- iOS 26 will mark the beginning of the largest Carplay review in years
- Wait for great improvements in maps and other popular driving applications
- Live activity widgets allow more information on the screen
This September, Apple users will receive a notification to update their numerous devices to iOS 26, which could be said to be one of the biggest updates of their products in recent years.
Together with a new “liquid glass” interface, the California technological giant will present a series of new features and applications of applications that will benefit those who like to plug their iPhone and use Carplay’s comfort on the road.
It could be said that the new most popular feature implies live activities that debut in the Carplay environment, acting as a practical widget that can sit along with navigation instructions and audio applications to give easy updates to digest on important live events.
In the examples that Apple has launched so far, live activity appears as a flight tracking application that shows progress and flight flags whether it is delayed or not, very useful to collect friends and family at the airport.
Other uses for the feed include live weather updates, keep up with sports scores or track the progress of an Uber Eats delivery. But it is not the only update that comes to Carplay in iOS 26, this is what is changing …
1. Keep personal things
The new liquid glass aspect will also provide Carplay users greater control over the way your Carplay system feels. Instead of simple modes of light and dark, there is also the option to slightly customize the background from a preselected list of wallpapers.
Users can also choose a ‘transparent’ appearance that offers more separation between the icons of the application and the background. The first ideas, such as Tom’s guide, claim that it is less distracting and easier to use while driving.
2. First responder
In the current carplay generation, incoming text messages are mainly handled by Siri, which means that the answers must be composed using vocal indications.
Anyone who uses Carplay regularly knows that this can be a bit unpredictable, with the often noisy car that confuses Siri, resulting in confusing messages. Personally, it often takes several attempts to write a coherent answer.
In iOS 26, Carplay will offer a function of ‘tapback’ to incoming messages, allowing quick answers through a prepared list of common responses, as can on an iPhone at this time.
This denies the need to compose a message, since you can simply answer with “I am driving, calling you later” or something like that through a single touch.
In addition to this, Apple is building in the call evaluation, which collects information from the person who calls and delivery to the driver, so that he can decide whether or not to interrupt that fascinating podcast and receive the call.
3. Hero of the home screen
Together with the ability to customize Carplay’s appearance to some extent, Apple will also introduce widgets in a dedicated panel, which will allow things like a digital clock, a calendar and even Apple Home Home shortcuts to be organized for an effortless visualization.
This configuration can act as a general shortcut for more integrated iPhone content. For example, clicking on a calendar input could also bring any associated location, which will then open in a mapping service.
In general, there should be less need to collect his iPhone and interact with him when he is behind the steering wheel, which not only distracts and is dangerous, but is also very illegal in many countries.
4. Video on request
After the WWDC 2025 show of this summer, Apple silently revealed that Carplay would allow the videos to be reproduced in information screens and vehicle entertainment through their airplay transmission standard, which means that users could enjoy content when they park.
However, there are a couple of important warnings, the first is that not all entertainment applications support AirPlay, so you will not be able to see Netflix, for example.
Secondly, we inform at the beginning of this year that car manufacturers must enable this function separately to the rest of the Carplay functionality, so that the local laws and laws and laws will be added.
It is not a massive problem, since many modern vehicles are already offering a series of popular transmission services natively through their various information and entertainment systems. But the ability to transmit video could also be a blessing for those with older or less capable information and entertainment systems.
