Apple CarPlay: A Guide to Its Functionality
In the year 2025, Apple CarPlay, the popular software package that mirrors iPhone apps and services on a car's infotainment screen, underwent significant changes. These updates, collectively known as CarPlay Ultra, introduced over 50 new features designed to deepen CarPlay's integration with vehicle systems, enhance user interface customization, boost in-car media flexibility, and improve safety and privacy controls.
One of the key highlights of CarPlay Ultra is the full control over brightness settings for the CarPlay display. Users can now manually adjust brightness or opt for automatic adjustment, ensuring a comfortable viewing experience in various lighting conditions.
Comprehensive integration of car settings into CarPlay is another significant addition. Users can now customize parking settings, audio volume, pitch, and warnings directly from CarPlay, streamlining the driving experience. A new Privacy Mode consolidates car settings within CarPlay for enhanced security, providing an added layer of protection.
Expanded widget support is another notable feature. Multiple widgets can now be displayed simultaneously, including third-party widgets such as ChatGPT for enhanced interactivity. The Smart Zoom feature, using AI or machine learning, automatically optimizes display size and text fitting for a neater app presentation.
Improvements to the incoming call interface include a smaller call window for easier call management and tweaks to incoming text message notifications for a less intrusive experience.
An upcoming feature (currently in beta with some limitations) allows users to stream media like YouTube videos from their iPhone to the CarPlay screen while the vehicle is stationary, using motion sensors and gyroscopes in the phone for safety checks.
Icon tinting options and additional user interface refinements are set to come with the iOS 26 release scheduled for September 2025. Support for Announce Messages with Siri during CarPlay sessions, enabling voice reading and replying to messages from iPhone and third-party apps, is another exciting feature.
As of now, over 600 car models worldwide use Apple CarPlay. Many drivers prefer using CarPlay over their car's standard operating system due to its slick and familiar interface. Some drivers won't even consider buying a car unless Apple CarPlay is included as standard. Apple CarPlay is compatible with iPhones produced from 2012 and later, including the iPhone 5 and subsequent models.
Apple CarPlay is one of the most desired features for people who want to buy a new car in 2025. It serves as an alternative to Android Auto for iPhone owners, providing a seamless integration of iPhone apps and services with the car's infotainment system. Some drivers consider Apple CarPlay as an integral part of their car ownership experience.
Sources:
- Apple CarPlay Ultra: +50 New Features (video, July 2025)
- iOS 26 BETA 5 - New Apple CarPlay Features & Changes (video, August 2025)
- iOS 26 BETA 4 - New Apple CarPlay Features & Changes (video, July 2025)
- iOS 26 CarPlay Hidden Features You Likely Missed (video, August 2025)
- 9to5Mac: The best CarPlay features, tips, and tricks (August 2025)
Users can now enjoy the enhanced experience of controlling smartphone gadgets like smartphones through Apple CarPlay Ultra, with features such as customizable brightness settings, comprehensive car system integration, and more. With the support for third-party widgets like ChatGPT, the new interface offering includes the Smart Zoom feature for better app presentation.
