Since the infamous Apple Maps landed in iOS 6, taking the place of Google Maps, Apple’s navigation platform was under constant improvements to finally be on par with the sleekness and functionality of its competitor. Apple Maps has remained limited to Apple devices, but recent developments suggest Apple might expand access to Android users as well.
Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: The battle continues
From its troubled beginnings, Apple Maps has come a long way and has had new updates, including many additional features that make for a better user experience. Apple Maps now offers real-time transit information in Tokyo, Japan, covering 20 lines of trains, buses, and railways in the metropolitan area. Detailed schedules, arrival and departure times, and even delay information can now be provided to the user.
However, Google Maps is still stronger than Apple Maps in features and attributes integrated. With the upcoming iOS 18 texting on the runway, the latest added attribute of Apple Maps lets you read maps for saved locations in the form of saved routes and saved walking maps.
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The potential expansion to Android
The latest rumors suggest that Apple is developing an Apple Maps app for Android users, thereby bringing another 3.9 billion Android users into the platform. If realized, Apple Maps will catch up with Google Maps, giving Android users another navigation option. Since Apple hasn’t made any official comment on the development of an Android version of Apple Maps, very little has been revealed about this potential expansion.
While Apple Maps is updates continuously and inches closer to competing with Google Maps, it’s still a work in progress. Some may say that it does try to be more user-friendly about things, such as using landmarks for navigation, but others will find that Google has just more tools and ways of doing things.