Video playback has finally come to Apple CarPlay after its first announcement in 2025. During WWDC 2026, Apple confirmed the news in a supporting video for developers, saying that the video category was being added.

There's a big catch though: Apple goes on to say "in new cars that support the video in car feature". This means that your current CarPlay vehicle is unlikely to support the video function.

This support for video is going to come in two forms. If an app supports AirPlay streaming then that will be coming to CarPlay in iOS 27, so you can just select the CarPlay display in AirPlay from your phone.

But this will go further, allowing video apps to appear so that movies can be watched when the car is parked, with a UI to navigate that app on the car's screen. This is likely where Apple TV support will come in.

Throughout this announcement, Apple makes a point of saying that this will only work with cars that support the "video in car feature". It's outlined that AirPlay support is needed in the car, which is likely the hardware barrier to this on older vehicles.

That's the bad news here: if your car doesn't support AirPlay then you're not going to be getting the video functions in iOS 27 – even if you will benefit from other enhancements like the new and smarter Siri.

There are some other small details in the announcement too, similar to those we saw from Google's update to Android Auto. It will also be possible to run compatible video apps in audio-only mode, meaning that you can move from watching a podcast to just listening to it.

Because Apple CarPlay is linked to the iOS version, don't expect the update to arrive until September 2026, when it will land on devices back to iPhone 11.

While you'll need a new car to support Apple's video in car feature, it's expected to be widely supported in future vehicles. Some third-party head units already support AirPlay as a separate feature from CarPlay – whether they will be able to support the new feature remains to be seen.

There's sure to be plenty more news about video on CarPlay over the coming months as apps move to support the feature and testing progresses through the iOS developer beta.

At the same time, we can expect a wide number of car manufacturers to apply for certification to bring AirPlay to their vehicles.

You can now drive your own car like you're in Mario Kart thanks to a recent update from Nintendo that brings compatibility with Apple CarPlay.

The Nintendo Music app has been updated (via 9to5Mac), so that it can now be used in CarPlay. That means you can fire up the Mario Kart soundtrack while you're driving just like you're in the game.

Of course, you'll need to make sure that you don't actually drive like you're in Mario Kart, or you're unlikely to stay on the road for long. And we don't condone throwing bananas out of the window, either.

The update to Nintendo Music also includes Siri integration, while there's a dedicated iPad app now as well, meaning you don't have to use the upscaled iPhone app.

Siri integration means that you can search for songs using your voice so it's easier to find the track that you're looking for.

It's not just Apple that benefits, it's also available in Android Auto.

To use the Nintendo Music app you'll need Nintendo Switch Online membership, while the tracks covered include hits from NES right up to the latest Switch 2 games.

That includes Mario Kart World, The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, Animal Crossing, Super Mario, Wii Sports, Donkey Kong and more.

There are also some interesting features, such as the ability to extend a song for up to an hour loop of the soundtrack. That's just what happens in games and some might find that it makes for great concentration or relaxation music.

For those wanting to avoid spoilers you can omit particular games, while fans of Animal Crossing will be excited by the fact you can match the music to the time of day.

The Nintendo Music app remains something of an anomaly, but there are plenty of fans who appreciate it, with lots of positive reviews. It's certainly cheaper than the Legend of Zelda LP, that's for sure.

So when you're not playing Mario Kart on your Nintendo Switch 2, you can just fire up the soundtrack in your car and bring a little fun to the drive.

Apple CarPlay finds itself under attack again, as Rivian's chief software officer, Wassym Bensaid, has outlined that "the possibilities now for such deep AI integration in the car make the entire CarPlay debate completely obsolete".

Rivian is one of the brands that doesn't support Apple CarPlay and has no plans to, instead preferring to develop its own software experience. As a new car manufacturer, it's taking a similar line to Tesla, choosing to offer minimal physical controls and turn of bespoke software and voice control instead.

Revealed during a winding interview on The Verge's Decoder podcast, the impact of Bensaid's position on CarPlay could reach much further than just Rivian's EVs. Bensaid is also co-CEO of Rivian's joint venture with Volkswagen to develop future EVs for the group.

Rivian's avoidance of Apple CarPlay aligns with the messages that come out of Tesla, but are also echoed by companies like BMW and Mercedes who want to own the customer experience rather than hand it over to Apple.

That's thought to be one of the leading barriers to CarPlay Ultra adoption in cars: manufacturers don't want to lose that connection with customers.

Rivian goes on to say that the decision to avoid Apple CarPlay is backed by its own data: "Five years ago when we first shipped the R1T and the R1S, the number one request from customers was CarPlay. We did all sorts of surveys with customers at the time, and more than 70% were requesting CarPlay."

That position has changed, however: "In the recent survey, that number is less than 25% because with the level of features that we have shipped to customers, level of end-to-end integration, and the level of convenience that we are bringing, CarPlay or Android Auto is no longer the topic of discussion."

While on the surface that suggests that Rivian is doing the right thing in developing alternative solutions, it's not clear whether that drop to 25% is driven by changing attitudes of car buyers, or if existing Rivian owners have just got used to not having access to Apple's systems.

Returning to the point about AI, Bensaid's position is that AI integration can do all the things that you might want CarPlay to do, while advancements in voice interaction allows for much better control.

In the past, voice systems developed by car manufacturers were pretty poor and very limited in the commands that they understood. The likes of Google Assistant changed that, but with the advent of modern AI, there are much greater opportunities.

That perhaps doesn't account for easy and familiar access to your favourite apps, but Bensaid's argument is that voice and AI – especially with agentic powers – is a better experience:

"I deeply believe that voice has the chance to be the primary interface in the car. I also think that buttons can exist, but they shouldn’t be the primary way with which you interact with the car. I think there’s more that is possible with voice since you can do more than one single function."

While that seems to be the future of Rivian – podcast host Nilay Patel talks about having long discussions with the AI in the car – it will be interesting to see how this lands with Volkswagen. Based on user feedback, Volkswagen has just performed a significant u-turn, restoring buttons to its latest ID models, to improve the driver experience.

This looks like a debate that's going to continue to divide the driving community.

A recent Spotify update has done more than controversially drop a new disco ball logo onto the home screen of iPhone users – it also seems to have scrambled track information when using Apple CarPlay.

If you've been living under a rock, you might have missed the furore surrounding the new logo from Spotify. The change – to celebrate 20 years of Spotify – replaced the normal logo to a disco ball, but caused some to think there was a problem with the app.

While the change in logo design was purely temporary, the darker side to the update seems to be that the app isn't working properly with Apple CarPlay for some users.

The result is that the album art, song titles and artists don't match the song that's playing and that's drawn-out frustrated users on the Spotify community as well as on Reddit.

Multiple users have detailed that the previous song's artwork is shown, with others reporting that's it's completely mixed up with random artists listed against songs.

Fortunately, Spotify has replied to say that it is being investigated and it's likely that a software update will correct the error and everything will go back to normal. While the details on your phone might be correct, this problem seems limited to Apple CarPlay.

That change might come when Spotify decides to return the logo back to it’s regular design, something it has promised to do "next week".

As for Apple CarPlay, we've recently seen support for Dolby Atmos regardless of the speaker setup in your car, while new app support is expected, including ChatGPT and better controls for WhatsApp.

What's most surprising about Apple CarPlay recently, however, has been the slow uptake of CarPlay Ultra, the version that takes over all the screens in your car. While launched with great celebration, we're still waiting for support in more cars, with Kia and Hyundai said to be offering support with a new model later in 2026.

It's hardly the reception that we expected for CarPlay Ultra – a bit like Spotify's disco ball logo.

For years now, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay have become solid, dependable options for drivers. The two systems – which mirror a display from Android phones or iPhones, respectively – have quickly solidified their place as the de facto option for drivers.

Apple's CarPlay Ultra was marketed as the next evolution of this technology way back in 2022. The technology arrived last year with some Aston Martin models in very few markets, but that's really all we've seen of the platform since.

So, what's going on?

Well, it certainly seems that the brand is having a few issues getting the system into a usable state for most of its partner brands. Speaking recently, Ford CEO, Jim Farley, said that the brand "didn't like the execution of round 1 of Ultra," but remains committed to Apple.

Another major player – Mercedes-Benz – abandoned its support back in 2024, around the time the platform was originally meant to launch. At the time, the brand cited its intention to build its own in-car ecosystem from the ground up, which would negate the need for CarPlay Ultra, though it would still allow regular CarPlay if the user desired.

There's also been a confirmation of the system in the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 3, which is expected to debut in Munich later this year. The car is expected to hit a more cost-conscious consumer than other models in its catalogue, bringing the tech to a much wider base of users.

That could prove to be crucial for its long-term implementation and acceptance, as a greater bevy of users will have access to the system. It remains to be seen what will happen with the other brands slated to be involved.

That includes manufacturers like Porsche, Jaguar and Nissan, so there's a chance this will eventually be available on a wide array of cars on the street.

Drivers wanting to expand the audio experience in their car now have a solution in the form of the Pioneer Sphera, an aftermarket head unit that enables Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio streaming through Apple CarPlay.

The Sphera was first announced at CES 2026 and is now on general sale at a price of $1,300, available through the Pioneer website. Wider availability is currently unknown for this new system.

The key thing about the Sphera is that it brings Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio through Apple CarPlay, with a clever autotuning feature that will optimise the sound output over your car's existing speakers for more optimised Dolby Atmos delivery.

You'll also be able to control the soundstage, shifting the sweet spot to different seats to suit your preference.

Everything is controlled through a 10.1-inch touchscreen that appears to float and, as an aftermarket unit, it needs an accessible single DIN slot to house the electronics. That's worth noting, as this is a system designed for slightly older cars, rather than upgrading cars using an integrated system.

Is the Pioneer Sphera only for CarPlay?

Of course, you'll need access to Dolby Atmos content and it's only supported through Apple CarPlay at the moment – Android Auto doesn't offer Atmos. The Pioneer Sphera, however, does support Android Auto, so if another driver gets in wanting to use Android, that's no problem.

So far, Dolby Atmos has only been available in cars through a limited number of suppliers: Mercedes offers it through the Burmeister sound system across its entire fleet, Audi supports Dolby Atmos through the Bang & Olufsen system, while Lotus offers it through the KEF system.

While these systems all use Apple CarPlay's ability to supply Dolby Atmos content, one of the first suppliers was Volvo and Polestar. In this case, Android Automotive was used to enable Dolby Atmos on the native music apps with Atmos content, like Apple Music.

Dolby Atmos can make a surprising difference to the soundtrack in your car, making better use of the speakers for a more immersive experience. But it's not just about music – I've also sampled Dolby Atmos on Audible and it makes for a much richer experience.

Granted, the quality of Dolby Atmos through streaming services does vary, with some tracks being different to others. At least now there's a route to getting Atmos through Apple CarPlay on older vehicles, so you don't have to rush out and buy a brand new Mercedes CLA.

At last WhatsApp is coming to cars in a way that means proper user controls.

This new update, which has gone out to beta testers as was spotted by WABetaInfo, offers a serious overhaul to the messaging service.

The new app is a dedicated WhatsApp offering for CarPlay specifically. Until now you've had to use Siri integration to use WhatsApp via voice, and in a very limited way.

What's new in WhatsApp CarPlay?

The new app allows you to browse your recent chats on the screen which was previously inaccessible. You can also view contact details and even initiate messages or calls from scratch. Unlike the current setup, which only lets you reply.

Chats are limited when driving, for safety, but when stopped it's possible to dive into the complete chat history on the connected smartphone where you left off.

The contact info interface lets users view profile information in detail for every contact. There's even a call history shown including recent calls split by incoming, outgoing and missed.

Favourites are also supported, allowing you to quickly access those you want to contact regularly with a dedicated tab. That's going to be especially handy in the car, giving quick access to those you communicate with most.

When does the CarPlay WhatsApp update arrive?

The WhatsApp CarPlay app is currently being tested in beta by users who are accessing it through TestFlight.

Whether those features all make it to the final version, and when that gets released, is still unclear. Although usually it reaching beta means we can expect it to arrive in the coming months.

The Android phone versus iPhone debate has raged on for decades at this point. It has even spilled over into other areas, with Android tablets doing battle with iPad models.

Now, it's the era of Android Auto versus CarPlay – and the Apple just got a major upper hand. The brand has made it possible to utilise ChatGPT on CarPlay, which is currently not offered by the Android alternative.

