iOS 26 Will Radically Reshape the Look and Feel of Apple CarPlay. Learn All the New Free Features Coming Soon
Originally called "iOS in the Car," Apple's CarPlay has come a long way in the last decade. It now supports iPhone connections for more than 800 different models of cars and motorcycles. It's also about to go through a massive redesign with a bevy of new features.
Apple is updating the CarPlay experience with the newly revealed iOS 26. Apple announced the changes during its annual WWDC event in Cupertino, California, on June 9.
Apple's iPhone-compatible automobile operating system is used more than 600 million times per day, according to the tech giant. The entire CarPlay system is getting a refresh, including icons in light and dark modes, widgets to give you "quick and glanceable ways to get information" while you're on the move and live activities like flight statuses.
WWDC 2025: Everything Revealed in 10 Minutes WWDC 2025: Everything Revealed in 10 Minutes
Click to unmute
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Skip Backward
Skip Forward
Next playlist item
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
9:37
Loaded :
1.05%
0:00
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
9:37
Share
Fullscreen
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text
Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background
Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background
Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Close Modal Dialog
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
Close Modal Dialog
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
WWDC 2025: Everything Revealed in 10 Minutes
"We've also added new features to help keep you connected while driving, like a compact design when you get a call, so you can still see what's on the screen, like your upcoming directions, along with tap backs and pinned conversations in messages," Apple's Emily Schubert said during the WWDC keynote.
There are also now vehicle controls in Apple CarPlay, including radio and climate controls.
You can use Apple CarPlay to control the climate in your car.
Screenshot by CNET
Footage from Apple during the keynote also showed you can send emoji reactions to messages while on the go, without navigating away from your driving directions. You can also see things like calendar reminders and smart home controls in widgets on the side of the display.
Apple launched CarPlay Ultra last month, bringing more customized features for automakers to include.
"It provides information for all of the driver's screens, including real-time content and gauges in the instrument cluster, while reflecting the automaker's look and feel and offering drivers a customizable experience," Apple said in a blog post in May.
All the new CarPlay features coming in iOS 26
Here's a roundup of the major new features that will be added to CarPlay with the launch of iOS 26.
Liquid Glass design
Just like an iPhone with iOS 26, CarPlay will get the same translucent design overhaul Apple is calling Liquid Glass, with buttons that add a feel of depth. CarPlay icons may not have the same moving effect as on your iPhone, but they'll have the same shiny, glass-like appearance.
Compact view
One of the most welcome new features of CarPlay with iOS 26 is a new view that doesn't interrupt your navigation when phone calls arrive. Instead of taking over the whole screen, incoming calls will now appear in a smaller windows at the bottom, so you'll be able to see turn-by-turn directions.
During navigation, phone calls will now pop-up in a much smaller window at the bottom of the display.
Apple/Screenshot by Joe Maldonado/CNET
New features in Messages
Messages on CarPlay with iOS 26 will add the ability to respond with tapbacks like thumbs up, thumbs down, a heart or exclamation marks. It will also let you pin messages to the top of the interface.
New incidents to report in Maps
Maps will soon add three new incident types to report in CarPlay. Along with the existing accidents, speed checks and hazards, the iOS 26 update will also include roadwork, road closures and traffic.
Video streaming while parked
The new CarPlay with iOS 26 will let your stream videos to your car's screen from your iPhone using AirPlay. As soon as your car starts moving, the feature should be disabled. Whether or not you'll be able to stream video may depend on your car model.
Live Activities and widgets
New Live Activities in CarPlay will provide real-time information while you drive.
Apple/Screenshot by Joe Maldonado/CNET
Using CarPlay with iOS 26, the same widgets you have on your iPhone should work in your car. Widgets are currently only availble via Apple's premium version of the service, CarPlay Ultra. You'll also soon be able to see real-time updates and info from Live Activities like flight trackers.
Smart Display Zoom
When this new feature is enabled in CarPlay with iOS 26, the CarPlay interface will be automatically resized to best use the available screen space, no matter its size. For example a smaller screen will reduce the size of the icons so that two rows of app icons can fit properly.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
19 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Edmunds: The best SUVs for under $30,000, ranked
Just about every automaker these days offers an entry-level SUV. Though they are smaller than the most popular SUVs, such as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, their appeal is obvious. They are affordable, good on gas, and are easy to drive and park. They also provide many of the attributes shoppers love about SUVs, such as a more commanding view of the road than a sedan offers and available all-wheel drive for extra traction on icy or snowy roads.
