Apple Announces CarPlay Updates With Widgets, Live Activities, and More

[DavidLeblond]

As a new owner of a 2020 BMW 330i do we get these updates? Is CarPlay something that's a part of the phone's OS or is something tied to the cars themselves?

If your car has carplay, it'll get the update. Carplay is basically just an external display for your phone.

 

[The Game 161]

Finally this will be good

 

[BelgianChoklit]

I love this. Just wish that Tesla would get over themselves and allow CarPlay. It’s the biggest annoyance in my car. At least my ford has it.

You will see a Tesla with a combustion engine before you'll see one with CarPlay.

 

[Deadman64]

I love this. Just wish that Tesla would get over themselves and allow CarPlay. It’s the biggest annoyance in my car. At least my ford has it.

Disagree. Tesla’s interface is fantastic. I thought I would miss CarPlay until I got a Tesla and really used it. Don’t get me wrong I still like CarPlay for a non-Tesla car. But if I had to choose one I’d choose Tesla all day. CarPlay feels childish in comparison.

Not to mention the best part about Tesla is they actually push out software updates and features frequently. This iOS 26 change is the biggest change to CarPlay in how many years?

 

[subjonas]

Sounds like some good updates.

I’m assuming I’ll be able to customize my screen with widgets of my choosing. I don’t need everyone in the car seeing my next calendar event/todo like it currently forces in multi screen view. I’d ideally like a widget that shows my car’s realtime efficiency because my car doesn’t show it on the instrument cluster and instead hides it deep in submenus, but I know I would need CarPlay Ultra for that level of integration.

Also if the car is not in motion please enable AirPlay video from my phone.

Also I need a quick way to disconnect and reconnect wireless CarPlay as needed. Sometimes I need to disconnect for various reasons and it’s always a whole song and dance especially because my car automatically immediately reconnects after I disconnect if it still sees my phone. Maybe a control center toggle on the phone.

 

[robotphood]

I wonder what the chances are Apple lets us choose and lock what live activities we want on the screen? I'd love to be able to have my odb2 reader apps be able to display stats there.

Also I need a quick way to disconnect and reconnect wireless CarPlay as needed. Sometimes I need to disconnect for various reasons and it’s always a whole song and dance especially because my car automatically immediately reconnects after I disconnect if it still sees my phone. Maybe a control center toggle on the phone.

How about creating a Shortcut that does this and adding it to control center or even the CarPlay homescreen? Not sure what car you have but toggling wifi on/off would do this on mine. If not, someone might able to figure it out over here: https://www.reddit.com/r/shortcuts/

 

[mikey918]

Disagree. Tesla’s interface is fantastic. I thought I would miss CarPlay until I got a Tesla and really used it. Don’t get me wrong I still like CarPlay for a non-Tesla car. But if I had to choose one I’d choose Tesla all day. CarPlay feels childish in comparison.

Not to mention the best part about Tesla is they actually push out software updates and features frequently. This iOS 26 change is the biggest change to CarPlay in how many years?

I feel CarPlay is far easier, more intuitive, and better looking than Tesla’s interface. Siri is better than the built in voice assistant, and group messaging actually works.

 

[wonderings]

I love this. Just wish that Tesla would get over themselves and allow CarPlay. It’s the biggest annoyance in my car. At least my ford has it.

I disagree. Right now I have a Subaru Outback with a big display that is always using CarPlay. I am getting a Tesla Y next week and the Subaru will be going. I much prefer the interface on the Tesla, feels more refined and definitely way smoother. That might just be my Subaru, not sure how it works on others but it is not a buttery smooth interface with CarPlay, whereas in the Tesla using their UI it is butter smooth and fluid. CarPlay feels more kidsy and it is very limited in changing anything. I think the same with CarPlay Ultra, it just does not look premium to me. This is all subjective of course, but I am completely fine moving to a Tesla UI and not bothering with CarPlay.

 

[deeddawg]

Check out MyRadar. They have a CarPlay app that shows weather radar.

It might require the Pro version, not 100% sure.

It appears not to require Pro version (subscription).