iOS 18.4 Brings New Life to CarPlay: Is a Major Overhaul on the Horizon?

CarPlay’s iOS 18.4 Upgrades Hint at a Promising New Trend

CarPlay, used and loved by millions of iPhone owners, has seen limited updates in recent years. However, the release of iOS 18.4 brings some notable improvements:

• Multiple Rows of App Icons: Vehicles with large screens can now display three rows of app icons, up from two.
• Sports Apps: Sports apps are now available on CarPlay.
• EU Navigation Options: In the EU, users can set Google Maps as their default navigation app.

These updates, along with AI-related features introduced in iOS 18.1 and changes to the North American Charging Standard (NACS), suggest that Apple might be investing more in the current CarPlay 1.0 system.

Potential New Path for CarPlay’s Future

With CarPlay 2 failing to meet its 2024 shipping deadline, there are speculations about Apple's future plans:

• CarPlay 2 Vision: This version calls for deep integration with auto manufacturers, giving Apple control over more vehicle elements beyond the infotainment screen.
• Current System Upgrades: Leaked images of CarPlay 2 features, like customizable widgets, raise questions about whether these can be added to the existing system.

What’s Next?

As iOS 19 approaches, there's hope that Apple might extend its new design to CarPlay, possibly including widgets. This would be a significant improvement for current users, many of whom will miss out on CarPlay 2 due to its limited availability in newer vehicles.