That means that those using an iPhone connected to their in-car infotainment display will be able to ask ChatGPT questions directly. The functionality was mentioned in iOS 26.4, but it has taken a little bit of time to get the backend implemented.

Either way, it's something that Android users currently can't do. That's because Google limits which apps can be used, favouring its own Gemini for similar tasks.

It comes as something of a leftfield turn for Apple, which has traditionally been dedicated to its walled garden ecosystem. The fact that it has done a 180° turn on that front is telling of its tough start in the AI field.

What's even more interesting is the reason why you can't use it on Android. Google doesn't allow any chatbots onto its Android Auto system – aside from its own Gemini, of course.

You aren't able to use a third-party voice-based conversation app at all in the Android system, even when parked up. It feels like an incredibly tight wall, especially when apps for watching video or playing games can be used on the system.

If you aren't someone who uses ChatGPT all that often, you might not feel as put out by this. But for anyone who does – or simply anyone who wants to ensure they're working with the best possible tech – the move will likely cause some unrest. Hopefully Apple's approval for the app changes the mind of Google in the near future.

Apple has released iOS 26.4, ushering in a range of changes for your iPhone, including some new features for Apple CarPlay. Importantly, it brings in the changes that will allow CarPlay to use third-party voice assistants and adds a new widget to the offering.

We first caught wind of Apple's plan to support other AI chatbots in February, with that support now unlocked. While Siri will remain the default system, there will be the option to launch other voice systems, such as ChatGPT or Gemini when driving.

However, there are a couple of stipulations, with Siri still being very much at the forefront of voice interactions with CarPlay.

Instead, other voice services will be able to launch within their own app and the interaction must take place via voice only. This makes sense in a driving context, but it means you'll be able to launch Gemini and start asking questions, adding a new dimension to your in-car options.

While this means that Apple CarPlay will support them, it's still down to the manufacturers to adapt their apps to conform before anything will actually be available.

While that's the major change to CarPlay in iOS 26.4 – and something that many will benefit from over the coming months as the app changes fall into place – it's not the only new thing for users.

What else has been added to CarPlay – and what's yet to come?

Apple has also added a new widget. Widgets are quite new to Apple CarPlay and the new option is for ambient music, allowing a quick tap into mood-based playlists, like Chill, Productivity or Sleep, according to 9to5Mac.

While you might not actually want a Sleep playlist while driving, it's an interesting shortcut option, although it's likely that most drivers will have quick access to playlists already.

Apple CarPlay is also laying the foundations for the arrival of in-car video with iOS 26.4, something we previously hear about through the beta. It's thought that CarPlay will let you have access to Apple TV when not driving, so those charging an EV can catch up with the latest blockbuster hits on the streaming service.

Currently there's no sign of Apple TV support, so it looks like that feature is not quite ready, but we can always hope that Apple enables it at some point in the near future.

There's a new in-car accessory that offers much more than your typical wireless CarPlay or Android Auto adapter. It gives you many more features, including the sort of entertainment options offered by Tesla models.

That's because the Tune Prime from Portronics isn't just an adapter for CarPlay and Android Auto, it's a complete in-car computer with wireless connectivity. It runs on the Snapdragon 662, there's 64GB of internal storage, and it's Android-powered, with full access to the Play Store and streamers, like Netflix and YouTube.

That means it can not only be a bridge to mirror your smartphone on the display (with full functionality available, according to Autoevolution), but it's a computer for your car, allowing many more options.

The hardware here also includes options for microSD storage expansion, as well as a SIM card, while the device has its own GPS. It also enables straight screen mirroring (outside of CarPlay and Android Auto), so it's definitely a versatile beast. And there are USB ports, for good measure.

Because it supports the Play Store it can run Google Maps or Waze natively, so if you didn’t want to use your phone, it will provide native navigation options for you.

But because it has access to all of Android's apps, you can use it for YouTube, Netflix and any other streaming service you might subscribe to. That's not designed for watching on the move, of course, but when parked, either when charging or because you spend a lot of time in your car.

Whether there's any block to using the apps when driving remains unknown, but we really hope that there is.

Tune Prime pricing and availability

The Tune Prime has launched in India for about £200 / $270 (currently with a heavy discount though, that makes it closer to £100 / $130), although it doesn't appear to be available to buy globally at present.

There's currently no support for video streaming apps in Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, as the key focus is on navigation, communication and music. But with brands like Tesla offering movie streaming and gaming when parked and charging the car, there's a growing demand for these sorts of services.

Google has previously said that it's going to be enabling streaming at some point in the future for exactly that reason, so that those charging EVs can make better use of their time when sitting in the car. After all, many cars now have Dolby Atmos sound systems, so why not take advantage of it?

Apple has added support for "voice-based conversational apps" in CarPlay with the iOS 26.4 beta, pointing to support for apps like ChatGPT and Gemini. While it will be down to the developer to add support, it could mean that conversational AI is available before the arrival of next-gen Siri.

AI is the talk of the town, with services like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini taking lots of headlines for their wide-ranging conversational skills. While Android Auto has already started the process of bringing Gemini to the car, Apple CarPlay has so far been limited to Siri.

Siri will remain the dominant voice controller for CarPlay, of course, with Apple outlining in its Developer Guide (PDF, via MacRumors) that "all voice interaction must be handled using SiriKit" when working on CarPlay apps. However, there is an exclusion for navigation (where in-app voice services are offered) and the new conversational apps.

Apple goes on to outline that conversational apps must be designed to primarily work with voice, responding to questions and performing actions. Apple also says that they should be optimised for voice interaction while driving, specifying that they shouldn’t show text or imagery in response.

That's to avoid a distraction for the driver. It should allow for a conversation with an AI service – and if that service is linked to other systems, it can take action on your behalf.

Can you replace Siri in Apple CarPlay?

However, MacRumors goes on to say voice apps won't be able to control the car and won't be able to control the iPhone, that will remain a feature of Siri. It's also said that there won't be support for hotwords, so the app would need to be opened manually to be used. Whether Siri could open the ChatGPT app, for example, remains to be seen.

There will be a voice control screen that's open when using voice-controlled apps, but given that words and images aren't permitted when driving, it's not clear exactly what can and can't be shown on this screen.

The move is likely in response to the growing popularity of chatbot-type AI apps and to help CarPlay users access those in a safe manner, rather than returning to using the phone directly when driving. It also might point to the fact that Apple's own Siri should soon offer a much more conversational experience, thanks to its partnership with Gemini.

That might result in the native Siri experience in CarPlay being smoother, more seamless and more functional than using a third-party app once iOS 27 hits.

Tesla's plans to bring Apple CarPlay to its cars have hit a bump, with a compatibility problem between Apple Maps and Tesla's own mapping software causing delays. These are further compounded by slower adoption of the latest iOS version.

For a long time Tesla has offered its own technology solutions in its cars, rather than using smartphone-based systems. However, in late 2025 it was revealed that Apple CarPlay was to finally be supported by Tesla vehicles, allowing drivers to use the Apple solution inside Tesla's own infotainment system.

In the most recent report, Mark Gurman at Bloomberg has outlined that one of the problems that's slowed down this move has been an incompatibility between Apple Maps and Tesla's maps. That could result in both maps running at the same time, it's reported by 9to5Mac.

As Tesla's maps make up part of the Autopilot system, that could lead to some strange results if the driver thinks they are navigating on one route, while the car thinks it's following another.

According to the details, Tesla asked Apple to make "engineering changes" to Apple Maps, which apparently appeared as a bug fix in iOS 26. However, adoption of iOS 26 has been slower than expected and this then caused a pause, as Tesla thought that too few users had the latest version of the software.

According to Apple's figures, 74% of iPhones (from the last 4 years) are running iOS 26, while 20% remain on iOS 18 and 6% are on earlier versions. But those dates are for February 2026, while Gurman implies that Tesla's decision was made at the end of 2025, when the adoption was likely lower still.

That leaves us in a position where there's plenty of anticipation for CarPlay in Tesla, but no firm date on when it's actually going to be available.

Does Tesla need to adopt Apple CarPlay?

Smartphone-based systems have been experiencing a bit of kickback recently from the automotive industry, so in one sense, Tesla is swimming against the tide here.

Some car manufacturers have signalled that they are dropping support for CarPlay and Android Auto, choosing to focus on their native system and own the experience.

Elsewhere, support for Apple CarPlay Ultra – the system that takes over all the displays in a car – has been tepid, boosted recently by the understanding that the Hyundai Motor Group might be moving to include support in a model in 2026.

While systems from Apple and Google remain popular for their simplicity and familiarity, what Tesla is experiencing highlights the bigger problem: smartphone-based systems are generic, while cars are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

There's a chance that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will only be able to offer superficial features, while more advanced systems remain beyond reach.

Apple CarPlay Ultra, which is designed to take over all the screens in your car, could be coming to a Kia or Hyundai vehicle later in 2026. The evolution of CarPlay – announced in 2025 – has so far only been endorsed by Aston Martin.

There's a new twist in the tale of CarPlay Ultra, with Mark Gurman adding to the story in his latest PowerOn newsletter. Addressing the absence of the next-gen CarPlay that's so far only been seen in Aston Martin models, he has written that another brand will launch a CarPlay Ultra model in 2026.

For a launch roster that included Ford, Mercedes, Honda, Land Rover, Audi, Nissan, Volvo, Porsche and more, the lack of activity is interesting. Indeed, some brands – like GM – are actively moving away from CarPlay support altogether.

But that could be about to change, with Gurman saying: "I’m told that the system will come to at least one major new Hyundai/Kia model in the second half of this year."

What Hyundia or Kia car could get CarPlay Ultra next?

Hyundai and Kia are siblings, with Genesis at the premium end of the brand and it's likely that if CarPlay Ultra comes to one, it will come to all. Hyundai is currently teasing the Ioniq 3 launch – the premiere expected in April 2026 – and that might fit the bill.

The new compact EV is designed to rival the VW ID.3 and it's just the sort of place that you might expect to find CarPlay Ultra to appeal to younger drivers who might buy it. It's likely that other models would follow along form the Hyundai Motor Group in the future.

But why the delay? We know that car manufacturers don't always rush out changes as quickly as some technology companies, but Gurman highlights: "CarPlay Ultra is completely bespoke, meaning Apple’s design team has to work with each car maker to design a unique user experience."

One of the arguments against third-party systems in the past has been integration into the car's other hardware. With cars dropping driver displays and moving to heads-up alternatives, and offering features like augmented navigation, there would be a lot more for Apple CarPlay Ultra to do to support these systems.

At the same time, if Hyundai is going to launch a model with CarPlay Ultra, it's probably also looking for balance with Google systems to make sure that those drivers without an iPhone don't feel like they are getting something half-baked.

Despite the lack of activity for Apple CarPlay Ultra, if it is going into the Ioniq 3 then that's a big deal: the Ioniq 3 is designed to be a mass market electric car, with an attractive price for drivers make the switch from combustion. It follows on from the huge Ioniq 9 and will be the entry-point to Hyundai's electric car range.

Hyundai is also a significant player globally, sitting alongside Toyota and VW Group in the top tiers: adding Apple CarPlay Ultra across their future vehicles would lead to a significant roll-out for Apple.

Volvo has confirmed that it will continue to support Apple CarPlay despite other manufacturers like Cadillac and GM moving away from third-party software support.

Talking at the launch of the new Volvo EX60, Anders Bell, Volvo's chief engineering and technology officer, confirmed that Volvo has every plan to continue to support Apple CarPlay.

"We want to integrate it to your digital life, not force you to something. So, we need to adapt to you, whatever your digital ecosystem is as a customer, you make your choices,” said Bell to The Drive.

The news will likely come as a relief for car buyers keen to stick with Apple CarPlay and have that iPhone-like experience in their car when it comes to navigation, calling, messages and entertainment.

Car makers are currently divided between those who offer a basic infotainment system, because they know customers will just use CarPlay or Android Auto, and others who want to own the system outright - like Mercedes and BMW. They believe drivers would prefer an experience better tailored to the car and the brand.

CarPlay on an Android Automotive vehicle?

The Volvo EX60 continues the brand's use of Android Automative.

Volvo was one of the first to adopt the Google in-car system, which offers a wide degree of flexibility and allows the manufacturer to heavily customise the system. However, because it's a version of Android, there's no complication when it comes to apps – a sticking point for some systems in the past.

