New CarPlay in iOS 26: Smarter, Sleeker, or Too Much?

One of the most noticeable updates is the new Liquid Glass design, a glossy, translucent interface extending into CarPlay. It’s meant to bring a more unified look across Apple’s ecosystem, including rounded app icons and updated color schemes in light and dark modes. It feels modern, but opinions on its actual usability are split.

There are a few updates that most drivers will appreciate. The biggest improvement? Incoming calls no longer hijack the entire screen. Instead, they now appear as a slim bar along the bottom, allowing you to keep Maps or other apps visible. This minor tweak addresses a long-standing frustration and makes the driving experience more seamless.

Text messaging through CarPlay also gets an upgrade. Tapbacks—Apple’s quick emoji responses like a thumbs-up or heart—can now be sent directly from the screen. Pinned conversations make it easier to access frequent contacts without scrolling. These changes are subtle but streamline communication without requiring too much driver interaction.

Widgets and Live Activities are also making their CarPlay debut. These customizable panels let drivers view things like calendar events, smart home controls, weather, and flight updates at a glance. While these additions expand functionality, some users worry they may introduce more distractions than they’re worth.

For high-end vehicles, CarPlay Ultra is expanding beyond Aston Martin. The upgraded version takes over multiple screens in the car, including the instrument cluster, and brings tighter integration with climate controls, navigation, and media. Apple says brands like Hyundai, Kia, and Ford will begin rolling out CarPlay Ultra in the coming year.

While the updates in iOS 26 are technically impressive, many longtime users have raised concerns about the new CarPlay design and feature set, particularly regarding usability and driver focus.

“Personally not the biggest fan of the new UI style—it’s a bit unreadable in places and just unnecessarily bubbly while infotainment screens and modern car interiors are traditionally more rectangular, but they FINALLY fixed the issue of calls taking up your entire screen. I just don't understand how the designers at apple of all places came up with something less functional than most default car infotainments.”

Some feel Apple is drifting too far from the clean, minimal design on which CarPlay originally built its reputation.

“CarPlay needs to be kept simple with very few distractions. I love the new look of iOS 26 but this is not it.”

Safety concerns are also front and center for many. While widgets and live updates might be useful in theory, critics argue they increase the temptation to interact with the screen while driving.

“In what world would someone driving a car need to take their eyes and attention off the road to look at this stuff? Either use a voice assistant or stop somewhere and check it on your phone like a responsible person.”

Others questioned Apple’s priorities regarding adding touch-based features that could compromise road safety.

“Looks like more interactions with the touch screen, taking focus off the road. I see enough drivers everyday swaying lane to lane, splitting lanes, causing accidents or near mishaps. And Apple chose to put emojis … duh. Welcome the smaller pop up window for calls than the whole screen being taken over. Everything should be a smaller overlay if navigation is active.”

That said, not all of the feedback has been negative. Some users see potential, especially those with limited screen real estate in their cars.

“Looking forward to the updated CarPlay. Of course, the experience would probably be better on the bigger displays but at least it'll still look great for us folks with the smaller screens.”

The iOS 26 update for CarPlay brings meaningful improvements and more experimental changes. Features like the compact call view and message enhancements will likely be welcomed across the board. However, Apple’s push toward a flashier, more interactive interface has left some drivers wondering whether aesthetics are starting to outweigh usability.

The update will roll out to iPhone 11 and newer models this fall, with a public beta arriving earlier in the summer. Whether it’s a step forward or a step sideways depends on how you use your dashboard—and how much screen time you're comfortable with while driving.