CarPlay is gaining a lot of new features with iOS 26, including a Liquid Glass design, Live Activities, widgets, the ability to use Tapbacks and view pinned conversations in the Messages app, and more. But that's not all, as Apple has outlined another change coming to CarPlay with iOS 26 in a WWDC 2025 video for developers.
Specifically, Apple said that iOS 26 will allow CarPlay users to interact with mapping apps using multi-touch gestures in supported vehicles. This will allow users to zoom and pan on the map with their fingers, just like they can on an iPhone.
"Many new vehicles support multitouch interactions, including any vehicle that supports CarPlay Ultra," said Olivia Hess, a CarPlay software engineer at Apple, in the video session. "Starting in iOS 26, if a vehicle supports multitouch interactions in CarPlay, drivers can interact with your navigation app using multitouch gestures."
In the video, Apple highlighted another small but useful improvement to CarPlay that is available with iOS 18.4 and later: a sports mode for audio apps.
CarPlay apps that stream audio for live sports events can now show a scoreboard for the game on the CarPlay screen, right alongside controls for the audio feed. The revamped Now Playing view can show team logos, scores, the game clock, and more.
iOS 18.4 was released in late March, while iOS 26 is currently available in developer beta and will be released to all users later this year.
Earlier today, we reported that CarPlay will also be gaining the ability to play videos from an iPhone via AirPlay in supported vehicles.
Monday January 26, 2026 1:55 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today introduced its first two physical products of 2026: a second-generation AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop for the Apple Watch.
Read our coverage of each announcement to learn more:Apple Unveils New AirTag With Longer Range, Louder Speaker, and More
Apple Introduces New Black Unity Apple Watch BandBoth the new AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided...
Monday January 26, 2026 6:07 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today introduced the second-generation AirTag, with key features including longer range for tracking items and a louder speaker.
For those who are not familiar, the AirTag is a small accessory that you can attach to your backpack, keys, or other items. Then, you can track the location of those items in the Find My app on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and iCloud.com.
The new...
Monday January 26, 2026 3:56 pm PST by Juli Clover
Alongside iOS 26.2.1, Apple today released an updated version of iOS 12 for devices that are still running that operating system update, eight years after the software was first released.
iOS 12.5.8 is available for the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 6, meaning Apple is continuing to support these devices for 13 and 12 years after launch, respectively. The iPhone 5s came out in September 2013,...
Sunday January 25, 2026 6:02 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
2026 promises to be yet another busy year for Apple, with the company rumored to be planning more than 20 product announcements over the coming months.
Beyond the usual updates to iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches, Apple is expected to release its all-new smart home hub, which was reportedly delayed until the more personalized version of Siri is ready. Other unique products rumored for ...
Sunday January 25, 2026 11:46 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple plans to release new MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Studio Display models in the first half of this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman added that redesigned MacBook Pro models with an OLED touch screen "should be hitting toward the end of 2026," meaning that the MacBook Pro line would be upgraded twice this year.
First up...
Apple Maps in CarPlay is the worst. If you zoom out, Maps will just automatically zoom in right away. If you are about to make a turn, Maps is so zoomed in that you can't see where you should be going after that turn. This happens to me daily - I approach a 2-lane left turn and I'm not sure if I should be in the left or right turn lane because of another turn that may be within a block or two of my current turn. I question whether the folks who design these products actually use them on a daily basis. Just one example of many....
Apple made, in my opinion, the incredibly smart decision to make Maps features digital versus the constantly out of date and "road blocking" satellite view used by Google.
Apple's ever expanding 3D world includes trees/bushes, elevation, buildings, road markings, etc.
This type of Map is much more accurate and easier to update as well as provide helpful navigation features like adjusting the view to a viewer perspective and true lane guidance during complicated interchanges.
Currently only available in DCE (Detailed City Experience) areas, I'm guessing it will be introduced country wide in any full LookAround countries, but starting with updated USA and UK maps first for a larger impact.
Apple Maps in CarPlay is the worst. If you zoom out, Maps will just automatically zoom in right away. If you are about to make a turn, Maps is so zoomed in that you can't see where you should be going after that turn. This happens to me daily - I approach a 2-lane left turn and I'm not sure if I should be in the left or right turn lane because of another turn that may be within a block or two of my current turn. I question whether the folks who design these products actually use them on a daily basis. Just one example of many....
Totally agree... has probably caused tons of accidents this way already. Absolutely idiotic that not only does it zoom in when approaching turns, it literally changes perspective... how does one have have any depth perception on the map with this BS.
