With each new version of the operating systems, Apple focuses on incorporating improvements in different parts of our user experience. iOS 18 is no exception, and among the most anticipated updates are the novelties that we see arriving in the Maps application. We are looking forward to innovations designed primarily to improve navigation and outdoor exploration. These make Apple’s mapping app a benchmark in features and implementation. Let’s see, then, all the functions that come to Maps in iOS 18.
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One of the most notable additions to Maps in iOS 18 is the inclusion of especially detailed topographic maps. These maps, which were already available exclusively on the Apple Watch, are no available on the iPhone. The application provides a detailed network of trails and hiking routes, covering 63 national parks in the United States.
We can easily search by name, location, or for routes or paths that are near us. Once located, we can access a collection of details, including information about the length of the trail, changes in elevation, and ratings and comments from other people.
In addition to viewing nearby routes and trails, we can filter the routes by length, route type (circular, point-to-point, or round trip), and elevation. It may seem like a minor feature, but this small detail is especially useful when we are unfamiliar with the location and want to plan the route accurately. It will help ensure that we select routes that fit our skill level and preferences.
Of course, it is also possible to save these routes for offline access, which is something to keep in mind in areas where mobile signal is limited or nonexistent.
Creation of custom routes
iOS 18 takes customization to the next level in many areas of the system. In Maps, you will be able to create custom routes directly in the application. You can select the “Create a custom route” option and start marking points on the map. The application provides us with updated information on the length and elevation of the route, and offers options to automatically complete the route, such as “Reverse,” “Round trip,” or “Close loop.” It is important to note that the application also prevents the creation of unsafe routes that deviate from existing trails, thus increasing your safety while respecting flexibility.
Improvements in search and Favorites management
iOS 18 Maps simplifies the search for places and routes. With the new “Search here” option, we can perform searches in the area that appears on the screen, instead of our current physical location. This change is ideal for planning visits or excursions in areas that have not yet been visited, something that in previous versions of the system was much more complicated.
In addition, we can easily save any trail, route, or favorite location in the “Library,” allowing us to quickly access our favorite content and download it for quick offline use.
The Library: A new home for our favorite locations
In iOS 18, all the information saved in Maps, including locations, routes, guides, and markers, is stored in the Library section. This centralization of content makes it easier for us to organize and quickly access saved data, and it also facilitates the saving of individual elements.
Until now, each element had to be saved in a Guide, which required a certain organization of the information. Now, inclusion in a guide is optional, allowing us to manage the information with more flexibility.
Private notes for personal annotations
In line with the information saving we just mentioned, the ability to add notes to any point of interest in the Maps application allows us to remember important details about specific locations. These notes are private and stored only for us, ensuring that the contained information is completely personal.
However, while in iOS 18 Safari resumes any web page and the Photos app undergoes a complete change, the new features of Maps in iOS 18 are designed to improve functionality and convenience in navigation, and also to enrich the outdoor exploration of both familiar and yet-to-be-discovered places. By being able to customize routes, create annotations, save places with more flexibility, and adapt information to our preferences, Apple continues to demonstrate its commitment to innovation and continuous improvement of a key app on our devices.
