Google Maps Gains Enhanced Street-Level Detail in Four Major Cities - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Google Maps Gains Enhanced Street-Level Detail in Four Major Cities

Google Maps has quietly been updated to include significantly more detailed street-level information in a handful of key cities around the world.

google maps detailed street level e1611052089473
Upon zooming in, Google's maps for Central London, Tokyo, San Francisco, and New York now benefit from shapes and widths that match the scale of roads more accurately.

Meanwhile, enhanced graphical representations of sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian islands, and street-side flora have also been added, which should help users who rely on the maps for walking directions.

Lastly, parks now show the actual width of pathways in dark green along with any stairs in grey, offering improved accessibility information for wheelchair users or people with a stroller.

Some of the improvements are undoubtedly subtle, but underline Google's commitment to improving city-wide coverage. The changes are server-side and therefore require no software update, and Google says it plans to expand the new details to additional cities in the future.

Google Maps can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

(Via AndroidPolice.)

Popular Stories

iOS 26 Battery Glass Feature

Three Years of 80% Charge Limits on iPhone: The Results

Tuesday October 6, 2026 12:59 pm PDT by
Since 2023, Apple's newer iPhones have had an 80 percent charge limit for those who want to extend battery lifespan. Charging to 80 percent instead of 100 percent is supposed to put less stress on the battery, improving longevity. For the last three years, I've used that setting on my iPhone. I started with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, then did the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and most recently, the iPhone...
MagSafe 3 Cable Midnight Feature

Apple Releases MagSafe 3 Charging Cable Firmware Update

Monday October 5, 2026 5:59 am PDT by
For the first time since February 2023, Apple has released a firmware update for the MagSafe 3 charging cable for the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. Specifically, Apple last week released firmware version 3.2.0 for the USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable. The previous firmware version for the cable was 3.1.12. It is unclear what is included in the latest firmware, as Apple does not publish release...
Prime Big Deal Days 25 Red and Green

Amazon Launches Prime Day Discounts on AirPods, iPad, MacBook Air, and More

Sunday October 4, 2026 9:15 am PDT by
Earlier this week, we began tracking early Prime Day deals on Apple-related accessories, and now Amazon has introduced major early deals on Apple products as well. This includes AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, and more, all available at some of the lowest prices of the year so far. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small...

Top Rated Comments

Spacetime Anomaly Avatar
75 months ago
Ah. Lovely. The outside world. I remember it well.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
poopiebabies unite! Avatar
75 months ago
Great, but Apple's "Look Around" in NYC is awesome!
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
keifer.street Avatar
75 months ago
Meanwhile @ Apple:
“Apple releases new 3D flyovers in four major cities. This is what everyone cares about - the flyovers. Right? RIGHT?!”
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GeoStructural Avatar
75 months ago

I find it frustrating that you cant use Apple Maps everywhere. I was working in Kuwait and could not use it for turn-by-turn directions because it wasn’t available in the area. Google Maps and Waze worked fine.
Same here. I travel extensively and I can confirm Apple Maps is pretty much useless outside the USA not just for the lack of navigation but because of the inaccuracy and pre-cold war area names still attached to cities and streets.

It has gotten so much better in the States that for the third time I am using it as my main navigation app, in the past I tried and it was just not on par with the competition, I can see the improvements now.

It still has a long way to go, they could work on:

1.
Better handling of pins and coordinates, this is important for professionals like geologists, engineers, biologists, etc.

2. More detailed turn-by-turn navigation, it is still behind the precision and detail offered by Google Maps. Apple Maps sometimes tells me "the next exit" I have to take but it would not tell me the exit number, which is something I would like to know in advance.

3. Public transportation implementation. Even though I can find routes in my city, some of them are even routes that have been eliminated. In contrast Google Maps tells me exactly where the bus is in REAL TIME, I can literally track it and not just rely on an ETA.

4. And most importantly: OFFLINE functionality. Several mapping apps in the store offer me to download maps for offline usage, but Apple Maps will not let me do that, it is frustrating as I work on the field constantly and cellphone reception is not available most of the time.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
75 months ago

Because Apple doesn't track or collect as much data as Google does. As much as MacRumors hates on Android and anti-privacy practices of others you can always be sure that you will find your way/what you are looking for using Google Maps.
What on earth are you on about?
they are free to take photos of my street and obscure faces and license plates just like google does.

That old trope that gets pedalled around here is so tired.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DeepIn2U Avatar
75 months ago

Here be dragons!
Nah just looks like a traffic jam of all icons and UI in the way.

