Apple Carplay is still improving with iOS 26. Here’s how

Apple deploys new software for iPhone users from this fall: iOS 26. With this, we will see key updates of our iPhones and iPads, but especially for car lovers, there will be major changes to Apple Carplay’s experience.

In addition to a subtle overhaul and a few additional things to play, the latest version of Carplay should make technology in the car omnipresent, much easier to use. Here is what you can expect at its beginnings later this year.

It starts with the look. Apple will introduce a new liquid glass design on iPhone which will extend to the Carplay interface. The overhaul will include visual updates of applications, background and border, with translucent and brilliant elements, which gives a little more modern.

Currently, during the Apple Carplay call, the active call takes the entire screen. No more. IOS 26 will present a new compact view for calls that put a much smaller call bar at the base of the screen, which allows you to use cards and other functions during the call.

Any user of the iPhone knows that a quick way to finish a text thread is with a simple response from Thumbs-Up Tapback to the previous text message. Now you can do it in Carplay, with a projection that appears on the screen showing the same heart, boost and exclamation responses on your phone.

Let’s say that you have active cards on your way to recover your spouse at the airport, but that you also want to keep track of their incoming flight. Well, you can now with the function of live activities, which projects on the screen alongside cards, allowing you to follow the activities as you go.

Once limited exclusively to Carplay Ultra, each user of Carplay will now be able to add adjustable widgets to their home screen. This means that your calendar, your smart house functions and others are accessible with one click.

Widgets are not the only expansion of Apple’s ultra carplay features. If you have an Aston Martin, you can access the entire extent of Carplay Ultra, which extends features such as navigation on each screen of the vehicle, including the group of instruments. Other car manufacturers, such as Ford, Hyundai, Kia and Volvo, should also add CarPlay Ultra features in the coming months.