Apple CarPlay Got Some Welcome Polish

Apple CarPlay Got Some Welcome Polish

While Apple CarPlay Ultra may be grabbing headlines—it’s still an exclusive luxury for Aston Martin owners, at least for now — the standard version of CarPlay has quietly received a series of thoughtful refinements with the arrival of iOS 26. These upgrades, although less flashy than the Ultra experience, will benefit millions of drivers using CarPlay in everyday vehicles, making in-car interactions safer, prettier, and more convenient.

First and foremost, iOS 26 brings Apple’s new ‘Liquid Glass’ design language to CarPlay, giving the interface a modern facelift. This aesthetic update replaces the familiar 2D icons with visually rich, layered effects, bringing a sense of depth and gloss reminiscent of recent iOS home screen updates. The result is both fresher and easier on the eyes, making app icons and interface elements clearer at a glance—a critical improvement when your primary focus should be on the road ahead.

A more versatile navigation bar now appears on either the left or right side of the display, tailored to both left- and right-hand drive vehicles, and puts your most-used apps just a quick tap away.

Navigation within CarPlay has also been streamlined. A more versatile navigation bar now appears on either the left or right side of the display, tailored to both left- and right-hand drive vehicles, and puts your most-used apps just a quick tap away. Changing music, answering texts, or pulling up navigation no longer requires digging through screens or diverting your attention for more than a moment. For regular commuters and road-trippers alike, this subtle change can save precious seconds, keeping your hands on the wheel and your concentration where it belongs.

Perhaps the most significant and driver-friendly advancement is the revised handling of phone calls. Incoming calls no longer take over the entire display with a large, distracting overlay; instead, you’ll see a compact pop-up that sits unobtrusively on top of your navigation or music controls. This small adjustment makes a big difference—allowing you to ignore or answer a call while still following turn-by-turn directions, reading the next street name, or managing your playlist. The risk of missing a turn or being distracted by a sudden call notification is now greatly minimized.

Widgets, another highly anticipated addition, have finally made their way from CarPlay Ultra to classic CarPlay setups as well.

Widgets, another highly anticipated addition, have finally made their way from CarPlay Ultra to classic CarPlay setups as well. These customizable info panels let you view snippets from multiple apps at once—such as navigation progress, weather updates, or your next calendar appointment—without having to switch screens. Imagine being able to keep tabs on your navigation, current song, and incoming messages simultaneously on one dashboard, all tailored to your preferences.

Another useful feature is Call Screening, a welcome nod to iOS’s increased focus on privacy and convenience. When you receive a call, CarPlay can now provide extra context to help you decide whether to pick up—clearly identifying potential spam or unknown callers, similar to the advancements seen on the iPhone itself. With more control over incoming interruptions, drivers can filter out distractions and focus on what truly matters.

Altogether, these enhancements add up to a refreshed, more intuitive Apple CarPlay experience that feels not only more attractive, but noticeably safer to use on the move. Whether you’re a daily commuter or taking long road trips, keeping your eyes on the road is always the priority—and the latest CarPlay polish helps make that easier, smarter, and simply more pleasant. It’s not the Ultra revolution, but for most drivers, these quality-of-life improvements are a real upgrade, and sure to be appreciated every time you drive.

Links

• iOS – CarPlay – Apple
• Use CarPlay with your iPhone – Apple Support
• Sell used Apple device online – iGotOffer
• Everything About Apple’s Products – The complete guide to all Apple consumer electronic products, including technical specifications, identifiers and other valuable information.

Apple CarPlay: How To Make It (Really) Useful in 2025 [Video]

Video uploaded by Nikias Molina on May 20, 2025.