Google Maps for Android Auto beta hints at a darker map

Google Maps on Android Auto looks to have picked up a visual tweak in Android Auto beta 17.6.663424 on Android. The map itself appears darker now, which should feel a lot less harsh on those bright in-car screens.

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What people are seeing so far in beta 17.6.663424 points to a deeper background and toned-down accents in both light and dark mode, so the whole interface may stay more subdued no matter which one you’re using. Reports from the beta also say the turn indicator drops the brighter teal in favor of a darker gray. In practice, that could cut glare, reduce reflections, and make nighttime driving easier on the eyes, especially on bigger dashboard displays. It could also help in those moments when Android Auto bugs out and leaves Google Maps stuck in bright day mode even after the sun’s gone down.

If you use Google Maps in the car all the time, this is one to keep an eye on. The late-2023 color redesign got a pretty mixed response, and this looks like Google adjusting again, even if quietly. Still, Google hasn’t said anything publicly, there’s no timeline for a wider rollout, and nobody knows yet how easy the new colors will be to read at a glance, or how they’ll work for people with color vision deficiencies.

Right now, it’s only showing up in Android Auto beta 17.6.663424 on Android.

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