We covered the new Carplay experience in iOS 26 in the summer. There is a lot of excitement for many changes, but it turns out that not everyone likes complete experience.
On 512 pixelsStephen Hackett details four numbers he has with the experience of new messages in Carplay with iOS 26. One of his complaints concerns the name of the truncation. This is something that I find deeply relatable because I essentially have an allergy to an unnecessary truncation. The parameter application on my mac truncates often “Siri and Apple Intelligence” while using my display to default resolution. It is a bug that hurts me whenever it happens. In any case, Stephen’s other complaints concern design and layout decisions.
It is great that the Carplay messages application now respects conversations pinned, but display them in something other than the 3 across of iOS, iPados, Watchos and MacOS breaks muscle memory in the only context where muscle memory is the most important.
(…)
Unrelated badges must be in a coherent place. Carplay shows badges for the favorites at the top right of the image, while the conversations in the list below have them on the left. It’s something only in Carplay; Each other Messages application displays unrelated points to the left of the name of the conversation.
The “messages” label at the top of the screen is off -center.
If I am not mistaken, the messages application only authorizes up to nine conversations pinned. If it is correct, the 5 × 2 grid will always have a virgin slit, at least in Stephen’s truck.
Opting for only five pinned conversations would even be the layout in Carplay, but the 3 × 3 grid on all other devices would consist of three icons in the upper row and two in the lower row. You will notice that the 5 × 1 approach is what Apple adopts its marketing images for the new messages application on Carplay in iOS 26.
It is the challenge of designing a single interface that evolves in all kinds of screens and in different contexts.
If you look at the Screenshot in his messageYou can also see the logic of unread complaint. Personally, I could go the rest of my life without ever seeing an unread notification badge, but Apple does not yet have a universal switch outside the switch.
Carplay in iOS 26 is also the most adaptive version to date. A new Smart Display Zoom feature allows the user interface to shrink enough for more content to be displayed on the screen. It is also a situation where, well, your mileage can vary depending on various factors.
What do you think? Is the new messages application a step in the right direction that a few adjustments could resolve, or Carplay going in the wrong direction for your preferences? Let us know in the comments.
