Apple is expected to redesign the CarPlay interface with iOS 26 while bringing new features like sound recognition for crying babies and more.
9to5Mac claims the CarPlay interface will undergo a facelift to match Apple’s rumored glassy design overhaul across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Watch with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26 and watchOS 26.
“Our sources say that in addition to iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS, Apple is also planning to bring its UI overhaul to CarPlay,” the blog notes. “The extent to which the redesign comes to CarPlay remains to be seen, but Apple is working on multiple changes to match the new iOS 26 design language.”
iOS 26: CarPlay is getting a design overhaul
Apple recently unveiled its belated next-generation CarPlay, dubbed CarPlay Ultra, leaving some folks to question its commitment to the regular CarPlay. If iOS 26 is anything to go by, CarPlay’s future is assured as new features keep coming.
9to5Mac reported other unreleased features in iOS 26. For example, the Music app might animate fullscreen album art on the Lock Screen. Or, in the Notes app, you might be able to format and style text with Markdown.
And in the Messages app, you’ll be able to run polls in group chats and automatically translate incoming and outgoing messages in foreign languages. As for the rumored user interface overhaul in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26 and tvOS 26, it should bring consistency to working across devices.
CarPlay may gain sound recognition for crying babies
Apple itself announced two other enhancements coming to CarPlay as part of its accessibility push. The first will allow you to turn on a Large Text accessibility option to make onscreen text bigger and easier to read.
This option has long existed on iPhones and iPads, but it’s going to be even more helpful for CarPlay as a safety feature for anyone not eager to squint at small type on CarPlay while driving.
Also, the Sound Recognition feature in CarPlay will notify drivers who are deaf or hard of hearing of the sound of a crying baby via a notification. The system currently recognizes sounds outside the vehicle, such as horns and sirens from police cars, ambulances and fire trucks.