One of the reasons for Google Maps’ dominance among rivals is its extensive list of features. The app also bundles new features periodically to enhance the overall navigation experience.
Like with most Google apps, Maps routinely tests functionality changes or other visual tweaks, but not all are well-received by users. The app is now testing one such change, specifically to the process of adding stops during navigation.
While Google Maps shows you the locations of restaurants, gas stations, rest stops, etc. on the map during navigation, a future release could instead use a bottom sheet to bring up these options. Android Authority unearthed this design change in version 25.42.02.817770306 beta of Google Maps, although it had to be activated manually.
These changes are not limited to your smartphone
Adding stops in the current version of Maps (images 1 and 2) vs upcoming (3 and 4)
As the comparison screenshots above show, places/listings that would typically appear on the map itself will now appear on a card at the bottom of the screen. Users can pull up this card to see the entire list of options available on the way to their destination, with each item indicating the detour’s duration, either in minutes or with a Quick detour label.
An interesting inclusion here is the dedicated Call button for each listing, something that the existing navigation interface doesn’t offer. This bottom card also includes filters for Open Now, Near me, Halfway, and Near destination to narrow down the options.
Similarly, the Maps app for Android Auto is also working on these changes. Filters for Near me, Halfway, and Near destination (in the form of icons) and Open Now are visible in this updated version. You can see what all the filters look like in the first screengrab below, with the second screenshot detailing the Halfway filter for restaurants.
Unlike the Android version we touched on earlier, Google Maps for Android Auto will continue to display places directly on the map itself, at least on certain pages.
This makes us hopeful that the smartphone version may also get similar markings on the map, with what we’re seeing in this report possibly illustrating an early version of the revamp. Android Authority further notes that some of the buttons aren’t functional yet, which lends more credence to that notion.
In addition to this under-development revamp for stops, