Apple is giving CarPlay its biggest refresh in years with the iOS 27 update. The in-car experience gains video playback while parked and an AI-powered assistant, but the new capabilities aren't spread evenly: which iPhone you own — and where you live — determines what you actually get.

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Watch video while your car is parked

The headline change is that CarPlay now recognizes video apps. The old system only allowed a limited set of audio services, but the update lets drivers play video on the car's multimedia screen while stationary. As soon as the vehicle starts moving, the picture automatically switches off and reverts to audio — and when you park again, playback resumes where you left off.

There's an important caveat: whether services like Netflix or YouTube actually appear on your car's screen depends on the automaker adding support for them on their side.

Smarter audio, location and routing

Apple is also making smaller but meaningful improvements for passengers. A new Mini Player on the Now Playing screen finally shows album art, useful buttons and — at long last — a progress bar. You can scrub through songs or podcasts directly on the car's display without reaching for your phone.

  • Stronger connection: According to the company, the wireless CarPlay connection is now noticeably more stable, and GPS location accuracy has been improved.
  • Route and charging data: Navigation apps can pass route information to the vehicle. In electric cars, the system factors charging stations into the equation, making estimated arrival times more efficient in both Apple Maps and Google Maps.

Which iPhone gets which feature?

Because CarPlay draws all of its processing power from the connected phone, not every iOS 27 feature works on every device.

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  • Siri AI — iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 and newer: The new AI assistant can sift through personal data such as email, messages and calendar to make suggestions in the car, and handle complex navigation requests using natural spoken language. The minimum requirement is an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16 or newer.
  • Standard features — iPhone 11 and newer: iOS 27 broadly arrives on devices from the iPhone 11 onward. On an iPhone 14, for example, you get the new mini player, progress bar and wallpapers — but Siri AI won't run due to hardware limitations.
  • Older devices: Models predating the iPhone 11 don't receive the update at all, so their CarPlay stays with its existing capabilities.

One more restriction to keep in mind is regional: due to regulatory reasons, Siri AI is not yet available in the European Union. iPhone owners in the EU with compatible devices can still use CarPlay's other new features, but the new assistant experience remains off the table for now.