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Apple adds CarPlay video playback in iOS 27, but support lags
Apple says CarPlay will get in-car video browsing and playback with iOS 27, but only in parked vehicles and only on supported cars.
Image: Engadget
Apple quietly used WWDC 2026 to confirm a long-requested CarPlay upgrade: video browsing and playback is coming with iOS 27. The feature will work only when a vehicle is stationary. If the system detects motion, playback switches to audio-only, according to details highlighted by Inside EVs.
Apple showed the feature in its developer session, “Rev up your CarPlay app,” where it said app makers can add video support for new vehicles that support its upcoming “video in car” capability. The implementation depends on AirPlay streaming, which Apple introduced for video mirroring with iOS 26.4 last year.
In Apple’s demo, supported apps get a “Videos” tab in the top-left corner of the CarPlay display. Users can browse thumbnails, see a mini player with basic controls, and open a detail view with options including Play and a “+” button to add a video to a playlist. Full-screen playback includes controls to skip forward or back 10 seconds, view subtitles and return to the previous page.
That said, support looks limited for now. Apple already added video mirroring to CarPlay in iOS 26.4, but the feature appears to be largely unavailable in current vehicles. The report notes that many existing systems may not meet the apparent hardware requirements, including a minimum 1,920 x 1,080 display, support for H.265/HEVC, and 4GB or more of memory.
Apple had already said at WWDC 2025 that automakers would need to implement CarPlay video features, both to handle the extra hardware demands and to detect when the car is parked. So far, no automaker has announced support.
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The timing stands in contrast to Google, which recently said HD video playback is coming to Android Auto and demonstrated YouTube running in a Kia EV at I/O 2026. Google also named supporting brands for HD 60fps Android Auto playback: Skoda, Volvo, Kia and Mercedes-Benz.
Apple may share more when it unveils the iPhone 18 lineup in September, but for now the feature is real, and actual car support is still the missing piece.
Frontier Editor
Dan is our resident futurist, covering electric mobility, space exploration, and the smart home. He's interested in atoms just as much as bits. Whether it's a new battery chemistry, a reusable rocket, or a protocol that finally makes IoT devices talk to each other, Dan breaks down the engineering that pushes humanity forward.
via Engadget