While connecting a phone for Apple CarPlay might seem like the first thing to do, Bell went on to say that the EX60 offers "really nice integration of Apple CarPlay", but that's not the only option you have.

“If you want to run your Apple Music through Apple CarPlay, fine. If you just want to run it on the native system, there’s a dedicated app for Apple Music," he added.

One of the reasons that Apple Music is supported is because there's a full Dolby Atmos sound system available in some Volvo models and Apple Music has the best selection of spatial audio music right now.

Android Automotive is designed as a standalone Android-based operating system for cars that's distinctly different to Android Auto on your phone. While the latter runs on your handset and mirrors on the car's display, Android Automotive is built into the car.

It supports Android apps too, so there's a great deal of familiarity to it. And set up of those apps is usually just a case of scanning the QR code on first launch with your phone to sign in. The advantage is that this approach offers better integration with the car's systems and a more seamless experience.

Those using a third-party software system like CarPlay might find they have to leave it to access some functions, and there might not be full integration into things like the heads-up display or other screens. On the flipside, CarPlay and Android Auto offer familiarity.

Apple launched CarPlay Ultra in 2025, but so far the reception from manufacturers has been rather tepid, choosing to continue to offer their own experience, rather than hand over the complete visual experience to Apple.

Spatial audio technologies like Dolby Atmos were once only available on a handful of premium cars, like the Polestar 4. But that’s about to change, thanks to a new dashboard head unit from Pioneer.

Announced at the CES technology show in Las Vegas this week, the Pioneer Sphera is an aftermarket audio receiver like many others – including a 10.1in HD touchscreen and support for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But its major selling point is an ability to play Dolby Atmos content, through even a simple, four-speaker car audio system.

Pioneer says this is a world-first, and it’ll bring spatial audio technology to cars with fairly basic sound systems, such as those with just two speakers in the front of the cabin and two in the rear. The Sphera does this by leveraging Pioneer’s Pure Autotuning technology, a proprietary in-vehicle calibration system designed specifically for car interiors.

The tech company explained: “Vehicle cabins vary widely in size, shape, and materials, and aftermarket upgrades can further influence acoustical variables. To account for and adapt to these differences, Pure Autotuning technology precisely adjusts time alignment, frequency response, and channel levels to optimise performance and place the listener at the acoustical centre position.”

So, while the system doesn’t physically surround the listener with a bunch of speakers – like an Atmos system in your local cinema, or a high-end home setup – Pioneer claims the new Sphera head unit can tune itself, taking the size shape and materiality of your car interior into account, and put you in the centre of a virtual sphere of sound. The rest of the system sounds equally impressive, with wireless smartphone connectivity for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there’s Bluetooth too.

Pioneer says the head unit is “designed for universal installation…[in] a wide variety of vehicles with minimal modification, ensuring that immersive audio reaches drivers without an overly complicated upgrade process.”

As with other head units like this, you’ll have to check if your vehicle is compatible before purchasing. These products tend to be better-suited to the double-DIN setup of older vehicles, instead of the integrated infotainment setups of newer cars.

The Sphera will be available from the spring and is priced from $1,300 in the US. UK price and availability is unknown for now.

Apple CarPlay is adding the option for more widgets on the screen as well as creating an option that's going to make managing messages easier. Both these new options have surfaced in iOS 26.2, which is currently in beta, but is expected to roll-out to iPhone users in December.

The most recent set of updates for Apple CarPlay came with iOS 26, allowing the use of widgets, Tapbacks in messages, live activities and more. But new details have been revealed through the iOS 26.2 beta, giving a hint to new features that the popular in-car software will offer.

The first of these is a change to the widget stacks, which previously showed two side-by-side, but can now accommodate three. That will give drivers the chance to get more on the screen, for quick access to the most important widgets.

This change was highlighted by Tom Warren at The Verge (via 9to5Mac) and shared via X. Whether this is dependent on the screen size remains to be seen, it's likely that it will be, but Warren points out that now he's seeing three widgets rather than two.

The next change is one that impacts on messaging. In iOS 26, messages got a couple of additions which is where the new tweaks come in. In iOS 26.2, it appears that there will be the option to control pinned threads, so they can be disabled.

This, essentially, undoes the change that came in with iOS 26, which some might find takes up too much screen space. By removing the pinned message, those with smaller screens can move those conversations off the screen and concentrate on driving.

Apple continues to tweak CarPlay to give iPhone owners a better in-car experience, with easy access to a familiar user interface and design. While most new cars support it, there's something of a rising tide against the software as car manufacturers look to wrestle back control of the in-car experience.

Recently, that's seen the likes of GM confirming that it wants to remove both CarPlay and Android Auto from its new models, while German giant BMW has said: "People say they’re driving all around and using CarPlay for navigation. I can tell you, that’s not true."

The problem with smartphone-based systems is that they don't interface with the car very well, and that becomes a problem when the car has more data that's useful to drivers than the phone does – especially when it comes to charging electric vehicles and pre-conditioning the car's battery, something that phone systems don't get access to.

On the flip side, Tesla is expected to add Apple CarPlay, swimming against the trend having resisted pressure for the last decade.

Tesla is reportedly working to add Apple CarPlay to its cars, in an effort to boost the sales of its vehicles. Up until now, Elon Musk's electric car company has chosen to offer its own approach to in-car software instead.

Many drivers look for the convenience of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto when buying a new car, meaning they can use a familiar interface, mirrored from a smartphone.

Tesla has been resistant to this over the years, offering its own infotainment system and allowing it to have a more integrated experience for drivers, designed by Tesla to surface Tesla features. And while the brand has offered its own thing, Tesla drivers weren't left wanting: it still offered a comprehensive connected experience, including access to Apple Music, for example.

But according to a report from Bloomberg, that might be about to change. It claims Tesla is looking to add the Apple in-car software "in the coming months".

That's a complete change of position, but also something that runs counter to the position of many other car brands.

While offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto has often been seen as an essential feature, an increasing number of brands are now eschewing the technology giants in favour of offering their own system. That's something GM has recently discussed, for example, and explains the lukewarm reception to Apple CarPlay Ultra, the in-car system designed to take over all the screens in your car.

What has seemingly changed is that Tesla's performance has hit a bump recently. Electrek reports a significant decline in sales in the UK, Tesla's biggest European market, while that picture has been reflected in US sales too.

It looks like the addition of Apple CarPlay is an attempt to bolster the offering, removing one of the barriers that drivers might cite when it comes to buying a car.

In truth, car sales are driven by many factors, including prevalence of new or exciting models, state of the economy, activity of rival brands, as well as, in Tesla's case, the perception of Elon Musk.

There's no firm timeline for the integration of Apple CarPlay and it's expected to run as a window within the Tesla system. The potential downside of using Apple CarPlay will be generic navigation rather than a version that factors in charging points – so features like battery pre-conditioning might not work if the car's own navigation doesn't know where you're going.

Whether Apple CarPlay will come to Tesla remains to be seen, but it certainly feels like something of a U-turn after so many years of resistance from the pioneering EV brand.

In the modern car world, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are everywhere you look. The systems – which mirror either your Android phone or your iPhone onto the in-car displays – have been incredibly popular in recent years as a way to get a wealth of functionality that looks instantly familiar.

Still, that hasn't stopped some brands from removing the functionality. Way back in 2023, General Motors announced its decision to remove compatibility with the systems from its EVs. In a later response, it said that the systems just weren't good enough.

Now, it's going even further, with a new announcement taking the compatibility away from fossil-fuelled vehicles, too. That comes from an interview with The Verge, where the brand's CEO, Mary Barra, suggested that new fossil-fuelled vehicles would not support smartphone projection.

That's a major step for the brand, particularly after the backlash which surrounded the last such move. Many users were frustrated with the decision to remove compatibility, which has become something of a standard for most people.

So, why is GM doing this? Well, it all comes down to them wanting to offer their own platform for in-car displays. Cynics suggest that could be a bid to lock certain features behind a paywall, which would likely be an even bigger issue for most drivers.

Still, it's not all bad news. The brand has also announced a new feature emerging next year, which makes use of Google Gemini to offer conversational AI within your car. That's something we've been hearing about more broadly for a long time, and it's great to see the functionality finally hitting the market.

Whether or not an AI-powered in-car assistant will be able to replace CarPlay and Android Auto remains to be seen. It's certainly going to be an interesting year for GM.

If you're invested heavily into Apple's ecosystem, you're probably familiar with how smooth and seamless most things are. The brand prides itself on ensuring real continuity between devices, which is a big part of the draw for many people.

Still, that level of seamlessness can also be a real pain if the devices misinterpret what you're trying to do. And one such example has just been rectified with a new setting.

The new "Keep Audio with Headphones" feature is designed to stop the audio shifting from your AirPods to your CarPlay-connected car. Currently, the audio can switch pretty seamlessly between devices, but that's not always what users want.

Say, for example, you're a passenger in a car trying to use AirPods – your audio could switch to the cars when you don't want it to. Similarly, if you're walking back to your car bopping along to Sabrina Carpenter completely undetected, before opening your car and hearing it blare from the speakers. It's a real problem.

Fortunately, Apple's fix is really easy to implement. Simple open the Settings app on your connected iPhone and tap on General. From there, select AirPlay & Continuity and turn on Keep Audio with Headphones.

If you ever need to switch it back, that's really simple, too. Just head into either the Control Centre or CarPlay to manually switch the audio to the car speakers.

It's not just cars where the feature is useful, either. It'll stop the audio from jumping over to the Bluetooth speakers in your home, which is likely just as annoying.

The feature is a part of iOS 26, so you'll need to have that software installed in order to enjoy the new feature. Personally, I think it's a neat little user-friendliness upgrade which gives people control over how their handsets operate. That's never a bad thing.

BMW has doubled-down on its position of keeping Apple at arm's length when it comes to the in-car experience – at least where navigation is concerned. Calling out the "CarPlay myth", it claims drivers aren't using Apple's systems as much as people think.

It's generally been accepted that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are the go-to platforms for all your interactions in the car – the place for entertainment, navigation and communication when on the road. With these systems powered by your smartphone, it's easier than ever to get the personalised and familiar experience that you want.

But BMW's senior vice president of UI/UX development, Stephan Durach, claims that the company has data that proves otherwise: "People say they’re driving all around and using CarPlay for navigation. I can tell you, that’s not true," he said in comments reported by BMWBlog.

“We can see what our customers are doing, what kind of controls they’re using, in what of kind of driving conditions they’re using them."

BMW has long gathered anonymised data from its cars, providing a huge dataset on which the comments are founded.

This doesn't mean that drivers aren't using CarPlay, though. In reality, it means that they aren't all using it for navigation purposes: "They started using our own navigation, people still have their phone connected with CarPlay, but only for dedicated use cases," added Durach.

There's a good explanation for this too: not all car functions work with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so it makes sense that some drivers will choose to use the car's own navigation instead.

For a long time, CarPlay has enjoyed the car's main display, but has often been missing from the driver display, heads-up display and more recently, augmented navigation options.

On some cars, that means that when navigating, the information you want isn't where you want it to be. Yes, you get audio guidance and the moving map on the car's display, but modern cars can do so much more – and this is often beyond the reach of a smartphone-based system.

BMW wants to own the in-car experience and with increased electrification, it wants to make sure that those navigating have a good experience. That includes, for example, the projected range on the maps, highlighted charging stations and so on. Currently, these features aren't available in apps like Google Maps or Waze.

There's also a reluctance to allow BMW customer data to be shared to make these advanced features available through other applications.

While using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto on cars that have a less developed system makes sense, BMW still has broad ambitions to provided increasingly sophisticated navigation solutions, such as Panoramic Vision. This has now made its debut in the BMW iX3, the first of its Neue Klasse models.

Don't think that BMW is opposed to tech or has something against Apple CarPlay: it was one of the first brands to support iPod, the first to offer CarPlay wirelessly, while Apple was first to offer BMW Digital Key for iPhone unlocking.

It's just keen to point out that everyone is happy to use Apple Maps or Google Maps for navigation when the car itself comes with an arguably better solution. Or at least, it should.

If you use Apple Carplay in your vehicle, there's a good bet that you'll use either Apple Maps or Google Maps for navigation over your dedicated in-car system. Or you might have been allured by the charms of the also Google-owned Waze. But did you know there was another alternative waiting for you to try too?

