Carplay is used and loved by millions of iPhone owners. And although the expectation of Carplay 2 continues to lie down, iOS 18.4 and other recent updates indicate a promising carplay trend.
Carplay 1.0 improves slowly, iOS 18.4 bringing the last upgrades
For an iOS feature used by so many iPhone owners, the CARPLAY update rate in recent years has been lacking.
After Apple announced its “next generation of Carplay” in 2022 alongside iOS 16, the company seemed to invest very little in improving the existing carplay system.
We have obtained coordinated applications and wallpaper updates with new iOS versions, but not much else.
Recently, however, although slowly, it started to change.
iOS 18.4, for example, adds some beautiful carplay upgrades:
- Vehicles with large screens now support three rows of application icons, against two
- Sports applications can offer Carplay versions
- And in the EU, Google Maps can be defined as the default navigation application
These upgrades, alongside the features linked to the IOS 18.1 of Carplay and the NACs change, report a new possible trend.
Apple seems ready to invest a little more in the current Carplay 1.0 system.
Is Apple Planning a new path for the future of Carplay?
After Carplay 2 failed to reach its expedition deadline in 2024, I wrote that Apple should restart the “Next Generation” of Carplay as an improved version of the current system.
Carplay 2, as Apple considered it, implies the deep adhesion of car manufacturers. Essentially, Apple wants to control more vehicle elements than the infotainment screen.
But even after years of waiting, when Carplay 2 arrives, it will only be available for a fraction of current user from Carplay – those who buy a new fancy car that supports it.
The leaks of various Carplay 2 elements have shown that Apple could make positive upgrades to the current Carplay system now.
For example, the images have revealed that some of the customizable carplay 2 widgets will bring to the vehicle.
Is there a reason why widgets must be exclusive to new expensive vehicles as part of Carplay 2? Could Apple not offer them as part of Carplay’s current experience?
I may be too optimistic, but the recent Apple updates in Carplay as part of iOS 18 make me ask me if it became the plan.
Even if the work continues on the complete vision of Carplay 2, perhaps Apple has also decided to also start bringing relevant functionalities to the existing Carplay experience.
We are only two months old from the unveiling of iOS 19. Could the great new design extend to Carplay? Maybe with widgets as part of this one?
It may require a lot. But with the first Carplay 2 MIA vehicles, it would be excellent news if Apple provided a pivot expected for a long time.
Do you think that Apple’s plans for Carplay have changed, and we could get more new features in the future? Let us know in the comments.
