Millions of drivers due free TV upgrade in car that lets you watch telly – and it’ll work even on old motors

A CLEVER upgrade to cars across the world will let you watch video on your motor’s built-in screen.

It’s all thanks to a new update to Apple CarPlay, which is in millions of cars globally – and unsurprisingly, there’s a big catch.

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Apple CarPlay is getting a major update this year[/caption]

Apple

CarPlay will be upgraded as part of the iOS 26 update for iPhones – which we’re expecting in September[/caption]

The feature will only work if you’re parked.

That’s to prevent drivers from catching up on Love Island on the M25 – a dangerous combination.

With CarPlay, your iPhone takes over your car’s screen, giving you access to your apps, music, contacts and more.

And with the iOS 26 update for iPhone later this year, you’ll be able to beam video from your mobile to your car’s display.

This works through the same AirPlay feature that lets you stream iPhone video to your telly.

So you could play a video that was saved to your Photos app.

Or you could use one of the many TV apps that support AirPlay to easily stream content to your Apple CarPlay monitor in your car.

That includes Apple TV+ and YouTube – or any other app that offers CarPlay.

“AirPlay video in the car enables people to watch their favourite videos from iPhone right on their CarPlay display when they aren’t driving,” Apple explains.

The other catch is that your carmaker will need to switch the feature on.

CarPlay is managed by Apple, but your car provider still needs to activate the new ability to watch TV.

And it won’t go live until at least September, when we’re expecting iOS 26 to roll out to millions of iPhone models as a free update.

But plenty of cars support CarPlay.

CarPlay launched back in 2014, and more than 800 models of motor across 40 brands now support it.

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CarPlay gets a brand new Liquid Glass look[/caption]

Apple

You’ll be able to quickly respond to messages with Tapbacks[/caption]

Apple recently revealed that it’s used more than 600 million times a day.

So there’s a good chance that the new feature will come to your car in the near future.

DRIVE ON

That wasn’t the only car upgrade from Apple.

This week, the company held its WWDC 2025 event in California, revealing all of its major software updates for the year ahead.

For a start, Apple CarPlay is getting the new Liquid Glass look that other Apple gadgets are getting later this year.

That gives the apps a glassy new aesthetic with a translucent design.

And you’ll be able to send Tapbacks to texts – they’re the quick emoji reactions that are already available in the Messages app on iPhone.

There’s support for widgets on screen, as well as Live Activities (which could show sports scores, for instance).

Apple

The new CarPlay will also let you watch telly while parked[/caption]

And Apple has also finally debuted CarPlay Ultra, which is the supercharged version of CarPlay only currently available with one car brand.

Instead of just replacing your infotainment screen, CarPlay Ultra also serves as a customisable instrument panel (showing your speed and fuel and so on), as well as allowing you to control car functions like heating.

During a sit-down interview with The Sun, Apple’s Greg ‘Joz” Joswiak said: “We’re also bringing out that next generation of CarPlay, which we just brought out for the first time about a month ago.”

Joz continued: “CarPlay is this beautiful ability to use the features of your phone.

Apple

“We wanted to have an experience with CarPlay Ultra that allows you – through that same interface that you can control your phone – to also control the aspects of your car

“Whether it’s the seat heaters or the heating system in general, or even the car radio.

“Things that are outside of normal iPhone capabilities. To control these with CarPlay Ultra.

“We’re very happy with the initial rollout of that. Some of the first vehicles started coming out last month. There’s plenty more brands working on it.”

Apple

The new CarPlay Ultra offers a customisable instrument panel[/caption]

CarPlay Ultra is currently available in new models from British motoring giant Aston Martin, but it’s expected to arrive in other vehicles in the future too.