Here WeGo is a navigation app with a huge heritage. Previously known as Nokia Maps (among other names), it has been providing drivers with turn-by-turn assistance since the early 2000s. And parent company Here Technologies has provided the mapping data for in-car satnavs to the likes of Garmin and BMW for many years.

Well, now its iOS and CarPlay app has been updated with a handy new feature that makes it worth a least a test in your car. As Auto Evolution points out, you can now access the app's settings on you car's infotainment display while navigation continues to play.

This means you can adjust the configuration of the app without needing to pause instructions. This includes route options, which could prove handy.

One of the other features of Here WeGo that users seem to love is the ability to download entire country maps for offline use, even entire continents – something some others don't offer. That means you can prepare for a holiday or trip overseas in advance, with the entire map already installed.

This will therefore work even if you don't have a mobile signal in the region.

As with Google and Apple Maps, Here WeGo is totally free to use – even the additional maps – so there's no harm in giving it a trial. That being said, the main players in the market are also adding features regularly, with Apple about to add new capabilities to CarPlay and Maps with the debut of iOS 26 next month.

Your certainly not stuck for choice.

An increasing number of automakers have been focusing on sound within their cars of late, many turning to premium audio manufacturers to install very capable speaker systems. As an extension of that, Dolby Atmos has become one of the latest must-have features.

The latest brand to announce an upgrade to Dolby Atmos is Lotus: the KEF sound system in the Lotus Eletre and Lotus Emeya is getting a software update that will mean you can access spatial audio through Apple CarPlay. You'll need the over-the-air update from Lotus and at least iOS 18 on your iPhone, and you're good to go.

"Spatial audio" is how Apple refers to Dolby Atmos, the 3D audio format that's best known for home cinema soundtracks, but has been making a surprising impact on music and audiobooks lately, too. With tracks available through the likes of Apple Music and Amazon Music, you'll be able to get the 23 speakers in the KEF sound system in those cars to sing to a new tune.

I've experienced Dolby Atmos in a number of cars and it's difficult not to be impressed. One of the first manufacturers to go all-in with Atmos was Volvo (where there's also a special Abbey Road Studios mode on some models), but of late we've seen Mercedes Dolby Atmos on all the models in the range and Audi announcing a bigger commitment to the tech too.

It's not just music that benefits from Dolby Atmos: I've sampled audiobooks on Audible in Atmos and it's a much more immersive listening experience that really draws you into the narrative, more like being in the theatre than sitting in a traffic jam on the M25.

In many cases, you'll need a premium sound system to get Dolby Atmos, and on many cars it's an upgrade that you'll need to opt for – you'll also need tracks encoded in Dolby Atmos to get the benefit. But, that's now fairly easy to find those on streaming services that support it.

The criticism of Dolby Atmos music so far is the variability in the experience. Some artists are remixing tracks specifically for Atmos and looking to bring a spatial dimension to their music that wasn't there before, while some tracks just sound like a slightly tweaked version of the original and don't really set your ears tingling.

We're still at the beginning of the road for Dolby Atmos music, but with an increasing number of car manufacturers supporting the tech, it won't be long before you're enjoying that more expansive sound system in your own car.

If you can't wait, just go and get yourself a new Lotus.

When iOS 26 arrives in full next month, it'll bring with is a whole host of new features for not just iPhones, but Apple CarPlay too.

That is thought to include Widgets, which will be available on your in-car display for the first time, a switch to Apple's new Liquid Glass design, Live Activities and the ability to customise app icons.

It will also add a new phone call feature, which has been discovered in the iOS 26 public beta that's already available. Indeed, you can try it for yourself now, if you're willing to risk a beta build on your iPhone.

According to 9to5Mac, the adapted phone call management feature will come as a godsend for those irritated by the current method. At present, when you get a phone call while driving, the entire display gets taken over by the caller with options whether you want to speak to them or decline.

That's hardly ideal if you're currently using Apple's or Google's maps service to navigate. You can't see the navigation details again until you decline or take a call – not great if a Motorway turnoff is just coming up.

From iOS 26, that screen is far more compact – allowing you to see Maps running as well. The pop-up appears at the bottom of the screen.

It's such a simple solution, it's a wonder why it hasn't been implemented before?

When will iOS 26 and the new CarPlay features arrive?

As for the rollout, it's believed that iOS 26 will arrive within days of the launch of the iPhone 17 family. Current thinking is that will take place on or around 13 September 2025, which fits with previous years.

The added CarPlay features will be instantly available after you update your iPhone to the new software. They should then be accessible in your car without needing to do much else.

This is all different to Apple CarPlay Ultra – the next-gen experience that is currently restricted to a handful of vehicle models. That's a much more advanced software that doesn't just appear on an in-car display, but has the potential of taking over the entire dashboard and car instruments.

There are a number of changes coming to Apple CarPlay, including widgets and Live Activities, which will all land with iOS 26. There's another little detail that just appeared in the iOS 26 beta too, hinting at another change for CarPlay users.

In iOS 26 beta 4 – one of the developer versions before we get to the public beta – new wallpapers have been added.

Apple CarPlay has given you the opportunity to change the wallpapers since iOS 14, with the company's own selection. However, there's been a refresh of the options in iOS 26, with dark and light versions – giving you a wider choice.

According to 9to5Mac there will be nine new wallpapers, with each having a dark and light version. There are also two styles, which are based on iPhone wallpaper and solid dark colours.

Sadly though, while new options have been added, older versions have been taken away. So if there was a particular version you were using, you might now lose that old favourite.

Apple doesn't let you customise the wallpaper to your own preference yet – although neither does Android Auto. The Google equivalent will let you share your phone's wallpaper with the car's display, or have a plain black background, but neither option is particularly friendly.

The customisation of wallpaper might be a moot point, because most of the time that you're driving you'll have larger and more useful views open, like your mapping application, rather than just looking at the grid of icons with a wallpaper behind.

But that could change. Ever larger displays are appearing in cars, with some windowing Apple CarPlay within the display space. While Apple CarPlay Ultra has been designed with complete re-theming in mind, it seems that we're stuck with a number of limitations in Apple CarPlay for the time being.

The latest version of Apple's software isn't expected to be released until September, but we're expecting the launch of the iOS 26 public beta any day now. This will give those with a compatible iPhone the option to test out some of the new features for themselves.

The normal caveat remains, however, that using beta software could lead to some problems, as it's not complete and things might not work exactly as planned.

If you're an iPhone user, one of the coolest features available to you comes with a range of new cars. That allows users to lock and unlock the vehicle without using their keys.

Instead, users are able to use the Apple Wallet app as a faux key fob. That means you can gain access to the car with either your iPhone or your Apple Watch – no physical keys required.

There were already a good array of brands signed up to the service – and now there's another swathe of brands added on. That includes:

• Acura
• Cadillac
• Chery
• Chevrolet
• GMC
• Hongqi
• Lucid
• Porsche
• Rivian
• Smart
• Tata
• Voyah
• WEY

The additions bring the total number of brands involved to 33. Those already involved in the functionality include household names like Audi, Lotus, Mercedes, BMW, Polestar.

There is, however, no indication of just how quickly those brands will gain support from Apple. There is currently no timeline to indicate just how quickly those features will be available to users.

How does Keyless Entry through Apple Wallet work?

As explained in this article from 9to5Mac, there are three main methods of using a virtual car key. Which is used will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer – it could even vary from model to model – so it's important to do you homework.

The first is Passive Entry. That works much like your wildest Tony Stark fantasies – walk up to, sit inside of and leave your vehicle with the relevant device on your person and watch everything unlock, start and lock without doing anything else.

Next up is Proximity, which is vaguely similar. You'll have to hold the device near the door handle or another spot for reading the key, but otherwise it's much the same.

The final method is a full remote unlocking option. That enables users to lock and unlock their car remotely, as well as making use of other features from a distance.

There's going to be a number of changes coming to Apple CarPlay with the arrival of iOS 26, as long as your iPhone is compatible. The headlines were stolen by CarPlay Ultra – the experience that takes over all the screens in your car – but there's another interesting feature coming to those who won't get CarPlay Ultra.

You could get this feature in just a few weeks too, because Apple previously confirmed that the iOS 26 public beta would land in July – with reputable leaker Mark Gurman suggesting it could be available "around" 23 July. That's when you'll be able to update your phone (accepting the normal precaution with beta software) and experience the new features of Apple CarPlay.

One of the useful new additions will be widgets. Widgets are now everywhere on Apple devices, having appeared on the iPhone with iOS 14 in 2020. Now they're coming to your car, as detailed by 9to5Mac.

While widgets in CarPlay were first shown off as part of CarPlay Ultra (or CarPlay 2 as it was being called), it looks like everyone will benefit from them. You'll be able to enable the option within the Settings on your iPhone and it allows you to have widgets from your phone, not just from CarPlay apps.

You'll then be able to have one or two stacks of widgets, so you'll have access to glanceable information about all manner of things. That might be weather, reminders or smart home information, for example.

You'll be able to control the layout of the widgets and customise them, so they should be a useful addition to CarPlay.

CarPlay features in iOS 26

Beyond widgets – and CarPlay Ultra (which will need car manufacturer support) – you'll also be able to change the background. In addition, the new Liquid Glass visuals from iOS 26 will also flow into CarPlay. There's more customisation for app icons too.

There's a new compact view for incoming calls, as well as Live Activities, so you can keep track of things like sport scores or flights without being too distracted from the road. Live Activities will appear in the split view of CarPlay and sit in one corner of the screen.

Mapping now has more intelligence, so should be able to warn you about delays, even if you haven't set a route. It will reportedly alert you simply based on the direction you're heading in.

And when you're stopped, you'll also be able to play video, which could make those charging breaks more enjoyable.

As I said, this could all be available with the iOS 26 beta in the coming weeks.

CarPlay users have long requested a particular feature enjoyed by Tesla owners and recently approved by Google for Android Auto.

However, we recently learned that there was a ban in place to prevent it happening on Apple's in-car systems.

We basically wanted the ability to watch videos on our CarPlay-powered in-car systems – while parked, of course – but Apple had a block on apps offering it.

That was discovered by the developer of Sidecar, which added the ability to view video content via web browsing to its automotive assistant app. The feature allowed CarPlay users to watch shows on Netflix, Prime Video and other streaming services, but was soon removed again after it was revealed to have breached Apple policies.

Now it seems the Cupertino tech giant has had a change of heart.

It'll finally allow video to be shown on an in-car display running CarPlay when iOS 26 arrives later this year (most likely September).

Video streaming coming to CarPlay at last!

The confirmation was discovered on Apple's own developer site for CarPlay. It reveals that while dedicated apps for the likes of Netflix and Disney+ will still be restricted, users will be able to stream videos to their displays via AirPlay.

The new option is listed under "additional capabilities" being added to CarPlay:

"AirPlay video in the car enables people to watch their favorite videos from iPhone right on their CarPlay display when they aren’t driving.," it states.

It effectively enables car manufacturers to finally catch up with the likes of Tesla in offering the service. Admittedly, you'll still need to start a video on your iPhone and send it to the display, but it's a start. And at least that means you should be able to use third-party streaming apps too.

The one sticking point is that car makers will have to "integrate support for CarPlay with AirPlay video to enable this feature", so you might still have to wait for your own manufacturer to implement it.

Some might also have their own policies in place that will prevent it. At least Apple is finally lifting its ban though, that's the main thing.

Three years on from Apple announcing a new generation of CarPlay, the new iPhone-powered car infotainment system is finally here.

At least, it is for drivers of brand-new Aston Martins. For now, only the British supercar maker’s new DB12, DBX, Vantage and Vanquish have access to CarPlay Ultra – but we’ve been reassured, many more cars from other brands will join the party soon.

I was invited to try out CarPlay Ultra in an Aston Martin DBX707, and from the moment you open the door and step inside, it’s clear this is a significant upgrade on what’s gone before. Since the car was already paired with an iPhone, CarPlay Ultra booted instantly to life. From the second the car is turned on, CarPlay is running on both the central touchscreen and the driver display. There’s not even a hint that the car uses any other software – and this is the experience CarPlay Ultra users can expect, whether they connect their iPhone wirelessly, as was the case for my demo, or with a cable.

Aston Martin had already paired the phone to the car. But even if it hadn’t, I’m told the initial setup process is quick and painless. Just connect your iPhone in the usual way, then wait for it to download a set of imagery for that specific car. In my case, this means Aston Martin-designed dials and graphics that match the DBX707 I’m sitting in.

