Google Maps Gains Enhanced Street-Level Detail in Four Major Cities - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Google Maps Gains Enhanced Street-Level Detail in Four Major Cities

Google Maps has quietly been updated to include significantly more detailed street-level information in a handful of key cities around the world.

google maps detailed street level e1611052089473
Upon zooming in, Google's maps for Central London, Tokyo, San Francisco, and New York now benefit from shapes and widths that match the scale of roads more accurately.

Meanwhile, enhanced graphical representations of sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian islands, and street-side flora have also been added, which should help users who rely on the maps for walking directions.

Lastly, parks now show the actual width of pathways in dark green along with any stairs in grey, offering improved accessibility information for wheelchair users or people with a stroller.

Some of the improvements are undoubtedly subtle, but underline Google's commitment to improving city-wide coverage. The changes are server-side and therefore require no software update, and Google says it plans to expand the new details to additional cities in the future.

Google Maps can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

(Via AndroidPolice.)

Popular Stories

Google maps feaure

Google Maps Updated to Fully Support iPhone Duo Displays

Wednesday November 4, 2026 4:24 am PST by
Google Maps has been updated with improved support for the iPhone Duo's displays, so that the app now fills the foldable iPhone's inner and outer screens rather than leaving unused space along the edge. The change comes with version 26.44.4, which is available on the App Store. Google doesn't mention Duo-specific changes in its release notes, but the updated support is plainly visible....
duo aquarium

More Fun iPhone Duo Apps: 30 New Picks to Try

Friday November 6, 2026 3:27 pm PST by
When the iPhone Duo launched, we shared a list of some of the fun apps developers created for the new form factor. Two weeks out, developers are continuing to come up with fresh ideas, so we thought we'd share some of our favorites. Games Marbles Unhinged ($2.99) - Marbles Unhinged is a marble maze designed for the Duo. When you fold it, the floor turns into a ramp. If you stand the top...
apple pro tell logo

Apple Launching Five New Products Today

Thursday November 5, 2026 12:59 am PST by
Apple is launching five new products on Friday, November 6, following pre-orders that opened last week, including its first touchscreen MacBook Pro models. The following new products will be available from today: iPad mini with OLED display and A20 Pro chip iMac with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with OLED touchscreen 16-inch MacBook Pro with OLED...

Top Rated Comments

Spacetime Anomaly Avatar
76 months ago
Ah. Lovely. The outside world. I remember it well.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
poopiebabies unite! Avatar
76 months ago
Great, but Apple's "Look Around" in NYC is awesome!
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
keifer.street Avatar
76 months ago
Meanwhile @ Apple:
“Apple releases new 3D flyovers in four major cities. This is what everyone cares about - the flyovers. Right? RIGHT?!”
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GeoStructural Avatar
76 months ago

I find it frustrating that you cant use Apple Maps everywhere. I was working in Kuwait and could not use it for turn-by-turn directions because it wasn’t available in the area. Google Maps and Waze worked fine.
Same here. I travel extensively and I can confirm Apple Maps is pretty much useless outside the USA not just for the lack of navigation but because of the inaccuracy and pre-cold war area names still attached to cities and streets.

It has gotten so much better in the States that for the third time I am using it as my main navigation app, in the past I tried and it was just not on par with the competition, I can see the improvements now.

It still has a long way to go, they could work on:

1.
Better handling of pins and coordinates, this is important for professionals like geologists, engineers, biologists, etc.

2. More detailed turn-by-turn navigation, it is still behind the precision and detail offered by Google Maps. Apple Maps sometimes tells me "the next exit" I have to take but it would not tell me the exit number, which is something I would like to know in advance.

3. Public transportation implementation. Even though I can find routes in my city, some of them are even routes that have been eliminated. In contrast Google Maps tells me exactly where the bus is in REAL TIME, I can literally track it and not just rely on an ETA.

4. And most importantly: OFFLINE functionality. Several mapping apps in the store offer me to download maps for offline usage, but Apple Maps will not let me do that, it is frustrating as I work on the field constantly and cellphone reception is not available most of the time.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
76 months ago

Because Apple doesn't track or collect as much data as Google does. As much as MacRumors hates on Android and anti-privacy practices of others you can always be sure that you will find your way/what you are looking for using Google Maps.
What on earth are you on about?
they are free to take photos of my street and obscure faces and license plates just like google does.

That old trope that gets pedalled around here is so tired.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DeepIn2U Avatar
76 months ago

Here be dragons!
Nah just looks like a traffic jam of all icons and UI in the way.