Associated Press
19 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Edmunds: The best SUVs for under $30,000, ranked
Just about every automaker these days offers an entry-level SUV. Though they are smaller than the most popular SUVs, such as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, their appeal is obvious. They are affordable, good on gas, and are easy to drive and park. They also provide many of the attributes shoppers love about SUVs, such as a more commanding view of the road than a sedan offers and available all-wheel drive for extra traction on icy or snowy roads. But which one should you get? Edmunds' team of automotive experts have undertaken thousands of miles of testing in order to provide a ranked list of the five best SUVs under $30,000. They're ordered below based on Edmunds' testing and rankings. All of the following prices include destination charges. Nissan Kicks Redesigned for the 2025 model year, the Nissan Kicks has gone from being a forgettable wallflower to a small SUV extrovert. Based on design alone, the new Kicks is a major step forward from its predecessor. For the first time, all-wheel drive is optional on Nissan's smallest and least expensive SUV. All three available trims — S, SV, SR — easily fall under Edmunds' budget cap of $30,000. The top SR trim is a particularly impressive value thanks to its big display screens and many standard driver assist features. Edmunds discovered a few downsides in the newly stylish Kick, such as tepid acceleration and disappointing real-world fuel economy. But overall the Kicks is a great way to spend a little and get a lot. 2025 Nissan Kicks starting price: $23,220 Honda HR-V Honda knows a thing or two about building easy-to-drive and comfortable SUVs. The compact CR-V is hugely popular, and its smaller sibling, the HR-V, is similarly appealing. This choice is especially appealing if space is a priority for you. The HR-V has a big cargo area for this size of SUV, and headroom and legroom for rear passengers are generous. We also like the HR-V's upscale interior design and competitive value for what you're paying. The main downside to the HR-V is its lack of power. You'll need some patience for passing and getting up to speed on the highway. 2026 HR-V starting price: $27,595 Buick Envista The sleek and stylish Envista could get fashion-conscious SUV shoppers into a Buick dealership for the first time. It's one of the more head-turning shapes among small SUVs, yet Edmunds' testers found the Envista is much more than a pretty face. The Envista is longer than most of its rivals, and that contributes to adult-friendly legroom in either row. A sizable and intuitive-to-use 11-inch touchscreen is standard. But be aware that the Envista's tapering roofline does take a bite out of cargo volume. Also, all-wheel drive isn't available. 2025 Envista starting price: $25,195 Chevrolet Trax Edmunds found the small size and light weight of the Trax make it genuinely entertaining to drive. The handling is precise and, while it's no road rocket, acceleration is above par among subcompact SUVs. It's also fuel-efficient. Just keep in mind, like the Envista, all-wheel drive is not available. The Trax delivers big on passenger space, cargo volume and value. The trunk is roomy, and even the base trim comes with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone connectivity, automatic high beams, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. 2025 Trax starting price: $21,895 2025 Hyundai Kona The Hyundai Kona sits at the top of Edmunds' rankings for extra-small SUVs. Edmunds singled out the Kona's roomy and modern-looking interior for praise, especially when it is optioned with the available 12.3-inch digital instrument panel mounted alongside the standard 12.3-inch touchscreen. Every Kona also comes standard with many driver assist features such as adaptive cruise control and blind-spot warning. One negative: The Kona's upper trims, though impressively equipped, nudge against or exceed our $30,000 pricing barrier. Also, Edmunds noted the soft and springy suspension takes some fun out of piloting the otherwise overachieving Kona. 2025 Kona starting price: $26,000 Edmunds says When it comes to how they drive and the features they offer, small SUVs have grown up a lot in the past few years. Some stand taller than others thanks to their blend of pricing, driving dynamics, interior space and efficiency. In this instance, the versatile Hyundai Kona emerges as the winner. ____________ This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds. Nick Kurczewski is a contributor at Edmunds.
CBS News
22 minutes ago
- CBS News
Ramp metering traffic lights begin on I-96 in Oakland County
Traffic lights started operating on some entrance ramps to Interstate 96 in Metro Detroit Wednesday, providing directions that transportation officials call "ramp metering" at the merges. The flex route area on I-96 opened in March between Kent Lake Road and the I-275/I-696/M-5 interchange in Oakland County. While this traffic setup is new to Metro Detroit, there already is a flex route on US-23 in Livingston and Washtenaw counties. The ramp metering affects eight entrance maps along that area of I-96 between Novi and Milford roads, the Michigan Department of Transportation reported. The meters will start operation in yellow flash mode to remind drivers to be cautious. But eventually, the lights will use the traditional green/yellow/red lights seen on intersetion traffic signals to indicate when oncoming traffic can take its turn. Drivers will have to stop at the pavement line, then proceed one at a time onto the ramp, when the red lights are active. MDOT has posted a video on its YouTube channel explaining to drivers how ramp meters work. "Ramp meters have been used in many other states to reduce crashes and improve travel times by controlling the flow of traffic entering the freeway. By breaking up platoons of entering traffic, the need for drivers already on the freeway to slow down is reduced and vehicles can merge more smoothly onto the freeway," MDOT says. The above video originally aired on June 17.
