I can’t tell you that whenever I test a new EV and find out that it comes with the carplay. Along with Android Auto, Apple’s car infotainment interface should not be ignored because it gives you better access to the most used features on your mobile device.
During the WWDC 2025, Apple announced the new features of the carplay coming up with iOS 26. Which includes a major change with the design of its new liquid glass material. I had to try many of the new features with the iOS 26 developer son, which is running my iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Of all the new features, especially a person who solves my biggest problem about the interface in today’s best electric cars. This is a simple thing that is often overlooked, but I’m glad Apple has identified it on a large scale with iOS 26.
Make the widgets easy to tell
I don’t remember to test a car where time was easy to tell – and this is a great resentment to me. Nowadays, the clock is buried in a screen and when I end up seeing it, the size is often negative and difficult to see. With iOS 26 beta, though, Apple finally allows you to add widgets to the carplay interface.
The home screen has a dedicated panel for these widgets, but it allows me to choose a watch style that is at the center and is very easy to look at at a glance. When I am driving, it is perfect because it is very present now, rather than if they are buried and small.
The iOS 26 carplay has introduced a widget for everything, which includes my home -cut equipment such as my smart lights and camera, a calendar, a list of my upcoming events, a battery status for my iPhone and Apple Watch, and more.
Liquid glass notifications give a layered shape
Now that Apple is combining the feeling and view of its interface in all platforms and devices, the liquid glass carpel gives a change that makes it more layers. Contrary to my problem with iOS 26 son on my iPhone, the transparency of the interface looks more confusing – as the information appears in the carplay.
I prefer the way I give the new interface background elements – such as the bubble that is around the three menu icons in the picture above – better separation between the two layers.
Although the previous repetition of the liquid glass carplay is not a major change, at least it does not seem so disturbing. There are also options for choosing light or dark methods, including automatically, so as to make it easier to the eyes unlike the interface.
Tap Backs on Messages
When I came to driving a text message, I was surprised to see the option of performing a tapeback – like on my iPhone. This is a new option in the iOS 26 carplay that allows you to select an immediate response rather than responding to Siri.
This is definitely helpful, because it is fast and at the point, the main reason is how the liquid glass interface eliminates the options for me. Now, I don’t have to think about a real answer so I just be focused on the road.
Direct activities
Under the Settings menu in the carplay with iOS 26 developers beta, I got the option to enable direct activities. Although I had no apps that showed real -time status, this is an increase in which I am desperate to see further action for various real -time alerts.
From this point of view, direct activities are connected to the central home screen, when direct activities engage with a particular app, four can cut into four different windows. Just as before, the main window in the carplay is specific to your maps app, while I have seen the other two what I have seen are allotted for turn -turn navigation instructions and your media player. When an active direct activity is going on, the fourth window pops up.
More wallpapers
A handful of new wallpapers are more than a handful of new wallpapers to choose with iOS 26 flavors that complement the liquid glass. Although this is great, I still want to see the option to choose my own photos to use as a back drop.
Streaming video
Although Apple announced that the carplay was getting video playback upgrade in iOS 26, the option of the developer son I am testing is not available. Even when I kept the car in the park, I was playing on my phone was not able to stream the YouTube video.
Hopefully, it becomes available with future updates in the beta. And this feature can be even more helpful if it can go to other display inside the vehicle – like how are the screens on the back seat of some mini -van.
What i want to see
Although the carplay has integrated Apple Intelligence since the release of iOS 18.1, I think it will be more helpful if it can be assigned to do a car’s easy task. At home, I can ask Siri to turn on the lights in my residential room – so why can’t I ask Siri to turn the air condition into a faster order? This will require car makers to provide more access to Apple, which can be blocked in itself.
I have also mentioned earlier that I have stopped using Apple maps in my car after recent updating in Google Maps, and I am unlikely to know how well Google Maps tell me about Speed ​​Traps and other road dangers. The negative aspect of using Google Maps in this latest version of the carplay is that it still does not cooperate on other screens in a vehicle-such as a headup display or driver’s side display. These secondary screens only support the direction of the apple map.
I would like to see all the things that address the carplay ultra, which offers a much deeper integration than it is currently available. It is being first introduced to Austin Martin’s core model -up, but other car makers should get it in the next 12 months. The really impressive thing about this new interface is how it includes more functions of vehicles – being able to control radio, interior lights, and climate control – all inside the carplay you do not need to get out of it.