Finally Glad Apple Maps is up to snuff at least here in my city!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Formula 1 Coverage on Apple TV to Get Dolby Atmos Later This Month
Formula 1 Coverage on Apple TV to Get Dolby Atmos Later This Month
21 minutes ago
LG Making Doorbell, Lock, and Cameras for Apple's Home Hub
LG Making Doorbell, Lock, and Cameras for Apple's Home Hub
11 hours ago
Apple to Report Q4 2026 Earnings on November 2
Apple to Report Q4 2026 Earnings on November 2
11 hours ago
Three Years of 80% Charge Limits on iPhone: The Results
Three Years of 80% Charge Limits on iPhone: The Results
13 hours ago
macOS 27.2 Further Hints at MacBook With Touch-Enabled OLED Display
macOS 27.2 Further Hints at MacBook With Touch-Enabled OLED Display
15 hours ago
The 15 Best Apple Deals Under $200 for Prime Day
The 15 Best Apple Deals Under $200 for Prime Day
15 hours ago
AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2 Get Big Price Drops for Prime Day
AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2 Get Big Price Drops for Prime Day
16 hours ago
Apple Releases Second Public Betas of iOS 27.2 and macOS Golden Gate 27.2
Apple Releases Second Public Betas of iOS 27.2 and macOS Golden Gate 27.2
16 hours ago
'Crossy Road Rush' Launching Exclusively on Apple Arcade in November
'Crossy Road Rush' Launching Exclusively on Apple Arcade in November
16 hours ago
Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Is It Worth Upgrading?
Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Is It Worth Upgrading?
17 hours ago
Prime Day Savings: TVs, Headphones, Chargers, and Other Tech Accessories
Prime Day Savings: TVs, Headphones, Chargers, and Other Tech Accessories
18 hours ago
Apple TV 4K Rumored to Support Four HomePods for Surround Sound
Apple TV 4K Rumored to Support Four HomePods for Surround Sound
18 hours ago
iPhone 18 Pro and Duo Were Once Planned With 16GB RAM, Leaker Says
iPhone 18 Pro and Duo Were Once Planned With 16GB RAM, Leaker Says
19 hours ago
Apple's Entire Mac Lineup Gets Massive Discounts for Prime Day
Apple's Entire Mac Lineup Gets Massive Discounts for Prime Day
19 hours ago
Prime Day iPad Deals Include Low Prices on iPad Air, iPad Mini, and More
Prime Day iPad Deals Include Low Prices on iPad Air, iPad Mini, and More
19 hours ago
Apple's $634 Million Apple Watch Patent Bill Just Got Even Bigger
Apple's $634 Million Apple Watch Patent Bill Just Got Even Bigger
20 hours ago
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days Offers Major Discounts on AirPods, iPads, and Much More
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days Offers Major Discounts on AirPods, iPads, and Much More
15 hours ago
Microsoft OneDrive to Drop Support for These iPhone Models
Microsoft OneDrive to Drop Support for These iPhone Models
21 hours ago
HomePod Mini Waits Reach Eight Weeks Ahead of Rumored Refresh
HomePod Mini Waits Reach Eight Weeks Ahead of Rumored Refresh
22 hours ago
Apple Music Is Getting a New Logo
Apple Music Is Getting a New Logo
22 hours ago
Apple Quietly Boosts Email Feature for iCloud+ Subscribers
Apple Quietly Boosts Email Feature for iCloud+ Subscribers
3 hours ago
iOS 27.2 May Let You Hide Specific Suggested Actions in Messages
iOS 27.2 May Let You Hide Specific Suggested Actions in Messages
23 hours ago
Sources: Apple Planning Two Sets of Product Launches in October
Sources: Apple Planning Two Sets of Product Launches in October
1 day ago
Apple Announces iPhone Duo Apps Can Now Be Submitted to App Store
Apple Announces iPhone Duo Apps Can Now Be Submitted to App Store
1 day ago
macOS 27.2 Adds Touch Gestures Ahead of MacBook Ultra
macOS 27.2 Adds Touch Gestures Ahead of MacBook Ultra
2 days ago
Apple and AT&T Have Yet to Explain Cause of iPhone 18 Pro Max Issue
Apple and AT&T Have Yet to Explain Cause of iPhone 18 Pro Max Issue
2 days ago
tvOS 27.2 Code Hints at Apple Intelligence for New Apple TV
tvOS 27.2 Code Hints at Apple Intelligence for New Apple TV
2 days ago
Apple Seeds Third macOS Golden Gate 27.2 Beta to Developers
Apple Seeds Third macOS Golden Gate 27.2 Beta to Developers
2 days ago
Apple Releases Third watchOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2 and visionOS 27.2 Betas
Apple Releases Third watchOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2 and visionOS 27.2 Betas
2 days ago
Apple Releases Third iOS 27.2 Beta
Apple Releases Third iOS 27.2 Beta
2 days ago