Google Maps to Gain Impressive New 'Immersive View' Later This Year

Google Maps is set to get a new Immersive view for cities that uses artificial intelligence and high-quality 3D rendering to simulate real-time data, Google has announced.


Thanks to advances in computer vision and AI that allow us to fuse together billions of Street View and aerial images to create a rich, digital model of the world — we're introducing a whole new way to explore with Maps. With our new immersive view, you'll be able to experience what a neighborhood, landmark, restaurant or popular venue is like — and even feel like you're right there before you ever set foot inside. So whether you're traveling somewhere new or scoping out hidden local gems, immersive view will help you make the most informed decisions before you go.

As the video demonstrates, the new Immersive view deftly blends live traffic, weather, and astronomical data from Google Maps, Google Earth, and Street View with animated digital models that even include neat touches like birds flying over buildings, animated landmarks, and reflective bodies of water.

Users will also be able to explore inside and around businesses rendered in detailed 3D representations where data sets are available.

Google says Immersive view will work on "just about any phone and device" and will start rolling out in Los Angeles, London, New York, San Francisco and Tokyo later this year, with more cities coming soon.

Popular Stories

iOS 26

15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.2

Friday December 5, 2025 9:40 am PST by
Apple is about to release iOS 26.2, the second major point update for iPhones since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least 15 notable changes and improvements worth checking out. We've rounded them up below. Apple is expected to roll out iOS 26.2 to compatible devices sometime between December 8 and December 16. When the update drops, you can check Apple's servers for the ...
Intel Inside iPhone Feature

Apple's Return to Intel Rumored to Extend to iPhone

Friday December 5, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Intel is expected to begin supplying some Mac and iPad chips in a few years, and the latest rumor claims the partnership might extend to the iPhone. In a research note with investment firm GF Securities this week, obtained by MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu said he and his colleagues "now expect" Intel to reach a supply deal with Apple for at least some non-pro iPhone chips starting in 2028....
ive and altman

Jony Ive's OpenAI Device Barred From Using 'io' Name

Friday December 5, 2025 6:22 am PST by
A U.S. appeals court has upheld a temporary restraining order that prevents OpenAI and Jony Ive's new hardware venture from using the name "io" for products similar to those planned by AI audio startup iyO, Bloomberg Law reports. iyO sued OpenAI earlier this year after the latter announced its partnership with Ive's new firm, arguing that OpenAI's planned "io" branding was too close to its...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Monday December 1, 2025 2:40 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island

iPhone 18 Pro Leak Adds New Evidence for Under-Display Face ID

Monday December 8, 2025 4:54 am PST by
Apple is actively testing under-screen Face ID for next year's iPhone 18 Pro models using a special "spliced micro-transparent glass" window built into the display, claims a Chinese leaker. According to "Smart Pikachu," a Weibo account that has previously shared accurate supply-chain details on Chinese Android hardware, Apple is testing the special glass as a way to let the TrueDepth...
Photos App Icon Liquid Glass

John Gruber Shares Scathing Commentary About Apple's Departing Software Design Chief

Thursday December 4, 2025 9:30 am PST by
In a statement shared with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Apple confirmed that its software design chief Alan Dye will be leaving. Apple said Dye will be succeeded by Stephen Lemay, who has been a software designer at the company since 1999. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Dye will lead a new creative studio within the company's AR/VR division Reality Labs. On his blog Daring Fireball,...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
Johny Srouji

Apple Chip Chief Johny Srouji Could Be Next to Go as Exodus Continues

Sunday December 7, 2025 10:41 am PST by
Apple's senior vice president of hardware technologies Johny Srouji could be the next leading executive to leave the company amid an alarming exodus of leading employees, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. Srouji apparently recently told CEO Tim Cook that he is "seriously considering leaving" in the near future. He intends to join another company if he departs. Srouji leads Apple's chip design ...
Apple John Ternus 2019

Will John Ternus Really Be Apple's Next CEO?

Friday December 5, 2025 9:01 am PST by
There is uncertainty about Apple's head of hardware engineering John Ternus succeeding Tim Cook as CEO, The Information reports. Some former Apple executives apparently hope that a new "dark-horse" candidate will emerge. Ternus is considered to be the most likely candidate to succeed Cook as CEO. The report notes that he is more likely to become CEO than software head chief Craig Federighi, ...
ios 18 to ios 26 upgrade

Apple Pushes iPhone Users Still on iOS 18 to Upgrade to iOS 26

Tuesday December 2, 2025 11:09 am PST by
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent. Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...

Top Rated Comments

contacos Avatar
47 months ago

Deleted Google Maps from my iPhone 3 years ago. Has it gotten better?
Better? Our neighborhood doesn’t even exist on Apple Maps yet and it’s also awful at getting construction site updates (at least for Berlin)

Also no offline Downloads for Maps and cycling routes unless you live in one of those „Silicon Valley“ capitals
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BootsWalking Avatar
47 months ago
Apple Maps will add this feature too but will give you an immersive view of the wrong route ?
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
H2SO4 Avatar
47 months ago

Deleted Google Maps from my iPhone 3 years ago. Has it gotten better?
Yes, as has Apple maps and most other mapping solutions. Why don't you try it and see for yourself?
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonnysods Avatar
47 months ago
Looks absolutely incredible!

I just can't put GM back on my phone. I have trust issues....
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
H2SO4 Avatar
47 months ago

That’s really impressive! But it has Google in the name, so everything you do with it will be tracked unfortunately. I hope Apple Maps gains something like this in the future.
That old trope. I bet you don't even know exactly what data they collect and what they do with it, other than saying something very generic like;
They track you.
They sell your data.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SBlue1 Avatar
47 months ago
Apple Maps will never catch up with Google maps. In Germany Apple Maps is way behind Google. It took Apple 4 years to correct the name of my street.

I am stunned why Apple services are such a hit or miss. Some like iCloud, Home, Apple TV+, Siri or Apple Maps are trash outside of the US and seem to be run by a handful of people working in part time from home and wo never used those things by themselves. Some service on the other hand like Apple Music, Fitness + or Apple Pay are great and way above the competition.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)