Apple Maps Closes Gap with Google as Navigation App of Choice

As someone who relies heavily on navigation apps for daily commutes and finding hidden businesses, I've tried going without Google Maps for a week but couldn't survive. But when I switched to Apple Maps on my iPhone 13 Pro Max, I was surprised by its improvements in handling key navigation details.

Apple Maps has come a long way since its launch, and recent updates have made it a competent alternative to other apps like Waze and Google Maps. It now maps most of North America, Western Europe, Japan, Australia, and other regions quite well, especially metropolitan areas.

The app's strength lies in its detailed city maps that include high-fidelity 3D landmarks/buildings, elevation data, crosswalks, stop signs, traffic lights, and individual trees. This is a feature I don't find in Google Maps or Waze. The clean interface doesn't clutter the screen with unnecessary features like Google Maps.

When driving, Apple Maps' lane guidance is more contextual and explicit than Google Maps', which only says 'keep right.' Apple's 3D interface leaves little room for error, especially when navigating complex turns or highway splits. I appreciate how Siri's voice directions are clearer and easier to understand, using real-life landmarks and references instead of distances or street names.

The Look Around feature provides a panoramic, street-level view of cities, but it's not as robust as Google Maps' Street View. However, Apple Maps has borrowed some Waze features like incident reporting and speed trap reporting. The ecosystem plays its part too, with CarPlay integration that is seamless and easy to use.

While Apple Maps lacks good coverage outside major cities, it's more private than Google Maps, which collects telemetry data. There are a few caveats to consider, such as limited EV routing and charging-station data compared to Google Maps and Waze. Nevertheless, Apple Maps is quickly closing the gap with its competitors.