After a week-long exploration of Apple Maps, I found myself reflecting on how it stacks up against my long-time navigation favorite, Google Maps. My journey began during the launch of iOS 26, when I considered making the switch to Apple Maps full-time for driving. Historically, I’ve leaned heavily on Google Maps since my smartphone days, relying on it for navigating unfamiliar cities. My reliance on navigation apps is critical—I navigate to the gym three times a week, and the thought of retracing my steps without assistance feels daunting.
Initially, I found myself drifting back to Google Maps after my early experiments with Apple Maps. Although, recent updates have changed my perspective. Apple Maps has improved significantly, but I still find myself primarily glued to Google Maps unless Apple introduces some key features I currently miss.
A Close Race for Daily Driving
Apple Maps has come a long way since its rocky start in 2012. Back then, its map coverage was sparse compared to Google’s and often riddled with errors. there were even instances where users found themselves lost in dangerous locations in the Australian Outback due to incorrect directions. Fast forward to today, and even as Google still maintains an edge in international coverage, Apple Maps and Google Maps are nearly interchangeable in North America when it comes to local navigation.
Interestingly, Apple seems to be catching up in terms of 3D mapping capabilities. My home city, Edmonton, is now well-rendered in 3D, a far cry from its previous limited offerings that mostly focused on major urban centers.
Key Features of Apple Maps
We find two notable features in Apple Maps that have piqued my interest:
- Preferred Routes: This fresh feature uses on-device tracking to learn which routes I typically take and suggests those over purely calculated options. This is particularly useful in avoiding routes that look good on paper but are impractical in real-world traffic situations.
- Apple Watch Integration: When navigating through CarPlay, Apple Maps displays directions on my Apple Watch, vibrating to alert me of upcoming turns. This integration ensures that I don’t miss voice prompts and enhances my focus during long drives.
Siri’s more descriptive turn directions offer a more familiar landmark-based approach to navigation, contrasting with Google Maps’ distance-based cues.
Where Apple Maps Falls Short
Despite these advancements, Apple Maps has several shortcomings. One major issue is its limited ecosystem. While it integrates well with Apple devices like the iPhone and Apple Watch, it lacks an Android app. So that switching to a different platform would require me to recreate my bookmarks in Google Maps or another service, which is a cumbersome process.
the web interface for Apple Maps lags behind Google’s robust platform. The inability to bookmark locations makes trip planning and recalling past visits cumbersome. Unlike Google, filtering options for categories such as pharmacies or ATMs are notably absent, and the only available directions are for driving, walking, or biking.
In a recent test, I searched for a popular restaurant and found that while Apple Maps provided basic details, it lacked critical information like menu options and pricing, which Google Maps readily offers. This inconsistency extends to other types of businesses, and Apple’s Look Around feature doesn’t cover as many locations as Google’s Street View.
Future Outlook for Apple Maps
Looking ahead, it’s uncertain whether Apple Maps will be able to compete with Google Maps on all fronts. Apple is actively working on improvements, evidenced by the ongoing beta testing of its Maps website. The annual OS updates promise new features, but it remains to be seen how significantly these updates will enhance the user experience.
Apple’s focus appears to be shifting towards other areas, including health, fitness, and smart home technologies, leaving its map service in a state of gradual evolution rather than a complete overhaul. While there may be potential for leveraging upcoming technologies like augmented reality in smart glasses, such advancements are still speculative.
For now, Apple Maps continues to improve, but it must address its ecosystem limitations and enhance its web interface to truly compete with Google Maps. For users like me, who depend on navigation apps for both everyday commuting and travel planning, these enhancements will be crucial in determining the preferred platform.
What do you think? Will Apple Maps ever catch up to Google Maps? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
