited screen space. Smart Display Zoom enables you to fit notably more content on the screen simultaneously. Naturally, as things become smaller, they may be trickier to tap while driving. Nevertheless, depending on your setup, you might find CarPlay’s new iOS 26 layout options to be an attractive alternative. Likewise, CarPlay will allow you to adjust text size according to your preference, making it larger and easier to read should that be your choice.
## iOS 26’s New CarPlay Features: Summary
This year is shaping up to be a monumental one for CarPlay, setting the stage for a robust ‘next generation’ for this long-time favorite among users. With all of the new features headed to CarPlay, iOS 26 will deliver significantly more than just enhancements for your iPhone—it will represent a major transformation for your vehicle as well.