Finally Glad Apple Maps is up to snuff at least here in my city!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Apple Store Subscription Sign-Up Controversy Exposed
Apple Store Subscription Sign-Up Controversy Exposed
4 hours ago
Siri AI Rumored to Become 'More Like an Agent' as Early as Next Year
Siri AI Rumored to Become 'More Like an Agent' as Early as Next Year
14 hours ago
Apple Taking New Approach to Developing iOS 28 and macOS 28
Apple Taking New Approach to Developing iOS 28 and macOS 28
15 hours ago
Early Apple Black Friday Deals on Apple Watch, MacBook Air, and More
Early Apple Black Friday Deals on Apple Watch, MacBook Air, and More
1 day ago
'Backglow' Lets You Customize New MacBook Pro's Glowing Apple Logo
'Backglow' Lets You Customize New MacBook Pro's Glowing Apple Logo
1 day ago
Top Stories: Apple Product Launches, iOS 27.3 Beta, and More
Top Stories: Apple Product Launches, iOS 27.3 Beta, and More
2 days ago
More Fun iPhone Duo Apps: 30 New Picks to Try
More Fun iPhone Duo Apps: 30 New Picks to Try
2 days ago
Hands-On With Apple's New OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro
Hands-On With Apple's New OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro
2 days ago
Apple Store With All-New Design Opening Soon in Southern California
Apple Store With All-New Design Opening Soon in Southern California
2 days ago
Control the Glowing Apple Logo on Your New MacBook Pro
Control the Glowing Apple Logo on Your New MacBook Pro
2 days ago
Apple Shares New 'Apple Card: Apply and Use in Minutes' Ad
Apple Shares New 'Apple Card: Apply and Use in Minutes' Ad
3 days ago
Apple Says More Than 100,000 Apps Optimized for iPhone Duo, Here's What's Still Missing
Apple Says More Than 100,000 Apps Optimized for iPhone Duo, Here's What's Still Missing
3 days ago
Early Black Friday Deals Kickoff With Steep Discounts on Apple Watch Ultras and More
Early Black Friday Deals Kickoff With Steep Discounts on Apple Watch Ultras and More
3 days ago
The MacRumors Show: iOS 27.3 Looks Like a Huge Update
The MacRumors Show: iOS 27.3 Looks Like a Huge Update
3 days ago
Best Buy's Black Friday Event Begins With Sitewide Savings on Apple, TVs, More
Best Buy's Black Friday Event Begins With Sitewide Savings on Apple, TVs, More
3 days ago
Apple Releasing Yet Another Two New Products Next Week
Apple Releasing Yet Another Two New Products Next Week
3 days ago
MacBook Air Drops to Lowest Price in Months With Amazon's $250 Discount
MacBook Air Drops to Lowest Price in Months With Amazon's $250 Discount
3 days ago
Apple Rumored to Drop the iPhone's Action Button Next Year
Apple Rumored to Drop the iPhone's Action Button Next Year
3 days ago
Apple's Extended Return Policy Now in Effect for 2026 Holiday Season
Apple's Extended Return Policy Now in Effect for 2026 Holiday Season
3 days ago
Apple Music Classical Updated With New Icon and Refreshed Design
Apple Music Classical Updated With New Icon and Refreshed Design
3 days ago
OLED iPad Mini, M6 iMac, and New MacBook Pros Available From Today
OLED iPad Mini, M6 iMac, and New MacBook Pros Available From Today
3 days ago
Apple Surveys iPhone Duo Buyers About Crease and Camera
Apple Surveys iPhone Duo Buyers About Crease and Camera
3 days ago
Apple's First Touchscreen Mac is Now Arriving to Customers
Apple's First Touchscreen Mac is Now Arriving to Customers
3 days ago
Claude Gets Personal Finance Feature With Bank Account Linking
Claude Gets Personal Finance Feature With Bank Account Linking
3 days ago
Apple Arcade Adds Crossy Road Rush and NBA 2K27
Apple Arcade Adds Crossy Road Rush and NBA 2K27
3 days ago
Apple's New HomeView Smart Home Hub: Here's How Much RAM It Has
Apple's New HomeView Smart Home Hub: Here's How Much RAM It Has
3 days ago
iPad Mini vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: Now Just $50 Apart
iPad Mini vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: Now Just $50 Apart
3 days ago
First iOS 27.3 and macOS Golden Gate 27.3 Public Betas Now Available
First iOS 27.3 and macOS Golden Gate 27.3 Public Betas Now Available
4 days ago
Apple Announces a New Mac Sales Record
Apple Announces a New Mac Sales Record
4 days ago
Paid $200 for Logic Pro? Apple Says You Won't Get This New Feature
Paid $200 for Logic Pro? Apple Says You Won't Get This New Feature
4 days ago