Offline Navigation — Apple introduces offline Mapsbut how does it compare with Google Maps? Comparing offline modes between Apple Maps and Google Maps is a tight contest.

Samuel Axon – Jul 13, 2023 10:10 pm UTC Enlarge / With offline maps, Apple has achieved parity with Google Maps on this one feature after eight years.Samuel Axon reader comments 118 with

Apple Maps has seen a significant comeback story since it first debuted to near-universal panning in 2012, but anyone who has also used Google Maps can even now name a bunch of handy features that Apple Maps just can’t do yet.

Further ReadingApples iOS 17 adds better autocorrect, journaling, clock-like StandBy, and moreWhen iOS 17 releases this fall, though, one of those gaps will get covered. Apple will introduce downloadable mapsa vital feature for many users and one that Google has offered for years.

The iOS 17 public beta dropped this week, so users who aren’t part of Apple’s developer program can now access the feature for the first timethough I don’t generally recommend installing beta operating systems on your daily drivers, of course.

It took me a few years to consider switching to Apple Maps, but I finally did in 2019 after Apple’s incremental improvements. Still, there are some features (like offline maps) that have led me to keep Google Maps installed for occasional use. I’ve been using the developer beta of iOS 17 for a couple of weeks now, so this seems like a good time to compare how the feature works on an iPhone running either Apple Maps or Google Maps. How it works

Downloading and using offline maps in Apple Maps is simple, and it closely mirrors the process on Google Maps. Advertisement

To start, you can simply look up a city or a place and a “download” button will appear next to the buttons for getting directions or going into flyover mode. Alternatively, you can tap on your user picture to open up the app’s options, then tap offline maps, then tap “download new map.” There are a few other settings here, like toggling whether maps download over mobile networks or just Wi-Fi, whether to use downloaded maps even when you have an Internet connection, and whether updates should be automatic. There’s also an “optimize storage” button, but it’s not entirely clear as a user what it does. To select which area to download, you get a rectangular selector that you can resize as you wish. Samuel Axon In this offline maps options menu, you have a few toggles, as well as a list of individual maps you’ve downloaded and a prompt to add more or update all the existing maps. Tapping on an individual map in the options panel brings up this view, which tells you when the map was last updated and lets you resize or rename it. Samuel Axon You can get and view turn-by-turn directions within offline maps. Samuel Axon For the most part, the map looks just as detailed as it does in online mode. Samuel Axon Here’s what business pages look like; they’re missing some of the frills of their online counterparts, but they have all the key information. For comparison, here’s the same page in online mode. Samuel Axon

Once you decide to download a map, you can move or resize a box on top of the map to decide where to capture it. The map will download, and that’s all you have to do to get going. When you’re navigating that area without a cellular data connection, Apple Maps will default to the offline map. You can get directions, search for businesses, or access location pages.

The location pages have key information but lack detailed user reviews and photos, and they don’t have the editorial content (like “best X in the city” type listicles) that you find in Apple Maps in online mode.

All told, Google Maps users will feel right at home with this feature. There are a couple of differences worth mentioning, though. Page: 1 2 Next → reader comments 118 with Samuel Axon Samuel is a senior editor at Ars Technica. He primarily covers software development, gaming, Apple, consumer technology, and mixed reality. He has been writing about gaming and technology for 15 years, and is a Chicago-based game developer. Advertisement Channel Ars Technica ← Previous story Next story → Related Stories Today on Ars