Somehow, Apple Maps is still an underdog, despite its creator holding an iron grip on the North American smartphone market. The explanation, of course, is that Google Maps had a years-long headstart, and Apple botched its app’s 2012 debut, even putting some drivers in life-threatening conditions due to inaccurate data. Even today, there’s a small part of me that worries that I’m not getting the best directions.
The 2026 version of Apple Maps is able to go toe-to-toe in most respects, its biggest gaps being a weak web interface and a missing Android app. There are actually some distinct benefits to using Apple Maps, some of which I wish I’d started using earlier. I do still prefer Google most of the time — but as long as I have an iPhone, there’s no sense leaving the native navigation tool untouched.
Apple Watch integration and handoff
You’re not done when you pull into the parking lot
Staying alert while driving can be a challenge for me. I have ADHD, so on longer trips, I’m prone to getting distracted or sleepy. Mercifully, an Apple Watch can not only mirror the directions on your iPhone, but vibrate your wrist whenever a turn is coming up. I’ve never needed a rescue from this feature, per se — but those little jolts do keep me focused. It’s why I intentionally switched to Apple Maps during my family’s recent cross-country move.
Another benefit is that if you haven’t reached your destination when you park, an Apple Watch will keep those directions going after you disconnect from CarPlay and/or stuff your iPhone in your pocket. It doesn’t automatically switch from driving to walking, but that’s not usually a big concern unless your endpoint is somewhere down a park or campus path. In that scenario, you’ll want to stop and re-route.
Detailed airport and mall maps
Better than the kiosk
I’ve flown far more than I expected in my life. I’m not exactly a road warrior — I wish I had more excuses to travel — but I moved from Canada to the US and back again, and now many of friends and family are scattered across North America. That’s meant racing through some of the continent’s biggest airports, like Pearson in Toronto, and Bush in Houston. In supported terminals, Apple Maps can guide you directly to your gate, or to that desperately needed bite to eat.
There’s less call for indoor maps at a mall, but I do wish I’d made use of them while I lived in Edmonton. For many years, the West Edmonton Mall held the record for the biggest mall in the world, and you can legitimately get lost in there — as I did. I should’ve made it a point to use Apple Maps on every single visit.
ETA sharing
Keeping everyone relaxed
I imagine just about every iPhone owner runs into situations where a partner, friend, or family member needs to know when they’ll arrive somewhere. Sometimes this is just to reduce anxiety, but at other times, it can be mission-critical. I’ve used Facebook Messenger’s real-time location sharing for this in the past, but it occurs to me that Apple Maps would’ve been a better idea, since that includes an arrival time rather than just your current position.
Once you’ve started directions on your iPhone, all you normally have to do is swipe up the route card, tap Share ETA, and select a contact. You can automatically share your ETA for certain destinations by tapping the info button for a Pinned item.
There are just a couple of problems here. The first is that you may have to create contact cards. Also, only devices with Apple Maps can actually exploit real-time tracking — everyone else gets a text message. This is one of the reasons we need an Android app.
Flyover
A better version is imminent
Does anyone need Flyover? For the most part, no. It’s just a 3D aerial view of supported cities, which are limited — there are major gaps in Canada alone, such as Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa. Apple actually removed the guided tours that used to be a hallmark of the feature.
That said, if you’re new to a place, it can be a quick and visually impressive way of scoping the lay of the land. It can even be used as an educational tool, say if someone wants to see the D-Day beaches in France, or what’s left of old Hiroshima after the atomic bombing. In fact, I’ve never heard of some of the supported locations, such as Cádiz in Spain, or Tōjinbō in Japan — which makes leaving Canada’s capital out an even stranger decision.
Thankfully, Apple is renewing its Flyover efforts with iOS 27 and other fall updates. It’s using AI to improve its 3D rendering, which is based on satellite data, but tends to look ugly when viewed up close. That’s not surprising, since you can only resolve so much detail from Earth orbit.
