WWDC 2025: Apple CarPlay gets 3 new features with iOS 26

American tech giant Apple announced a slew of updates for its range at the 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) with the latest iOS 26. The latest brings a host of changes to Apple devices, and the company has now made changes to Apple CarPlay, its in-car connectivity system, bringing major upgrades for users.

Apple CarPlay iOS 26: What’s New?

Apple has also announced three new additions to CarPlay, including widgets, live activities, and the new tapback response to incoming messages. Users will now be able to pin their favourite conversations, similar to iMessage. Another major update is that the incoming call UI won’t cover the entire CarPlay screen, as it does on the current version. Instead, the incoming call will minimise at the bottom of the screen, allowing other functions to run simultaneously. This is particularly useful for those running navigation, especially at crucial traffic junctions.

The icons will have a different look in light and dark mode, and a more compact design for notifications to ensure fewer distractions when using navigation

Share Via

The icons will have a different look in light and dark mode, and a more compact design for notifications to ensure fewer distractions when using navigation

Apple CarPlay iOS 26: New Design

Apple CarPlay also gets a new look as part of the latest redesign of iOS 26. The new design brings the transparent styling under the Liquid Glass display, which will be available on other iOS devices. The icons will have a different look in light and dark mode, and a more compact design for notifications, which will make seeing directions for navigation easier.

Apple will rollout the new CarPlay Ultra to more cars, having debuted the same on the Aston Martin DBX 707 last month

Share Via

Apple will rollout the new CarPlay Ultra to more cars, having debuted the same on the Aston Martin DBX 707 last month

Apple CarPlay iOS 26: Ultra to make it more cars

Apple has confirmed that its new CarPlay Ultra, which debuted on the Aston DBX 707 last month, will now be available in more cars going forward. Reports suggest that carmakers, including Hyundai, Kia, Ford, Volvo, and more, are already working with Apple to integrate CarPlay Ultra into their respective models. Expect more features on the new CarPlay to be detailed as Apple meets developers soon. The features will roll out soon for iOS users.

Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2024, Best SUVs in India.