Video Streaming in Your Car, the Apple Way
Apple has finally answered a feature request many of us have been asking for (or hacking together ourselves): video playback in the car. With iOS 26, Apple is bringing AirPlay Video to CarPlay, meaning you’ll soon be able to stream content from your iPhone straight to your car’s infotainment screen.
But before you start thinking about watching Netflix while bombing down the motorway, don’t. This new feature is strictly for when your car is parked. That means it’s designed for downtime—like when you’re waiting at a charging station or sitting in the car park waiting for someone—with all the safety boxes firmly ticked.
How It Works: Think AirPlay, but for Your Dashboard
If you’ve ever used AirPlay to stream something to your Apple TV, the process will feel familiar. Your iPhone detects your car as an available AirPlay target, and with a couple of taps, your video content shows up on your car’s screen. No wires, no jailbreaking, no workarounds—just proper, native AirPlay built right into iOS 26 and CarPlay.
The moment you shift into drive or the car senses you’re moving, the video stops automatically. It’s Apple being Apple—keeping things seamless, smart, and above all, safe.
Will It Work in Your Car? Well… It Depends
Now here’s where things get a little murky. This isn’t just a software switch that magically appears once you update to iOS 26. Your car’s infotainment system has to support it too. That means manufacturers need to implement the update on their end—so even if your iPhone is ready to go, your car might not be.
Aston Martin has already confirmed support for the feature, and brands like Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis are expected to jump on board in 2026. But if your car is a few years old or hasn’t seen a firmware update in ages, you might be waiting a while—or miss out altogether.
Standard CarPlay or CarPlay Ultra? It Works on Both
This feature isn’t exclusive to CarPlay Ultra, the big, dashboard-spanning redesign Apple previewed last year. AirPlay Video will work with standard CarPlay too, as long as your head unit supports it. That’s great news, as it means you don’t need a luxury car or the latest tech to take advantage of it—just compatible hardware.
So even if you’re not in the market for a full Apple-themed cockpit, there’s still a good chance you could benefit from the update in the right vehicle.
When Can You Try It?
iOS 26 is currently in developer beta and is expected to be released to the public later this autumn. Once it’s live, and once automakers start pushing updates to support the feature, you’ll start to see it roll out—slowly at first, and then more widely as newer vehicles ship with it built in.
For now, it’s a feature with loads of promise, especially for EV owners who spend time parked and plugged in. It’s not flashy, but it fills a very real gap in the CarPlay experience—and it does it in a way that’s simple and polished.
Keep An Eye Out For Updates
Video in the car isn’t a new idea. But having Apple support it natively, with zero fuss and a familiar interface, is a game-changer for CarPlay fans. This isn’t about turning your car into a home theatre—it’s about making those little idle moments a bit more useful, a bit more entertaining, and a lot more Apple.
As soon as I get my hands on a working version, I’ll be testing it out and sharing my thoughts, so stay tuned here on the blog and over on YouTube.
