CarPlay has improved a lot with iOS 26 and subsequent updates over the past year, here are two new features I’ve been loving lately.

It’s not often that CarPlay gets a whole new category of apps, but that’s exactly what happened with iOS 26.4.

As of the latest iPhone update, CarPlay now lets you use “voice-based conversational apps” (AI chatbots).

So far ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Grok have all launched CarPlay versions, and I expect Claude and Gemini to follow suit soon.

I love using AI apps in the car because they enable me to perform searches and ask general questions while keeping my eyes and hands focused on driving.

These AI apps only support voice interactions, making them a lot safer than using your iPhone. And they offer an exciting glimpse at what iOS 27 should enable for Siri.

Widgets are a brand new CarPlay feature that launched in iOS 26. But two more recent updates have made the feature even better.

In iOS 26.2, Apple expanded the number of widgets available on screen for select vehicles.

I was one of the lucky ones. My car went from offering two widgets at once to now, post-update, displaying three simultaneously.

And following iOS 26.4’s launch, Apple Sports added its own CarPlay widget for sports tracking. It was perfect timing for me with that newly added widget slot.

While I’d love a dedicated CarPlay app for Apple Sports, having a widget is the next best thing. Whenever I want to keep track of a game, or check on my teams’ schedules, I can do that right inside CarPlay and leave my iPhone untouched.

What are some of your favorite recent CarPlay features? Let us know in the comments.

• FLYLEAD in-car charger with 2 USB-C and 2 USB-A ports
• MagSafe Car Mount for iPhone
• 10-foot iPhone cable USB-C to USB-A
• AirTag 2 for tracking your car (1-pack / 4-pack)