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

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
Awe Dropping Apple Event Feature

Five Things to Expect From Apple's 'Awe Dropping' September 9 Event

Tuesday August 26, 2025 4:17 pm PDT by
Apple today announced its "Awe Dropping" iPhone-centric event, which is set to take place on Tuesday, September 9 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. There are a long list of products that are coming, but we thought we'd pull out five feature highlights to look forward to. That Super Thin iPhone - Apple's September 9 event will see the unveiling of the first redesigned iPhone we've had in years, ...
Awe Dropping Apple Event Feature

Apple Event Logo Hints at Two iPhone 17 Pro Features

Wednesday August 27, 2025 6:36 am PDT by
Apple's logo for its upcoming September 9 event hints at two rumored iPhone 17 Pro features, including new color options and a vapor chamber cooling system. Of course, this is all just speculation for fun, as we count down the final days until the event. New Colors Last month, Macworld's Filipe Espósito reported that orange and dark blue would be two out of the five color options...
Alleged iPhone 17 Pro Antenna Design

Two All-New iPhone 17 Colors Seemingly Confirmed

Monday August 25, 2025 4:22 am PDT by
Apple will offer the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max in a new orange color, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman made the claim in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, adding that the new iPhone 17 Air – replacing the iPhone 16 Plus – will come in a new light blue color. We've heard multiple rumors about a new iPhone 17 Pro color being a shade of orange. The ...
crossbody strap

iPhone 17's 'Crossbody Strap' Accessory to Feature Magnetic Design

Thursday August 28, 2025 7:49 am PDT by
Apple's cases for the iPhone 17 lineup will be accompanied by a new Crossbody Strap accessory with a unique magnetic design, according to the leaker known as "Majin Bu." Apple's Crossbody Strap reportedly features an unusual magnetic design; it likely has a "flexible metal core" that makes it magnetic along its entire length. At the ends, "rings polarized oppositely to the strap close the...
airpods pro 2 gradient

AirPods Pro 3: Four Key Design Changes Anticipated

Tuesday August 26, 2025 4:05 am PDT by
Apple hasn't updated the AirPods Pro since 2022 other than a shift from Lightning to USB-C, and the earbuds are due for a refresh. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple will launch AirPods Pro 3 later this year, and apart from new features like heart rate monitoring, we're also expecting a few design changes. The fourth‑generation AirPods offer useful clues to Apple's design cues for ...

Top Rated Comments

RickDEGH Avatar
66 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
66 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
66 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
66 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)
wynhou Avatar
66 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
66 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)