Khaberni - Apple announced a series of improvements in the "CarPlay" system through the "iOS 26.2" update, focusing on enhancing the user interface and expanding functionalities within the car, which makes the connection system between the "iPhone" and car screens more useful, smoother, and less distracting for the driver.
New Design
Apple adopts its modern design language known as "Liquid Glass," which first appeared in "iOS 26," and is now also applied in the "CarPlay" interface.
The new design gives screen elements a transparent and elegant look resembling liquid glass, enhancing the clarity of information and reducing visual clutter, which is crucial while driving.
Notifications and Messages
Apple has made significant improvements to the notifications system inside "CarPlay"; instead of incoming calls appearing on a full screen, they are now displayed in a small bar at the top of the screen so as not to interrupt important information such as driving directions.
Apple redesigned the display of messages, adding the ability to respond with "Tapback" interactions directly from the screen, like likes or hearts, a feature previously only available on iPhones.
Users can now uninstall pinned chats in the messages app through "CarPlay" in "iOS 26.2," allowing better control over the arrangement of conversations and easier access to more important chats while driving.
New Interactive Tools
One of the most significant additions in "CarPlay" is the broader support for "Widgets" and "Live Activities," now allowing the display of three rows of "Widgets," enabling users to see information such as playlists, appointments, weather, and "Living Activities" directly on the car screen.
These tools allow for quicker access to information without the need to open apps, although the "Live Activities" feature helps drivers track tasks in real-time, like the status of a delivery or flight schedules, without distracting from the road.
Video During Stops
The "iOS 26" update added the ability to stream video via "AirPlay" from "iPhone" to the "CarPlay" screen when the vehicle is stopped, a safety standard similar to what is provided by other entertainment systems in cars like "Tesla," where users can watch "YouTube" videos or TV shows from services like "Netflix" while the car is parked, making the waiting inside the car more beneficial.
CarPlay Ultra
Some advanced features are also available in the "CarPlay Ultra" version currently available in "Aston Martin" cars, which integrates the "CarPlay" system into all of the car's screens rather than being limited to the information and entertainment screen only, granting the driver broader control over different functions with additional customizations.
These improvements show that Apple continues to develop "CarPlay" to make it a smarter and easier-to-use platform, with a clear focus on reducing distractions while driving and enhancing the user experience inside the vehicle.