There are three key points to discuss. The first is how CarPlay Ultra now brings climate and media control settings to its own user interface. Drivers no longer have to exit CarPlay to change the radio station or adjust the cabin temperature, since buttons and sliders for all that are now inside CarPlay. Cabin temperature appears permanently on the touchscreen, so it’s just a case of tapping the temperature to bring up the controls, then tapping on the up or down arrows to adjust both temperature and fan speed.

Or, for more granular control, there’s a new Climate app on the CarPlay home screen. Tapping that fills the display with more climate options.

In Aston Martins, that includes a screen with shortcuts to climate presets like ‘Warm My Feet’, and here’s where we get to the second key feature of CarPlay Ultra: the ability to show vehicle-specific menus within CarPlay itself.

Those climate presets are made by Aston Martin and unique to its cars, yet they appear in CarPlay using Apple’s font and button design.

To do this, Apple is using a technique it calls punch-through. This is also employed to show things like the reversing camera, ambient light settings and engine telemetry data – the sort of menu item Apple hasn’t designed itself – within CarPlay. It’s a clever approach that means each car retains its own unique features, but allows them to appear within Apple’s user interface. For the driver, that means never having to leave the CarPlay environment, no matter which vehicle function they want to access or adjust.

The third key function of CarPlay Ultra is how, for the first time, Apple’s user interface now appears on the driver display.

At long last, directions from Apple Maps (and Waze, but not Google Maps, at least for now) appear behind the steering wheel. Furthermore, you can configure CarPlay Ultra so that, when your passenger uses the touchscreen to hijack your road trip playlist, the map on the driver display automatically switches from a view of the entire journey to a view of your next navigation instruction.

By default, you’d barely know CarPlay Ultra was running on the driver screen. The Aston Martin I drove displayed a set of Aston-branded graphics, including a pair of dials for speed and engine revs, a gear indicator, fuel gauge and odometer, plus info for engine and external temperatures, drive mode, and all of the usual car icons you’d expect for the status of your lights and driver assistance systems.

All very normal. But, with the swipe of a touchpad on the steering wheel, everything changes. Swiping up or down scrolls through different functions for the centre of the driver display. These include a screen for journey data (distance, time, average speed, consumption, etc), one showing whatever media is playing, and one for navigation.

Swipe left or right, and the entire driver display changes. There are four distinct layouts in this car; some designed by Aston Martin and some designed by Apple. The former include the AM-branded dials, while the latter completely change the interface, turning the instrument cluster of a supercar into the readouts of a computer. One even replaces traditional circular dials with horizontal, multicoloured progress bars for speed, revs and fuel.

Purists will say this strips the Aston Martin of its identity, but in reality it’s just giving drivers more choice. You can have traditional dials if you like, or you can opt for something entirely new. Regardless of your preference, the centre of the screen can still be configured to show navigation, media or journey info. So it’s not a case of ever being forced to use Apple’s graphics to unlock the most functionality. Apple Maps or Apple Music (or the car’s own radio system) all sit neatly alongside any of the dial options.

What’s CarPlay Ultra like to live with?

I only had about an hour with the car, but in that time I tried out all of the driver display interfaces and had a good look through the new Climate and Radio apps. In short, it’s a strong upgrade that welcomes the most commonly-used vehicle features, like the radio and temperature control, into the CarPlay environment.

But an Aston Martin probably isn’t the best car to demonstrate the new system. This is because today’s Astons all have physical switchgear for their climate control and drive modes, so it’s still quicker and easier to reach for those, than to tap at the touchscreen. I found myself instinctively rotating the drive selector, pressing the exhaust and suspension buttons, and scrolling on the temperature and fan speed rollers in the centre console, instead of using CarPlay.

However, that will all change when CarPlay Ultra lands on cars lacking such switchgear. For cars that put everything on the touchscreen, CarPlay Ultra should make it much quicker, easier and safer to change the cabin temperature or switch radio station, since those functions are now just a couple of taps away, instead of hidden in the car’s own operating system.

Also new is how the touchscreen displays StandBy widgets, like those that appear on your iPhone when it’s on a MagSafe charger and rotated to landscape. CarPlay Ultra shows two widgets side-by-side, including various clocks, calendars and weather forecasts, plus one for controlling HomeKit devices. The latter could be useful for turning on driveway lights or controlling a compatible garage door opener.

Same old Siri

As well as the touchscreen and physical switchgear, drivers can use Siri to interact with CarPlay Ultra. Apple’s voice assistant has been upgraded to work with the car’s climate and radio functions, as well as more advanced, vehicle-specific features, like sound system configurations and performance settings. However, for now at least, Siri still falls well short of what’s expected from artificial intelligence in 2025.

I opened Apple Maps in CarPlay and asked Siri for directions back to Aston Martin’s headquarters. Siri understood, but replied: “Sorry, I can’t show you the results while you’re in the car.” This was disappointing, to say the least, but thankfully it only took a moment to type in the address manually and I was on my way.

Siri understands requests to increase or decrease the cabin temperature, but can’t yet manage natural language like “it’s too warm in here”. Tellingly, there’s no mention of Apple Intelligence in relation to CarPlay Ultra, and I get the feeling Apple would rather you prioritise the car’s touchscreen and physical controls over its voice assistant.

When can I get CarPlay Ultra?

Not yet, unless you own a new Aston Martin. And even then, if you already own a DB12 (or newer) you’ll have to visit a dealership to have CarPlay Ultra installed, since it’s such a hefty software upgrade. Aston Martins in production now will come with CarPlay Ultra fitted as standard.

The roll-out has already begun in the US and Canada, and will expand globally in the next 12 months. Other manufacturers working on CarPlay Ultra include Ford, Kia, Hyundai, Genesis, Renault, Porsche and Volvo, but launch dates and vehicle compatibility weren’t known at the time of writing. In short, it looks like it’ll be a slow rollout by Apple standards.

Thankfully, you won’t need a brand-new iPhone to make the Ultra upgrade. Apple says the system works on iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.4 or later.

As Apple's WWDC event looms ever nearer, anticipation is building from fans of the brand. The summer showcase has historically marked the dawn of a new era, with new software and operating systems often the focal point.

That includes the systems powering a host of common devices. Things like the Apple Watch, iPhone and iPad are perhaps obvious, but we'd also expect to see new software for the Apple Vision Pro, MacBooks and Apple TV units.

Now, a new report suggests that CarPlay will also get a new lick of paint. That should see the visual identity of the software line up with new revisions expected across the board.

Many of the leaks and rumours we've heard so far point to a new visual identity which is inspired by VisionOS. That's said to include glass-like windows and displays, while some even suggested round app icons could appear – though that appears to have been refuted since.

Okay, it's certainly not the most tantalising upgrade ever, but it's nice to be included. Since the brand announced Apple CarPlay Ultra earlier this year, many had feared that the base-level of CarPlay might start to see less love. Fortunately, that doesn't seem to be too much of a legitimate concern.

It's also going to make the whole experience much more enjoyable. Seeing much of the same design work as you move from your phone to other devices – and even into your car – is going to make for a much more cohesive ecosystem. That's a big part of what Apple's offering includes, so seeing this update should be seen as a big win for users.

With just a few more days to go before the event takes place, we don't have too much longer to wait for confirmation. We'll be watching eagerly to see what comes from the brand.

After years of waiting – and five months since it missed its most recent deadline – Apple has finally launched the next-generation of CarPlay.

Apple first announced a new version of CarPlay back in 2022, and later showed how the iPhone-powered interface would span multiple dashboard displays at once. In 2024 the demonstrated how CarPlay could look on the displays of cars from Aston Martin and Porsche, and how it would let drivers control the car’s climate system.

Now, finally, CarPlay Ultra has arrived – but there’s a catch. At launch, the system is only available on the latest models of Aston Martin, and only for drivers in the US and Canada. This will change, of course, and other manufacturers will jump aboard the CarPlay Ultra bandwagon soon. But for now, only Aston Martin’s DBX, Vantage, DB12 and Vanquish model ranges can access the new software.

The iOS-style home screen looks familiar, but there are several new applications exclusive to CarPlay Ultra. These include Climate, which brings native control of your car’s cabin air temperature to the Apple interface. There’s support for multi-zone climate systems too, so you can use CarPlay to change the driver, passenger and rear temperatures, or adjust the fan speed and turn on the recirculate function too.

Also new is how CarPlay Ultra now runs on the instrument cluster. In Aston Martin’s case, this means the screen behind the steering wheel includes dials styled and branded by the British sports car maker, but with software by Apple. This brings CarPlay media and navigation apps to the driver display for the first time, and means when running CarPlay you’ll no longer see the car’s own map behind the wheel.

It’s also now possible to control the car’s radio from within Apple CarPlay, instead of either using a streaming app or jumping out of CarPlay and into the car’s own media player. The system can be controlled by the car’s touchscreen and switchgear, or by speaking to Siri. Aston Martin says its cars will also retain physical controls for heating and ventilation, as well as gear and drive mode selection, and overrides for the chassis, stability control, exhaust and lane-keep assist systems.

Drivers can pick between several designs of speedometer and tachometer, each with Aston Martin branding, and pick from different wallpapers and colour palettes.

“iPhone users love CarPlay and it has changed the way people interact with their vehicles," said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing.

"The next generation of CarPlay gives drivers a smarter, safer way to use their iPhone in the car, deeply integrating with the vehicle while maintaining the very best of the automaker. We are thrilled to begin rolling out CarPlay Ultra with Aston Martin, with more manufacturers to come," he added.

Apple has since confirmed that CarPlay Ultra will be coming to many other carmakers, including Hyundai, Kia and Genesis. The electric cars of those three companies all share the same E-GMP platform, which will likely make it simpler to roll out the new Apple software integration.

Aston Martin may seem like an unusual first partner for CarPlay Ultra, but the timing makes sense. Aston finally binned its outdated infotainment system with the launch of the DB12 just a couple of years ago, replacing it with an all-new platform that has since rolled out to a whole new generation of cars.

This clean-slate approach was likely the perfect jumping-on point for CarPlay Ultra, since it requires far deeper integration with a car’s own systems than the previous version. It’s unclear who will come next, but Porsche is a likely candidate given it also featured alongside Aston in a round of next-gen CarPlay news in 2024.

Aston says CarPlay Ultra will come to all global markets “within the next 12 months”. CarPlay Ultra requires an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.54 or later.

Drivers with CarPlay recently learned they could watch the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video on their infotainment displays – something Tesla owners have enjoyed for years. However, Apple has forced the feature to be removed again just a few days later.

The excitement originally came after popular iOS app Sidecar added the ability to load websites through Apple CarPlay, therefore allowing video from the biggest streaming services to run on a car's display.

Only paid Sidecar members could access this feature, but it finally gave drivers a feature they've requested for years.

Sadly though, Apple has a strict policy on the use of web browsers and video playback through its in-car platform and has asked Sidecar to remove it again – something the app company has complied with.

Those who subscribed specifically for it can request a refund, though:

"Thank you for your interest in our Safari browsing feature for CarPlay. We’ve been overwhelmed by your positive response and support for this functionality," said the developer (via 9to6Mac).

"We designed this feature with safety as our top priority, ensuring it only operated while your vehicle was completely stopped to prevent distracted driving.

"Unfortunately, we’ve received a direct request from Apple to remove this feature from our app in alignment with App Store guidelines. While we’re disappointed by this outcome and hoped this feature would be an innovative addition to the CarPlay experience, we fully respect Apple’s platform requirements and have removed the feature from Sidecar accordingly."

It was fun while it lasted.

If you do still want to watch videos on your in-car infotainment screen and it doesn't do so natively, there's a workaround involving an external adapter that runs Android – such as the Ottocast.

We've been blessed with a swathe of new features for CarPlay in recent months, with the latest major update adding extra real estate for apps, support for live sports scores, and default navigation for the EU.

However, the update also seemingly introduced issues for some drivers, with one being more annoying than others.

It seems that the last iOS update (18.4) brought with it a connectivity bug – some users have since reported that their iPhones either lose their wireless connection with CarPlay, or cannot even connect with it at all.

Several have claimed that the only way to ensure connection for them is to revert back to using USB.

There doesn't seem to be a pattern in car types either – quoted manufacturers and models vary widely.

Other users also report issues with CarPlay information showing on their dashboards, after the update.

