Apple Maps has been providing navigational guidance to Apple users for almost 13 and a half years. Throughout this time, many changes have been made to the app. Despite these changes, data from Canalys indicates that the overwhelming majority of iPhones in the U.S. still have Google Maps downloaded as an alternative. It’s worth noting that Apple Maps comes preinstalled on all iPhones. We want to hear from Cellphonefixes.com readers. Which do you prefer to get you from A to B?
Launched in September 2012, Apple Maps was quickly criticized for having incomplete and inaccurate mapping data, which led some iPhone users on dangerous routes. Apple CEO Tim Cook offered a rare public apology for the frustration it caused customers, and iOS chief Scott Forstall was ousted just one month later.
Since then, Apple has made significant improvements to Apple Maps, building in new features and correcting lingering errors. In 2013, Apple added real-time traffic information and navigation options for pedestrians to Maps, coinciding with its extension to OS X in the same year. Additionally, in 2015, Apple updated Maps with “Nearby,” a feature that offers local points of interest and transit directions in a handful of cities.
In early 2020, Apple revamped its maps in the United States, adding extensive detail, including updated buildings, parks, sports fields, pools, and more.. A Look Around feature in select cities is similar to Google’s Street View, and the updated maps have been rolling out to more countries in the time since. In iOS 15, Apple introduced immersive walking directions shown in augmented reality, curated guides for select cities, real-time transit updates, and more road details for enhanced driving navigation. In iOS 16 it gained multi-stop routing. And in iOS 17, Apple made it possible to download maps for offline use – something Google Maps users have been able to do for quite some time.
Have Apple’s incremental improvements brought it to a level where users consider it equal to Google Maps in their eyes? Of course, Google developers have not stood idly by watching Apple Maps’ gradual evolution. Google has introduced several enhancements aimed at enriching the user experience through advanced AI technology and more immersive visualization tools, and has even taken a leaf or two out of Apple’s book.
One notable recent update in this regard is the Immersive View for Routes, which provides a comprehensive preview of a user’s journey, whether they are driving, walking, or cycling. Launched last year, the tool combines billions of Street View and aerial images to create an intricate digital representation of the world, allowing users to visually navigate through bike lanes, sidewalks, intersections, and parking spaces along their route. It also includes a dynamic time slider indicating how conditions such as air quality and weather change throughout the day, helping users plan their trips with more precision.
Another significant improvement is the integration of Lens in Maps, an evolution of the Search with Live View feature. Leveraging AI and augmented reality, Lens in Maps helps users get their bearings in a new location by providing information about nearby amenities like ATMs, transit stations, and dining options. They have since expanded the feature to over 50 cities.
Google Maps has also rolled out updates to make navigation maps more reflective of real-world conditions. These include more detailed and realistic representations of buildings and improved lane guidance on highways. For electric vehicle owners, Google Maps also offers information on charging stations, including compatibility details, charger speed, and the last usage time.
Despite Google Maps making concurrent improvements, users remain impressed by the significant progress in Apple’s navigational guidance. Anecdotal reports suggest that users increasingly recommend the app for its cleaner view compared to Google Maps’ more cluttered design. Based on anecdotal reports, users increasingly recommend the app for its cleaner view compared to the more cluttered design of Google Maps.
Craig Federighi, Apple’s head of software, noted at WWDC 2023 that Apple Maps has come a long way and people have noticed, likely thanks to its disastrous launch. Despite receiving a bad rap among some users, Apple’s continued efforts to improve the app appear to have helped reverse some of those opinions. Share your thoughts on whether you’re more or less likely to use Apple Maps these days in the comments below.