Apple is doubling down on the CarPlay experience. Hot off the debut of CarPlay Ultra, the tech giant unveiled major enhancements to standard CarPlay at the 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference. Powered by iOS 26, the update introduces a sleeker design and a host of functional upgrades — including the arrival of widgets and Live Actions — while refining long-standing features like calls and messaging to be less disruptive.
CarPlay Gets Smarter with Widgets and Live Actions
One of the most notable upgrades? Widgets are finally making their way to standard CarPlay. Previously exclusive to CarPlay Ultra, these dynamic tiles can now be accessed by swiping right from the CarPlay home screen. With support for essentials like weather, calendar events, smart home controls, clocks, and reminders, users can customize their display with two widgets shown simultaneously in a clean two-column layout. And the best part? More widgets are expected down the line.
Live Actions — another headline feature — bring real-time updates front and center. Think sports scores, food delivery tracking, or flight progress, all updated live without needing to glance at your iPhone. Pinned directly to the CarPlay home screen, Live Actions work seamlessly in the background, giving users real-time alerts without disrupting the driving experience.
What CarPlay Still Can’t Do
Unlike its more advanced sibling, CarPlay Ultra, the standard version still operates within limitations. It won’t take over your car’s built-in displays or let you tweak things like climate controls or audio settings. It remains a companion, not a replacement, for your car’s native interface.
Smarter, Less Disruptive Communication
Receiving a call or text while using CarPlay has traditionally been an annoyance — full-screen call takeovers and clunky voice-only replies didn’t help. iOS 26 dramatically improves that. Incoming calls now appear in a compact, non-intrusive banner with caller ID and quick tap options to answer or decline, allowing you to stay focused on navigation without losing your route to a full-screen call.
Text messaging is also smarter. Instead of relying solely on voice-to-text, you can now respond with quick emoji reactions — no awkward dictation needed. You can also pin important messages or group chats, keeping them easily accessible right from your CarPlay dashboard.
A Fresh Visual Identity
Beyond functionality, Apple has given CarPlay a striking visual makeover. Introducing “Liquid Glass,” the new design language under iOS 26 brings modern elegance to the dashboard. Expect richer colors, fresh wallpaper options, dramatically rounded app icons, and a visual polish that feels fluid and futuristic. There’s even a newly refined dark mode, giving drivers a clean, low-light-friendly aesthetic that’s easy on the eyes for nighttime cruising.
Both CarPlay and CarPlay Ultra adopt the new look, ensuring a consistent design across all CarPlay experiences. With iOS 26, Apple isn’t just refining in-car connectivity — it’s redefining what a smart driving companion should look and feel like.
In short, the iOS 26 update makes CarPlay more functional, more intuitive, and much easier on the eyes — all without requiring a vehicle upgrade.