Thankfully, Apple was aware of the problem and, according to 9to5Mac, has pushed a fix to iPhones as part of the iOS 18.4.1 update that's just been released.

How to fix the CarPlay connection issues

We've not tested it in our own CarPlay vehicles yet, but iOS 18.4.1 can be downloaded on your supported iPhone via Settings > General > Software Update.

The CarPlay issues are even referred to in the update's description: "This update provides important bug fixes and security updates, and addresses a rare issue that prevents wireless CarPlay connection in certain vehicles."

The update is 570.4MB so shouldn't take long to install over a decent connection (oh, the irony). It doesn't seem to add anything else other than security patches.

Let us know if it's solved your CarPlay woes in our comments below, or if you've encountered any other gremlins in the process.

Apple has officially rolled out iOS 18.4, bringing with it some updates and tweaks for your iPhone, including a big focus on Apple Intelligence in Europe. However, more importantly to some, there are some changes to Apple CarPlay, too.

We’ve mentioned some of these updates previously, but they should now be available if you’ve updated your iPhone to the latest software.

Here’s what you’re getting:

• A third row of icons on larger screens
• Support for sports apps
• Default navigation for the EU

Let’s break these down and see how you’re going to benefit from the new Apple CarPlay.

Starting at the top, we have the third row added for those vehicles with a larger screen. This is going to make a big visual difference and make much better use of space in your car. This feature first reared its head through the beta, but now we’re seeing it roll out to real users.

If you have a big display in your car, you should have that third row of icons, which will mean less swiping to get to the apps that you need. If you’ve not seen it, there are various Reddit users sharing their new screens, here and here.

The next update surfaced just a couple of days ago, which is an API that supports sports apps. It’s designed to allow apps to take over parts of your screen to showcase a match or event that’s happening live. It’s not going to show video, instead giving you the live score with team icons on the left and right of your display.

We’ve not seen this in the flesh yet and developers will likely need a little time to get it up and running. Exactly how it will interact with other elements in CarPlay, if it will overlay things like maps or be small enough to sit around whatever else you’re doing, remains to be seen.

Finally there’s a change for those in the EU that should make navigation simpler and easier. You’ll now be able to set your default navigation app to something other than Apple Maps. You’ve been able to use Google Maps or Waze instead for some time, but Apple Maps remained the default.

Now, if you change the default navigation app in CarPlay you’ll have that app open when you ask Siri to navigate you somewhere. You won’t have to say “in Google Maps”, it will just work.

Combined, these tweaks to Apple CarPlay should lead to a better experience when you're on the roads, especially if you’re lucky enough to have a larger display in your car.

Unlike Android Auto which updates independently, Apple CarPlay is tied to the version of iOS that’s powering it. And so, with iOS 18.4 heading to an iPhone near you soon, an interesting new feature is also heading to Apple CarPlay.

Apple hasn’t made any announcement about this feature yet, probably because there’s no one to showcase it, but it was uncovered by 9to5mac which found details of a new API in Apple’s documentation. This details a sports mode for Apple CarPlay.

Before you get too excited, it’s not about sports cars, or track driving, it’s about sports events. The details of the API don’t show what it will look like, but do detail the components that make up the feature, which include a background image, the status (which is likely to be the score), plus a left team and right team.

This suggests that when there’s a big football game, for example, the details can take over Apple CarPlay, with an appropriate background image and logos for the teams on each side, along with the live score for the game. That will give great glanceable information, especially if you’re listening to that game on the radio when driving.

What’s interesting is that Apple outlines that the team on the left should be the “away” or “visiting” team, while the team on the right should be the “home” team. This is the convention in the US and Canada, but in Europe it’s the other way around, with the home team listed on the left.

Apple also states in the API details that this order should not be reversed if it’s a right-hand drive (like we have in the UK) or in a language which is read right-to-left. I suspect that these parameters will change when Apple realises that across the globe, most soccer fans will want the home team on the left.

As I said, we have no idea what this will look like, but its existence as an API in Apple CarPlay opens it up for developers to use it to integrate various sports apps into CarPlay a little better..

Apple CarPlay is the first choice for in-car entertainment and navigation for many drivers, providing that neat link between iPhone and car, and meaning that you’re in a familiar environment as soon as you get into your vehicle. If this sounds like you, then there’s an update heading your way.

Before you get too excited though, it looks like you’ll only benefit from this change if you have a car with a larger display. The update – which looks like it could be part of iOS 18.4 – adds an additional row of icons to the screen. That's great for car owners who'd like to access more apps without having to scroll through menus.

As spotted by MacRumors, it appears that the change is currently part of the iOS 18.4 beta, but that also means it’s not rolling out for all users as yet.

Still, the general release of iOS 18.4 is expected to land early in April, which is when this update should appear for iPhone users.

Back to the issue of size: while this hasn’t been confirmed, it looks like Apple CarPlay is being adapted to work better with larger displays. Rather than just getting the same screen but bigger, the introduction of more icons on the display means there’s a greater benefit for those with larger displays.

As MacRumors identified, the three-row CarPlay version was available in a vehicle with a 14-inch display, while a model with a 9-inch display (using the same beta software) appeared to stick to the current two-row arrangement.

What ever happened to CarPlay 2?

While this is just a minor change that’s coming to CarPlay, some might be wondering about the major reworking that was expected with CarPlay 2. It'll bring greater integration into the car’s system for one unified visual experience when it does arrive but is still missing to date.

Originally promised for 2024 and showcased with Aston Martin and Porsche, there was no sign of the new version of CarPlay through 2024. In January 2025, it was revealed that Apple is continuing to work on the next-gen CarPlay experience with a number of manufacturers, but that the original timeline appears to have been abandoned.

The next big software showcase from Apple is expected at WWDC – expected in June – which might be where we see more of Apple’s future CarPlay plans. Fingers crossed, anyway.

Waze is one of the most popular navigation apps for drivers and has an update rolling out for those with Apple CarPlay. It brings some changes to the user interface.

The Google-owned tool has approximately 190 million active monthly users and is the choice of many drivers over Google Maps or Apple Maps. With integration into Apple CarPlay, it’s the default app that many head to when they’re on the road.

If that sounds like you, then you’ll know that Waze has been rolling out changes across the last year, with a couple made to the user interface in the most recent update for Apple users. Thanks to the details highlighted by Auto Evolution, we can now look at the difference it will make to your daily drive.

The version of Waze is 5.3.1 at the time of writing, which should show these changes. There are reports of the new interface appearing for Reddit users too.

The biggest change is the addition of a new icon to take you to home or work depending on your driving patterns and the time of day.

This new icon will sit on the side of the screen, above the search icon and the familiar hazard report icon.

The home and work feature is already in place in the normal Waze app, meaning that once you’ve set the locations it only takes a tap to navigate there. Because the CarPlay interface is slightly different, this new icon has been elevated so that it’s there and ready to tap when you get in the car.

The top bar has also changed. This top bar auto-hides, but previously this is where search was located, but that’s now on the main display, while favourites and the audio controls stay in the top bar, but slightly rearranged.

The aim is to make it easier to get to the controls you want quickly and some drivers will probably find it a little confusing to get started – but these are only small changes, so should be easy to adapt to.

If you’re not seeing the update, make sure you are running the latest version of iOS as well as checking for app updates for Waze itself.

Whether you've stuck with a fossil fuelled vehicle, or you've made the switch to one of the best EVs on the market, chances are you'll be aware of Apple CarPlay.

The in-car infotainment system – mirrored by Android Auto for Android phone enthusiasts – is enjoyed by iPhone users around the world. The platform was set to undergo a significant change in 2024, but that never materialised.

Now, the brand has removed all mention of the 2024 date, suggesting that the deadline has indeed been missed. Apple-centric blog, 9to5Mac, received a statement from the brand.

It reads, "The next generation of CarPlay builds on years of success and insights gained from CarPlay, delivering the best of Apple and the automaker in a deeply integrated and customizable experience. We continue to work closely with several automakers, enabling them to showcase their unique brand and visual design philosophies in the next generation of CarPlay."

The key part to take away there, is that the brand is continually working with a wide range of different manufacturers. I think that could spell a much more pleasing end result – even if it takes us a little while longer to get to.

If each individual manufacturer can have a say in how CarPlay looks and operates, it should retain more of a personality. That's really important. If I'm spending the extra on a luxury car, I'd like to see the brand design maintained, even when making use of Apple CarPlay.

It should be a good thing for the market as a whole. Currently, CarPlay and Android Auto feel like great levellers. It doesn't really matter what badge sits on the front – simply plug your phone into the car and the whole system becomes familiar.

Some may see that as a positive, but I'd prefer to see individual brands take more ownership over the experience. Something as simple as a bespoke theme would help to keep things feeling more luxurious.

With no greater detail on exactly what Apple is working on, we'll just have to wait patiently for updates.

I’ve been driving the Mini Cooper electric for the last few weeks now and I just have to call out something on the infotainment system – or rather the Mini OS – that makes it a little bit special.

One of the biggest factors when buying a new car is now whether it has CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility. The ease of being able to connect your phone to the car’s entertainment system and get your contacts, music and maps straight on the central screen is something that most drivers now demand.

Manufacturers are putting increased efforts into their own operating systems though, providing everything from mapping through to games and movies for those times when you’re parked up or charging. Drivers overriding this hard work in favour of a mirror of their mobile phone can seem like a disservice to all the hard work they’ve put in.

Mini’s new OS 9 is unique for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it’s designed to run on a circular display. The 24cm diameter Samsung OLED display is the centrepiece of the car and contains all of the driving dynamics and entertainment options that the new car offers.

The display is based on the original speedometer that sat in a similar position in the first Mini models. Creating a display that makes efficient use of this space is a little different than just showing the speed though. This screen has to show maps, climate controls, music and vehicle settings in addition to the main speed and power gauges.

Managing its own features is one thing, but then displaying CarPlay is something else. Firstly, Apple’s CarPlay display is rectangular and so doesn’t naturally fit in a circular screen without losing a lot of real estate.

Most auto manufacturers also separate the CarPlay features, so they feel like a very separate system to the OEM offering. This usually requires you to exit the CarPlay features to return to the on-board features, and vice versa.

Both CarPlay and Android Auto behave similarly on the Mini OS, connecting wirelessly. Once connected there is a small box that appears just above the main menu to get access into the mirrored system. The CarPlay menu appears in a square box, however ,the background remains transparent, allowing you to still see the Mini wallpaper behind.

This small concession makes the CarPlay menu feel more at home and a part of the Mini OS. However, it goes one further than that. When you access the main menu of functions on the Mini OS, it displays all of your CarPlay apps among the on-board features. Each one simply has ‘in CarPlay’ added to the app name, so you know where it’s come from.

In this way, the extra features from CarPlay don’t take away from the Mini OS, they simply add to it. Two systems working together. It’s an acknowledgement to the fact that users want to use these apps, but also want some of Mini’s own features.

My favourite feature on the Mini OS display is the fact that you can add your own wallpaper to the screen – uploading pictures via a QR code, or via the car’s app. It’s a really nice way to personalise the screen, and is much nicer to look at than your typical CarPlay menu.

I hope more car manufacturers take this inclusive route with their CarPlay and Android Auto dealings. It’s certainly the more sensible way to get drivers to interact with their car’s OS rather than phone’s.

Many drivers are now choosing to use a smartphone-based system in their car, rather than the car's own system. There are two systems going head-to-head here: Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Google has just pushed a new feature to help close the gap with Apple CarPlay.

Ironically, this feature has been available in Google Maps on Apple CarPlay for some months, but has only just made its appearance on its own offering, Android Auto. The feature in question is the ability to report incidents in Maps.

According to 9to5Google, Google is now pushing this feature to users of the Android-based navigation system, meaning you'll be able to contribute to information about the state of the roads. It will let you report things like crashes, traffic, lane closures and so on.

In another twist to this tale, it's strange that it's taken so long for Google to offer this to drivers using Google Maps on Android Auto, seeing as it has been a core feature of Waze for many years. Waze is widely used by drivers, but Google also owns it.

How does incident reporting work on Google Maps?

Within the Google Maps view you'll find a yellow warning triangle. When you come across something to report, you can just tap on this icon and a menu will pop-up offering you relevant things – crash, construction, slow traffic and so on.

All you have to do is tap on what's happening and that's it, you've reported that incident. As more drivers report incidents, Google gets a better picture of what's actually happening on the road, so it can alert other drivers and use that information to better estimate driving times and re-route if necessary.

