Apple iOS 26 and CarPlay Ultra: Everything You Need to Know

At WWDC 2025, Apple officially revealed iOS 26—skipping ahead in version numbers to reflect the calendar year. But this isn’t just a marketing move. iOS 26 is Apple’s most ambitious OS overhaul in years, blending a glossy new interface with on-device AI and a powerful CarPlay update that finally makes your vehicle dashboard feel like a true Apple product.

Let’s break down what’s new, what’s useful, and what devices will actually support it.

A New Look: Liquid Glass UI

The most visible change in iOS 26 is the new Liquid Glass design language. It’s a slick, semi-translucent visual refresh that touches everything from the lock screen and app icons to widgets and the control centre.

• Translucent layers with blur and depth effects feel more refined and consistent across the OS.
• Dynamic lock screen elements adapt to your wallpaper, with 3D motion effects and smart typography alignment.
• Unified design across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS and visionOS ensures a more cohesive experience if you’re in the Apple ecosystem.

This is the first full UI redesign since iOS 7, and it feels overdue—but well executed.

Apple Intelligence: AI That Stays On Device

With iOS 26, Apple is introducing Apple Intelligence—its take on generative AI. The twist? It prioritises privacy by keeping most tasks on your device.

Highlighted features include:

• Live Translation: Translate voice calls or typed messages in real time, across multiple languages.
• Hold Assist: Let Siri stay on hold for you and notify you when a human picks up.
• Call Screening: Automatically transcribes unknown callers and lets you decide whether to answer.
• Genmoji: Generate personalised emojis based on text prompts.
• Smart Tools in Notes & Mail: AI summarisation, proofreading, and action suggestions.
• Contextual Actions: Your iPhone can now understand on-screen content and suggest follow-up tasks—like booking appointments or adding calendar entries.

These features require an A17 Pro chip or newer, meaning only the iPhone 15 Pro series and beyond will fully support Apple Intelligence.

Enhanced Messages and System Apps

• Messages now support Tapbacks (emoji reactions), typing indicators in group chats, and Apple Cash within threads.
• Photos adds a new “Collections” tab and spatial photo support.
• Apple Music introduces AutoMix, smart crossfades, lyric translations and karaoke enhancements.
• Maps adds a “Been Places” feature, along with better route prediction and offline capability.
• Notes gains audio transcripts, maths equation rendering, and more.
• Wallet now includes detailed airport maps and real-time travel notifications.

CarPlay Just Got Smarter: Meet CarPlay Ultra

iOS 26 introduces the biggest CarPlay update in years. Here’s what’s changed:

1. Liquid Glass Visuals

The new UI extends to your dashboard—mirroring the iPhone experience in your car.

2. Widgets on Dashboard

View weather, smart home data, calendar events and more, right from the main screen. No app switching needed.

3. Live Activities

Track food deliveries, flight updates and navigation info in real time, directly on CarPlay.

4. Compact Call Notifications

Incoming calls now appear as a small banner, so your navigation view isn’t interrupted.

5. Message Tapbacks

You can now react to messages with emojis (e.g. 👍 ❤️ 😂) without needing your phone.

6. AirPlay Video Support

When parked, you’ll be able to stream video from your iPhone to the car’s screen—great for road trip breaks or waiting in the car.

7. CarPlay Ultra for Full Dashboard Integration

In supported models (starting with Aston Martin and Porsche), CarPlay will take over all screens—including speedometers and climate control—with full access to vehicle functions.

Device Compatibility

Here’s who gets what.

iOS 26 Core Features:

• iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (2020 and 2022)
• iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15, and new iPhone 16 series

Apple Intelligence (AI features):

• iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 16 and newer

No Longer Supported:

• iPhone X, XR, XS and XS Max
• Any device with an A12 Bionic chip or older

What’s Coming and When?

• Developer Beta: Available now
• Public Beta: Expected July 2025
• Final Release: Likely September 2025 (coinciding with iPhone 16 launch)

Apple has also confirmed that the full Siri upgrade—powered by Apple Intelligence—won’t ship until Spring 2026, in iOS 26.4.

Should You Upgrade?

If you own a compatible device, iOS 26 is a no-brainer. The visual polish, AI integration and smart new features are genuinely useful—not gimmicky. For drivers, the CarPlay updates alone make it worth it, especially if your car supports AirPlay or CarPlay Ultra.

However, older iPhones will miss out on most of the AI-driven features. This feels like Apple’s not-so-subtle push to get users on newer hardware. Whether you bite is up to you—but this release clearly shows where Apple is heading.

Final Thoughts

iOS 26 is Apple’s most substantial update in years. It’s not just about shiny visuals—though there are plenty. It’s a signal that Apple is ready to embrace a smarter, more integrated experience without compromising user privacy.

For developers, drivers, and day-to-day users, this update delivers where it counts. And with CarPlay Ultra redefining how we interact with our cars, iOS 26 goes beyond the phone—it’s about your full digital lifestyle.