Topic / Subject
Apple is preparing video playback for CarPlay (Apple TV app + “AirPlay-like” streaming), but it will be parked-only, and automakers have to enable it.

TL;DR
Your dashboard could become a waiting-room TV, but the rollout may be messy: Apple can ship the software, yet OEMs control whether the feature flips on, and it’s locked out while driving.

Key Details

• Car and Driver says Apple promised video playback for CarPlay tied to iOS 26, and developers now have access in a beta.
• The report says users will be able to watch via a CarPlay version of the Apple TV app and stream video from other apps to the vehicle.
• Car and Driver says the feature will only work while parked.
• The report says carmakers will likely need to enable it, which could create a patchwork of availability.

Breakdown
This is one of those “sounds obvious, but is complicated” features. People already sit in parked cars waiting for kids, charging EVs, or killing time, so video playback feels like the next logical step.

The guardrails are the whole headline, though: parked-only, and OEM-controlled. That’s where the friction lives. Apple can build it, but if automakers don’t want it (or don’t prioritize the software update), users won’t see it.

If it ships widely, it’s a subtle CarPlay power move: it makes the iPhone even more central to the in-car entertainment experience.

What to Watch Next

• Which automakers enable it first (and which never do).
• Whether Apple opens it beyond Apple TV to broader app categories.
• Public release timing once iOS 26 gets an official schedule.

Sources
Car and Driver — You’ll Likely Soon Be Able to Watch Video Through Apple CarPlay
Yahoo Autos — You’ll Likely Soon Be Able to Watch Video Through Apple CarPlay (syndicated)

Comment
Would you use CarPlay video mostly for charging stops, school pickup lines, or lunch breaks?