Of course, you're under no obligation to make those reports, but if you're just sitting in traffic, then it's only a couple of seconds to add to the picture on the roads and that benefits all drivers.

A similar feature has been in Waze for many years, with Waze pitching itself as a community-based navigation app, based largely on this ability to contribute to information about the situation on the roads.

The new feature is rolling out for Google Maps in Android Auto now.

If you own an Android phone then there's a good chance that when you get into your car, Android Auto instantly fires up.

If so, you'll also know that Android Auto isn't known for getting regular updates. In fact, it's been pretty slow to evolve over the past few years – but there is one software upgrade coming that might remind you of something from Apple CarPlay.

One of the advantages of Android Auto is that it uses Google Assistant to respond to voice commands. That allows you to control Android Auto, as well as ask all the questions that Assistant is good at answering. Often, this means that Google Assistant will replace (or be available alongside) the stock voice assistant in your car.

A new user interface has appeared for some Google Assistant interactions on Android Auto (as spotted by 9to5Google). When you talk to Google Assistant, the familiar four-coloured line appears on the display, but it's here that the change seems to be coming.

While the coloured line appears when you first talk to Google Assistant, there's now a round animation at the bottom of the screen for continued conversation – and this looks a lot like what appears when you're using Siri on Apple CarPlay. It appears when Google Assistant is waiting for a response from you.

It's not clear if this is just a UI change or part of something bigger. It looks like the new interface is part of Android Auto v12.5 – I tried it on a couple of devices but it wasn't there, even on one with Android Auto v12.5 – so it's not clear who will get it and when.

What does the Android Auto change do?

The change in the user interface looks to lift Google Assistant's "waiting" notification off the bottom of the display.

Under the current/old setup, if Assistant is waiting for a response from you, the bottom bar is occupied. That means you can't tap on the icons that reside there normally, such as the apps menu or the shortcuts.

If could be that the change in UI is to open this area up and have it less dominated by Google Assistant. If you don't get the response that you want, but Google is waiting for you to say something, then that would lead to a situation where you can't immediately hit the button you want.

There remains the question of whether Gemini will move into Android Auto and take over too.

Google seems to be in a bit of a muddle, with Gemini on some devices and Google Assistant on others. Gemini can do things that Google Assistant can't, but at the same time, Gemini lacks some of the basic app-access functions at Google Assistant has offered for years.

We'll have to wait to see what the company plans to do with Android Auto in future, and if it will finally shake-up the experience.

Apple has been teasing the next generation of Apple CarPlay since 2022. But, while CarPlay itself gets the odd change here and there, there's something more significant coming down the line – the takeover of all your vehicle's screens. At WWDC 2024, Apple gave us a closer look at what to expect.

The next-gen Apple CarPlay is something of a hot potato. When Apple first showed us next-gen CarPlay, Emily Schubert, engineering manager, car experience at Apple said that in the US, 79% of car buyers would only make that purchase if the vehicle supported CarPlay. That's something I've heard from manufacturers too – that smartphone connectivity is seen as vital.

People want simplicity and familiarity, and taking the apps and services from a phone into the car without having to install anything, sign-in or anything else makes the experience smoother for drivers.

Apple, however, has designs on more of your car's displays. The next generation of CarPlay is being positioned to take over all the displays in your car and that means it will be able to show information that has previously been under the purview of the car manufacturer. Apple pitches it as "the very best of your car, combined with the best features and familiar interaction patterns of your iPhone".

That's where the contention comes in: BMW has been quite vocal about retaining control of the car experience and while it supports Apple CarPlay, it won't be turning to Apple to deliver information that is fundamental to the car, like charging, the dials and so on. Mercedes too is pouring a lot into the new MBOS system, to deliver a premium Mercedes experience.

Apple hosted a couple of sessions at WWDC 24 focused on design and architecture of next-gen Apple CarPlay. It's worth stressing that this is for automakers to design something for their cars, rather than for consumers to completely customise the design for themselves (although there is some scope for customisation for users within the system).

We've previously seen Porsche and Aston Martin previewing this customised look, using their own brand heritage to influence the design of the instrument cluster, and the new visuals outline just how flexible this new system is going to be. It will allow car manufacturers to easily craft a seamless CarPlay experience across all areas of the car.

That's going to bring uniformity to the look and feel of interactions, with Apple going as far as sharing visuals for things like climate control systems and what might happen when you press a drive mode button in your car. However, it stresses throughout that the next-gen CarPlay is really customisable and will make it really easy for car manufacturers to create a cohesive visual design across all areas of their car.

That could be the problem, as brands like BMW and Mercedes are making clear.

While this is all exciting – and some cars have user interfaces that are clunky and outdated – there's a risk that a huge swathe of cars just end up being the same, no matter what brand you buy. If everything just looks like it was lifted from the iPad, there's a chance that things will get a little boring.

So let's hope that car manufacturers find a great balance between keeping some brand identity and providing a user experience that enhances things.

As a reminder, here's the list of brands that were originally said to be interested in supporting next-gen Apple CarPlay:

• Acura
• Audi
• Ford
• Honda
• Infiniti
• Jaguar
• Land Rover
• Lincoln
• Mercedes-Benz
• Nissan
• Polestar
• Porsche
• Renault
• Volvo
   

We'll keep an eye on this and report when we find out more.

New images released by Apple show that the tech giant has joined forces with luxury automotive manufacturers Porsche and Aston Martin to unveil the next generation of its CarPlay system, promising to take of more of the infotainment experience in the near future.

Apple, Aston Martin and Porsche have released early mock-ups that showcase bespoke versions of CarPlay tailored specifically for Porsche and Aston Martin vehicles. 

Unlike the current generation of CarPlay, which often functions as an add-on feature to a vehicle's existing infotainment architecture, the upcoming version looks set to play a central role, taking over a significant portion of the digital real estate.

The concept images reveal distinctive designs for both Porsche and Aston Martin models. In Porsche's mock-up (above), the CarPlay interface features heavily in the central touchscreen display, with individual boxes taking care of navigation, as well as call history.

Additionally, Porsche's optional front passenger display, which we’ve seen on Taycan and in upcoming Panamera and Macan EV, offers a comprehensive view of weather, calendar, navigation, and audio widgets. Even the driver's display is cleverly integrated, with Apple taking over Porsche's iconic circular binnacles for speed and battery status notifications.

Aston Martin's version, while featuring fewer displays, exhibits a sleek and efficient CarPlay arrangement. Apple's technology seamlessly integrates into the digital instrumentation, adding an audio tile to the speedo and rev counter.

According to Car and Driver, Aston Martin plans to introduce Apple's next-gen setup in its upcoming vehicles, such as the DB12 coupe and DB12 Volante, slated to launch in 2024. On the other hand, Porsche has not disclosed a specific timeline for the implementation of the next-gen CarPlay in its vehicles.

But we do know that Porsche has been at the forefront of maximising Apple's automotive developer's toolkit, going beyond basic CarPlay functionality. The leaked images indicate Porsche's intention to further elevate the CarPlay experience by allowing Apple to dominate essentially the entire infotainment system.

If this does roll out next year, expect it to quickly filter down into other Volkswagen Group products, including those from Audi, Bentley, VW, Seat and Skoda.

It's been a busy few weeks in the tech world, but arguably the biggest release has been the iPhone 15 range. The latest and greatest technology has come to the line up, bringing new features for users to enjoy.

Still, it hasn't all been plain sailing. In the early days of use, some users have experienced trouble with devices overheating. That's not entirely uncommon for early release devices, but it's still a pain for users.

But that should all be a thing of the past now. Apple has just released an update which should fix those issues, as well as providing some other key updates. The iOS 17.0.3 update should be available to all users capable of running iOS 17 in general. 

To get the update on your device, simply head to Settings > General > Software Update. You should see an option there for the relevant upgrade.

Apple have been swift to remedy this, having released a statement on Saturday acknowledging the issues. They attributed the issue to a bug in the software, dismissing rumours that the new titanium frame on the iPhone 15 Pro models was to blame. Instead, in conversation with 9to5Mac, they confirmed that the titanium is actually better at dissipating heat than older stainless steel designs.

They also noted a handful of apps which were causing the issue to worsen, by overloading the CPU in the handset. That included Asphalt 9, Instagram and Uber.

It should be a reassuring change for users. Not only has the issue been fixed, but that change has happened in a timely manner. That's a great sign for the future, with users able to take solace in the fact that problems will be rectified quickly.

Of course, the update isn't quite a catch all solution. Other problems – particularly those with CarPlay and wireless charging in some vehicles – are still being noted after the update. Still, I suspect those might be next on the list for the developers at Apple Park.

One of the biggest changes in the iPhone 15 range is the move from Lightning connectors to USB-C. There's much more to this than just a differently shaped connector: it changes how your iPhone charges, how it transfers data and what you can connect to your phone – and there are differences between the USB-C in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus and the USB-C in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Here's what you need to know.

What charging power does the USB-C in the iPhone 15 support?

According to a newly published support document by Apple, you can use any USB-C cable and power adapter that's compliant with the USB-C standard. If you have a 20W USB-C or higher, you can use it with your iPhone for faster charging. Apple says you can expect to charge up to 50% in around 20 minutes. 

Rumours earlier this year suggested that the iPhone 15 would support charging speeds up to 35W, but a new report by Japanese blog Mac Otakara (via MacRumors) suggests that they max out at 27W. 

What can I charge with my iPhone 15 USB-C port?

You can now charge accessories such as your AirPods, Apple Watch or other small devices via your iPhone 15's USB-C port – a feature that many of the best Android phones have had for ages, so it's nice to see it making its way to the Apple ecosystem. You can connect a USB-C to USB-C cable, USB-C to Lightning cable or the USB-C to Apple charging puck. Apple says the maximum power delivery here is 4.5W. That's more than enough to top up your AirPods Pro, but you're not going to be able to juice up your MacBook Air.

What can I connect to my iPhone with USB-C?

Compatible USB-C devices include wired headphones (or wireless ones in wired mode), DACs and other audio accessories with USB-C connectivity. You can also connect USB-C external storage, but if you want to connect fast external storage you'll need the Pro or Pro Max to get the most from it. The iPhone 15 can also connect to CarPlay wired head units, microphones, battery packs, USB to Ethernet adapters and SD card adapters. 

If you want to connect wired headphones (or plug in an aux cable) to your iPhone 15, Apple now sells a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter.

All of the iPhone 15 models can connect to an external display via USB-C's support for DisplayPort and HDMI. However, Apple suggests that for some displays you may need to buy its USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter. Unlike the iPad, which has Stage Manager for multi-display work, the iPhone only supports display mirroring unless the app has what Apple calls "a second-screen experience".

What's the difference between the USB-C in the Pro and Pro Max, and the USB-C in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus?

The USB-C in the Pro and Pro Max is USB 3 Gen 2, which is capable of delivering speeds at up to 10Gbps. But you won't achieve that with the cable that comes in the box, because the cable that comes with your thousand quid phone only supports USB 2.0 speeds. Bad Apple!

Some manufacturers of the best EVs on the market have opted to make use of their own in-car infotainment systems. However, others have stuck with phone mirroring systems, which are more commonplace across a wide range of vehicles.

Ford are one manufacturer who opt for the latter. Their vehicles allow users to make use of Android Auto or Apple CarPlay – dependent on whether you use an Android phone or an iPhone.

Now, one model in the range is set for a big boost. According to a report from CarsDirect, the Ford F-150 Lightning will gain support for Apple Maps EV Routing from Q4. That report cites a bulletin which was sent out to Ford dealers last week.

It's not the first car to take on the functionality. The Ford Mustang Mach-E came first, followed by the Porsche Taycan a few months ago.

Apple Maps EV Routing offers a host of features which are perfect for EV drivers. The system will track the charge level of the car, and provide directions for longer journeys which take into account the need to charge on the way. It will even tell you how long you need to charge for at each stop, providing accurate timing information for your journey.

It does that based on a series of factors which can affect the performance and efficiency of an electric vehicle. That includes things like elevation levels, driving speed and the speed of chargers available. All of that information is digested to provide you with the best option for your journey.

What's more, if the system notices that the charge is too depleted to continue on the journey, it will also redirect you to the nearest available charging point. That's really crucial, and could save you from running out of juice right at the wrong moment.

