Apple's iOS 18.4 CarPlay Update: Big Improvements Meet Big Issues

Apple's iOS 18.4 CarPlay

iOS 18.4 introduces meaningful CarPlay upgrades but also brings significant bugs and compatibility concerns, making the experience both more flexible and, for some, more frustrating.

Apple's iOS 18.4 update introduces several significant improvements to CarPlay, aiming to enhance the in-car experience, especially for vehicles with newer or larger infotainment systems. The update supports a third row of app icons on vehicles with large screens, making it easier for users to access more apps without scrolling. This change is particularly beneficial for luxury vehicles with expansive displays, while smaller screens retain the traditional two-row layout.

Apple has introduced a new API allowing sports score apps to display live updates directly on CarPlay, allowing drivers to keep track of their favorite teams while on the road. While third-party app adoption may take time, Apple's own Sports app is expected to support this feature soon.

For users in the European Union, iOS 18.4 finally allows the choice of a default navigation app. Drivers can now set Google Maps or other navigation apps as their default, so voice commands like “Siri, take me to X” will use the preferred app instead of being limited to Apple Maps. Siri’s voice recognition has been refined for more accurate, context-aware commands, and interactive widgets now provide real-time updates for navigation, calendar events, and more, offering a more personalized dashboard layout.

However, the iOS 18.4 update has introduced significant issues for some users, such as connectivity problems, display glitches, and compatibility and performance concerns. Connectivity/display bugs are widespread across brands and may cause connection instability, missing media info, and lag on older or smaller infotainment systems.

The ability to set a default navigation app in the EU, along with broader third-party app support and more customizable layouts, brings CarPlay’s flexibility closer to that of Android Auto, which has long allowed users to choose their preferred navigation and media apps. However, users can still experience issues after the update by trying to delete and re-add their car in the CarPlay settings on their iPhone, switching to a wired USB connection if wireless CarPlay is unstable, and monitoring for future iOS patches.

In summary, iOS 18.4 introduces meaningful CarPlay upgrades but also brings significant bugs and compatibility concerns, making the experience both more flexible and, for some, more frustrating.

About the Writer

Jenny, the tech wiz behind Jenny's Online Blog, loves diving deep into the latest technology trends, uncovering hidden gems in the gaming world, and analyzing the newest movies. When she's not glued to her screen, you might find her tinkering with gadgets or obsessing over the latest sci-fi release.
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