Skip to Content

Apple Begins Testing Revamped Maps App in UK and Ireland

Apple has reportedly begun testing an expansion of its more detailed Apple Maps app in the United Kingdom and Ireland, according to Justin O'Beirne, who often shares details on updates made in ‌Apple Maps‌.

UK Ireland Apple Maps Revamp

Image via Justin O'Beirne

Since the Maps revamp in these countries is in testing stages, it is worth pointing out that the changes are not available to all users at the current time.

Apple announced at its virtual WWDC 2020 event that the new Maps app would be coming to the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada "later this year," but no clear date was given as to when the rollout would be completed.

The revamped Maps app features richer landscape details such as roads, parking lots, parks, buildings, airports, and more. Apple uses its own vehicles equipped with LiDAR sensors and cameras to obtain mapping data.

Apple worked for over a year to complete the rollout of the new Maps app in the United States, and the process concluded in January with the expansion to the Southeast and Central United States.

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple Released Seven New Products Today

Wednesday March 11, 2026 7:05 am PDT by
Starting today, the seven new Apple products that were announced last week are available at Apple Stores and beginning to arrive to customers. The colorful MacBook Neo and all of the other new products are on display at most Apple Store locations around the world starting today. Apple Stores have inventory of the new products for both walk-in customers and Apple Store pickup, but...
iOS 27 Mock Quick

10+ New Features Coming in iOS 27

Friday March 13, 2026 2:13 pm PDT by
We're only three months away from Apple's WWDC 2026 event, which will see the company unveil iOS 27. With the fully revamped version of Siri possibly delayed until September, iOS 27 is shaping up to be the update we wanted iOS 26 to be. There will be new Apple Intelligence features, updates for the iPhone Fold, and more, with the latest rumors summarized below. Foldable iPhone Features...
3D Printed iPhone Fold Thumb 2

iPhone Fold: 5 Things We Learned This Week About Apple's Foldable

Friday March 13, 2026 6:24 am PDT by
It's been a big week for foldable iPhone rumors. In case you missed any of them, here are five developments that we've covered over the last few days. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone Fold this September. For everything else we know, be sure to check out our dedicated roundup. Display Crease Early reports suggested Apple had solved the crease problem that has plagued many...

Top Rated Comments

RickDEGH Avatar
73 months ago
I switched full time to Apple Maps, deleted Google Maps app off my phone and I haven’t missed a thing, apart from the occasional need for bike directions. But I live in a small city in Germany and bike paths are well laid out so not much need there either.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Morgenland Avatar
73 months ago

Google maps seems more detailed.
Google maps seems more detailed.
But if you compare them closely, you will notice that Apple sometimes has partly overtaken Google...
After all, Apple is investing a lot of money, because these maps will be the new basis for some of their future projects.

Someone who has no idea how much effort it takes to create maps will always complain about the slowness of the creation process. Out of naivety and attitude to life. You're different there, dear Theyayarealivin.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
entropys Avatar
73 months ago
Apple really needs to put some on the ground resources into this. The leadership has obviously decided not to though. The roll out of any announced feature takes years. On such an essential app it is pretty ordinary TBH.

It’s like all they have is some old guy and his dog slowly wandering the world getting the data for an update. And his attitude and approach to work is retired in place.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LV426 Avatar
73 months ago

With maps becoming ever-more detailed, it makes me wonder how LIDAR can discriminate between a statue and a bloke stood at a bus stop staring into the abyss?
It can’t. But all Apple Maps images are passed through an AI filter that blurs out things like human faces and car number plates, in a similar manner to that employed by Google Street View.

If you check out Look Around in Times Square, New York, you will find that the statue of George M Cohan “staring into the abyss” has a pixelated head :)
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
73 months ago
Apple is a small company with very rare resources so I can’t imagine them doing a lot of work quickly /s

I still don’t understand why they can’t do this enmass, like hire a fleet of cars (especially during COVID) to do this world wide
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LV426 Avatar
73 months ago

Yet Google still does it better.
And you are paying through your nose for that, by losing your privacy, being targeted by ad sharks, etc.

Both Apple and Google have a long long way to go to get mapping right. Ordnance Survey do it best.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)