Plus, when iOS 17 hits devices soon, it should get even better. One of the features of the new operating system brings information about charging availability to users in real-time. That means drivers will be able to see how many bays are available at a particular charging spot, and how many are currently being used.

That's a big deal. I love EVs but one of my biggest gripes right now is the imbalance between public charging stations and the number of EV users looking for a place to charge. Queues can quickly stack up, and it makes the whole experience incredibly frustrating.

With this feature built in, users would be able to see how busy a charging point was ahead of arriving. That would give them the power to check for a quieter alternative, should they wish.

Tesla unquestionably make some of the best EVs on the market right now. The electric vehicle manufacturer – owned by Elon Musk – is among the most popular choice for those wanting an electric car.

When it comes to their in-car operating system, Tesla are also ahead of the pack. Some believe the Tesla OS is the best on the market. The downside to that is that users can't use more common systems, like Apple CarPlay.

But they might be about to get the next best thing. According to 9to5Mac, the latest version of Tesla's iPhone app contains a line of code paying reference to AirPlay. The code, which reads "AllowsAirPlayForMediaPlayback" should enable iPhone users to cast media directly from their phone to their car.

The report suggests that the feature isn't active yet, but its inclusion is a promising sign. Musk has previously suggested that it could become a feature, along with other improvements to the audio engineering in Tesla vehicles. This is the first concrete indication of the company coming good on that, though.

It's a decent upgrade. AirPlay connectivity would enable the driver or passengers to share media, without using Bluetooth. That means you could enjoy lossless audio, rather than the compressed signal employed over a Bluetooth connection.

That's only ever going to be a plus. Audiophiles can rejoice in higher sound quality, while also enjoying a more seamless streaming experience.

There's no confirmation of when the feature will go live at the moment. This appearance should give users renewed hope though. It's entirely plausible that the functionality could arrive before the end of the year.

It's not the only thing the brand have been busy working on lately. We've recently seen the long-awaited Tesla Cybertruck nipping around San Francisco in a cool camo wrap. There was also talk of a rumoured Tesla Model 2, which Musk appeared to tease in a shareholder meeting. Plus, the CEO has given updates on the Tesla Roadster, which is expected to arrive sometime next year.

With the impending changes coming to the motor industry, many drivers are beginning to consider purchasing an EV. The market has grown substantially in recent years, with over 150,000 new electric vehicle registrations so far in 2023.

When it comes to the infotainment system in EVs, there are a few different options. Some manufacturers have opted to take things into their own hands, designing a proprietary system for their vehicles. Others have used systems like Android Automotive, which is an operating system designed specifically for the head unit of a car.

If they opt for neither of those, though, there's always the option to simply mirror your phone display. Android Auto – or Apple CarPlay if you use an iPhone – is the system used to do that. Now, Android Auto has got a host of cool upgrades to make the system more useful for electric vehicle users.

That's according to 9to5Google, who have taken a dive into the code behind the Android Auto system. That has provided some insight into what may be coming for users.

The majority of the changes are focused around identifying that your car is an electric vehicle within the system. Users will be able to manually specify that, allowing them to toggle further information in apps like Google Maps.

For example, users will be able to select the kind of charger used on their vehicle. That, presumably, will feed into the information about charging stations contained in navigation apps, to ensure that the proposed pit stop location is suitable for your vehicle. Options are listed for various types of charger, including J1772, CCS (Combo 1 and 2), Type 2, and CHAdeMO.

Interestingly, there was no inclusion for the NACS charger used on devices like Tesla. That might have made sense initially – Tesla has always used an in-house software for their system. But that charging standard has recently been adopted by other manufacturers, such as Ford, who use Android Auto in their vehicles.

The deep dive also unearthed strings of code relating to battery level. That could mean that information will be displayed directly through the Android Auto system, though it wasn't fully formed enough to be sure.

There's no confirmation of when these features will go live – or even if they will altogether. These codebreaking efforts are useful for insight, but there's no guarantee they'll make it out to the public. I hope they do, though. The features would make the experience in an electric vehicle even slicker.

There’s one feature that makes the latest Mercedes-Benz EQ range stand out from even the best EVs in the business. The MBUX Hyperscreen is an option on a number of the latest models, including the Mercedes-Benz EQS, and turns the whole dash into the kind of cockpit that might look at home on a spacecraft. 

The Hyperscreen is in fact, three screens in one, built into a single flowing glass display that extends across the whole dash. Behind the wheel is a 12.3-inch instrument display, while in the centre is a huge 17.7-inch touchscreen unit. On top of that, the front passenger gets their own 12.3 touchscreen display. 

The instrument display alone is impressive, with the option to show 3D mapping that really does seem to show serious depth – so much that I actually had to check the screen wasn’t 3D itself. With so many other spaces to show the mapping though, I tended to use this display purely for the vehicle dynamics. 

The centre screen is the real showpiece. This screen fills the centre console and makes the most of Mercedes’ clean and simple UX. While you can use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to take over some of the functionality here, it’s almost a shame to do that. Firstly, as the MBUX Navigation is now really good and even music streaming (such as Apple Music) can be logged into directly from the system.

The MBUX system offers three ways to log in to your profile when you enter the car. You can scan your fingerprint on the small scanner in the centre by the start/stop button, enter a passcode on screen or use the visual recognition scanner that uses cameras built into the instrument display. All this keeps your information safe, and your individual settings ready for when you get in your car – or any other MBUX vehicle. 

The passenger screen is a real bonus, if you’re sat in the passenger seat, at least. This display has the same UX as the centre console screen but works completely independently. That means that the passenger can log in to their own MBUX account (or as a guest), connect their phone to play music, control the comfort settings of their seat and even do their own navigation without changing the main navigation settings. 

On some newer Mercedes-Benz EQ models, you have access to video streaming through Zync and a series of games available. This can be accessed both on the centre console and on the passenger screen and means that the passenger is free to play or watch films on the move, without disturbing the driver. The passenger screen will actually go dark if the driver tries to view the screen while moving, to avoid possible distractions.

The entertainment possibilities of these screens really come into their own when you consider the possibilities with Level 3 automation – the point at which the driver is able to take their eyes completely off the road and enjoy the entertainment. For now though, there’s also time to enjoy the screens while parked on when sat at an EV charger.

There is actually a fourth screen that comes with a Mercedes-Benz featuring the MBUX Hyperscreen, and it’s arguably the most useful. The head-up display on the Mercedes EQS is one of the best in the business. While some are narrow, with only basic information, this head-up display is much wider and offers detailed navigation information, with 3D arrows showing you the way, in addition to the speed and adaptive cruise control markers. It’s also nice and bright, and unlike some displays, is still nice and clear when wearing polarised sunglasses.

It’s a slight shame that the navigation information doesn’t show when using Apple Maps or Google Maps, via CarPlay or Android Auto. It’s another reason to stick with the Mercedes-Benz Navigation system for mapping.

There are plenty of great in-car display systems available in new cars, especially in electric vehicles. However, the Mercedes MBUX Hyperscreen is a real showpiece. This combination of screens has everything you need covered, from your vehicle settings to entertainment. When driving the Mercedes-Benz EQS though, it was the head-up display that I used the most, and is certainly the feature I would now never want to be without on a car.

There are more details about some of the updates to Apple services that are coming with the launch of iOS 17 for the iPhone and the respective updates for iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Mac. While some of these were mentioned among the fire hose of info that formed the WWDC keynote, some are new. 

While not directly part of the OS, these services form part of most people's routine when using their devices, and so will be a welcome upgrade. These include Apple Maps, Podcasts and Apple Music. 

While this year's announcement spent a lot of time on the new Apple Vision headset and new Mac devices, there were still plenty of updates to the operating systems that will launch later this year alongside a potential iPhone 15. 

Apple Maps gets EV charging data

One of the biggest changes that wasn't mentioned at WWDC was that real-time EV charging station information is coming to Apple Maps. This will be filterable by network, charger type and more and will really help electric car drivers – and tempt them back from the OEM mapping in their vehicles that already offer this. 

Maps is also getting the ability to work offline, still allowing turn-by-turn navigation without signal. In the US, park trails are being added to Maps as well, providing detailed information on each route. 

Apple Music becomes easier to share and sing along with

It got a brief mention at WWDC, but the new SharePlay function allows multiple users in a car to control what music is playing from their devices. The system works with CarPlay and will let all passengers choose the songs. 

Song Credits in Apple Music will provide more details on the tracks to explore with data on the musicians and instruments behind the tunes. While for those wannabe stars, Apple Music Sing will work with Continuity Camera to put you on screen while you sing along to the lyrics, with a range of filters to make you look the part. 

Daily puzzles on Apple News+

If you like to start the day with a crossword, Apple has teamed up with The Puzzle Society to bring daily crosswords and mini crosswords to Apple News+ subscribers. 

Apple Podcasts dive deeper

An all-new 'now playing' screen will grace Apple Podcasts, with dynamic backgrounds and enhanced controls. There's new episode art to give more info about the shows or episodes, while Apple News+ subscribers can bring their audio stories into the Podcasts app too. The same is true for subscribers of apps like Calm, Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal. 

Check ID with Apple Wallet and repeat payment with Apple Cash

The process of being able to authenticate IDs will be possible using Apple Wallet, iPhone to iPhone. When an ID is presented on Apple Wallet, the business owner can hold their phone up to it to authenticate it instantly. Great for small businesses checking age or other details, though presumably this will be limited to US driving licences for now. 

Those wanting to make regular payments will be able to do it through Apple Cash soon. The service will allow weekly, bi-weekly and monthly options for payments between friends or even paying your rent. You can also set an auto top-up for your Apple Cash balance. 

All of these service updates are expected to be available in the upcoming Beta versions of iOS 17 soon. 

Volvo has revealed its new EX30, a compact electric SUV with almost 300 miles of range and a 0-60 mph time of just 3.4 seconds, making it the quickest Volvo ever made.

The Swedish carmaker says the EX30 has the smallest lifecycle CO2 footprint of any Volvo car to date, and it is made from 25 percent recycled aluminium, 17 percent recycled steel and 17 percent recycled plastic.

Recycled materials continue on the inside, with interior fabric options including woven flax made from linseed plant, up cycled denim fibres from recycled jeans, ground plastic waste from discarded window frames, recycled polyester, Finland- and Sweden-sourced pine oil, carpets made entirely from recycled plastic bottles, and responsibly produced wool.

The Volvo EX30 is priced from £33,795 and Volvo says it expects the car’s electric range to be up to 298 miles, with a power consumption of up to 4.0 miles per kWh. Quick charging means a top-up from 10% to 80% will take as little as 26 minutes, Volvo says.

There are three variants of EX30 to pick from. The entry-level electric car is powered by a 51 kWh battery pack and has a single motor providing rear-wheel drive. The motor produces 200kW (272 hp) of power and 343 Nm of torque, which is enough to accelerate the SUV to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. Estimated range is up to 214 miles using the WLTP test cycle and Volvo says the battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in 26 minutes using a 150 kW fast charger.

Next up are a pair of EX30 models each powered by a 69 kWh battery pack. The first has a single motor for rear wheel drive, produces 200 kW and has a 0-60 mph time of 5.1 seconds. Range is a claimed 298 miles and the battery can be filled from 10 to 80 percent in around 27 minutes at 175 kW.

Finally there is the flagship of the EX30 range. Called the Twin Motor Performance, this model has the same 69 kWh battery as the previous model, but this time it’s powering two motors delivering 315 kW (428 hp) and all-wheel-drive. The car can hit 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds, making it the quickest Volvo ever. Range is a claimed 286 miles and the battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in about 27 minutes using a 175 kW charger.

The minimalist interior, which was partially revealed earlier this month, features a 12.3-inch touchscreen display on the dashboard, a Harmon Kardon sound system and Google’s Android Automotive operating system, with native support for Google Maps, voice control via Google Assistant. For iPhone users there is support for wireless Apple CarPlay.

The EX30 is the first Volvo to come with the company’s new Park Pilot Assist technology, which identifies available parking spaces around the vehicle with a new 3D interface, then operate the steering, accelerator and brake to manoeuvre into the space.

To be announced next year, Volvo says the EX30 will be offered as a Cross Country variant, pictured below, with features including extra ground clearance, skid plates on the front, rear and dies, black panels on the front bumper, 19-inch wheels and optional bespoke tyres.

The Volvo EX30 is priced from £33,795 to £44,495 and UK deliveries will begin during the first quarter of 2024.