CarPlay in iOS 26 adds new ‘Smart Display Zoom’ feature [Gallery]

Chance Miller | Jun 13 2025 - 9:14 am PT

iOS 26 is crammed full of upgrades for CarPlay users, including a refreshed Liquid Glass design, support for widgets, and more. There’s even support for a new “AirPlay video in the car” feature that developers and automakers can adopt if they so choose.

CarPlay in iOS 26

One change that is flying under the radar, however, is a new Smart Display Zoom feature. Apple says that this new Smart Display Zoom option is designed to help CarPlay better adapt to the various shapes and sizes of in-car screens.

In a session video from WWDC 2025, Apple explains:

“Vehicle screens come in many shapes and sizes. In iOS 26, some screen configurations allow drivers to adjust their display scale with Smart Display Zoom configurable within Settings in CarPlay. When Smart Display Zoom is enabled, your CarPlay app will be automatically resized to the new display scale.”

At least as of the first iOS 26 beta, Smart Display Zoom is disabled by default. It’s also not available on every car. Availability appears to vary based on the size of your car’s infotainment display.

Here are some screenshots showing what classic CarPlay user interface elements look like with and without Smart Display Zoom enabled. These screenshots were taken on my 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E.

Keep in mind that iOS 26 is still in early developer beta, and things can (and will) change between now and when the update is released to the public later this fall.