[Updated] Opinion: Apple Maps needs a true offline mode to compete with Google Maps in 2023

New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…….

Original story (published on January 30, 2023) follows:

After having spent most of 2022 behind my desk with little time to myself, I couldn’t pass the opportunity to travel countryside and visit my mother and say hi to some old school friends during Christmas holidays.

A journey that started out as an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and into the serene countryside to enjoy a breath of natural fresh air led to a painful discovery with one of today’s most popular gadgets.

The iPhone is arguably the world’s most acclaimed phone. In some parts of the world, it’s not just any phone, but a status symbol. This explains the never-ending digs between Android and iPhone users.

These digs go beyond social media and into real life, which is how I found out that unlike Google Maps, Apple Maps still doesn’t support true offline navigation mode — in 2023.

See, I rarely carry around my aging iPhone XS due to how short the battery life has become. The phone hardly lasts 10 hours on a single charge with moderate usage, which is understandable owing to its size and age.

Still, this didn’t stop yours truly from taking it with me alongside my Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro and its massive 5020mAh battery that easily lasts over 24 hours, something I don’t regret for a second following this discovery.

Rural areas are characterized by low reception. Poor network connection not only affects calling and texting, but it also stands in the way of applications or tasks that require internet connectivity.

No doubt Apple Maps has greatly improved and become a powerful and easy navigation tool for iPhone users, especially considering its rough start to life following a falling-out between Apple and Google.

Today, Apple has invested heavily to bring the app at par — or close — with Google Maps. Over the decade-long existence, Apple has added quite a bunch of features to the app.

While the initial launch was half-baked, subsequent iOS updates introduced public transit directions, indoor navigation, a Google Street View-like mode (Look Around), real-time transit directions, and sharing ETAs with friends.

Apple also added support for cycling directions, EV routing, AR walking directions, and multi-stop routing, the latter arriving as part of the most recent iOS 16 update.

Adding these features shows how Apple is deeply invested into the success of Apple Maps by making it a better product. But it’s still frustrating that you must be connected to the internet all the time in order to use this app.

Despite the many improvements that Apple has added to make the app better, the lack of a proper offline navigation mode is still my major gripe with Apple Maps. And it happens that I have some company.

Apple Maps – No true offline mode?
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Decided to give the @DrivometerApp by @DylanMcD8 a shot on my iPad setup for my Element. Music controls and speedometer is awesome. If only Apple Maps had offline functionality!
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As noted, Apple Maps has come a long way. It now is a worthy Google Maps competitor owing to the many features that have been introduced over the years.

But Google Maps is still the go-to option even for some iPhone owners solely for the lack of offline navigation mode on Apple Maps.

To put it plainly, it’s impossible to find your way back to civilization if Apple Maps is the only navigation app on your phone yet you are stuck deep in a remote area with no access to cellular and Wi-Fi services.

This is where Google Maps thrives. Not only does it offer a more functional navigation experience with plenty of useful features, but it also allows downloading routes to use when devices are offline.

Considering that this has been a key complaint among iPhone users for quite some time, it’s a shame that we are in 2023 and Apple Maps still doesn’t support a proper offline mode.

Sure, there are some limited offline functions, but the lack of a complete and functional offline mode is likely holding back many from ditching Google Maps in favor of Apple Maps.

Still, I have a feeling this feature will come to Apple Maps at some point — hopefully in 2023 or even 2024 — only that I can’t say much about the timing because I’m simply speculating.

Do let us know your thoughts in the comments section and the poll below.

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03:27 pm (IST): With iOS 17, Apple is finally adding the ability to download maps offline in Apple Maps.

Featured image: Apple

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