Modern users expect seamless integration and constant innovation in every tech product interaction they touch. That's making Apple’s latest CarPlay updates feel more like incremental housekeeping than a meaningful step forward. With the next-generation CarPlay still nowhere in sight, iOS 18.4 brings only minor global interface tweaks. But the biggest change comes reluctantly from Apple, and only for users in the European Union.
Minor tweaks: For drivers with specific hardware, CarPlay gains some visual adjustments. Vehicles with larger infotainment displays may now show a third row of app icons, making slightly better use of screen real estate where previously only two rows appeared. However, this enhancement doesn't apply universally, with standard displays like the 8-inch screen tested by Tom's Guide seeing no change.
Groundwork for future features: Apple has also introduced backend support for sports apps within CarPlay. Following the release of a new API to developers last month, apps capable of displaying sports scores can now integrate with the CarPlay interface. While this opens the door for future third-party app updates or potential integration with Apple's own Sports app, the immediate impact for users is limited until developers adopt the framework.
Stalled progress on the main event: These minor updates land while Apple’s ambitious CarPlay 2 project appears stalled, having missed its original timeline. The incremental nature of the iOS 18.4 changes underscores the lack of movement on the promised deeper integration with vehicle systems like instrument clusters and climate controls.
EU forces Apple's hand on navigation: Perhaps the most functionally significant update in iOS 18.4 is geographically restricted, highlighting the growing influence of regulation on Apple's ecosystem. Users within the European Union can now set a default navigation app other than Apple Maps, such as Google Maps. This allows seamless integration with Siri voice commands for directions using the user's preferred service — a level of choice notably absent elsewhere and widely seen as a response to regulatory pressures like the Digital Markets Act, compelling Apple to loosen its grip on default settings within the bloc.