Apple's popular in-car software will receive a fresh coat of paint as part of the next major iPhone update, alongside improved functionality.
Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring technology will gain new graphics and features later this year as part of the next major software update for the iPhone, iOS 26.
It will launch alongside CarPlay Ultra, an expanded version of the popular system for select vehicles that takes over all screens inside the car, including the instrument cluster, and integrates the radio, air conditioning and more.
The updated version of CarPlay – unveiled overnight at Apple's WWDC developer conference – will run on the same vehicles that currently support the system today.
New for iOS 26 are fresh graphics mirroring the iPhone, dubbed 'Liquid Glass', with translucent menu elements, and new gloss effects on the icons.
Incoming phone calls are now shown as a compact strip along the bottom of the display, rather than taking over the entire screen and blocking upcoming navigation directions.
Tapbacks – Apple's names for emoji reactions to messages – can now be sent through CarPlay, rather than on the iPhone only, while users can see their pinned message conversations within the car.
CarPlay now supports 'Live Activities' from the iPhone, such as details of flight times taken from airline apps, and includes a customisable widgets screen, with information such as calendar appointments.
The lattermost feature was previously exclusive to CarPlay Ultra, which inherits the regular version of CarPlay's new graphics with iOS 26.
Whereas CarPlay Ultra is currently exclusive to new Aston Martins, the standard CarPlay system will roll out in its updated guise later this year.
The first beta version of iOS 26 is now available to download for app developers, ahead of a public beta due next month, MacRumors reports, and a full release for iPhones 11 or later likely in September or October this year.
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
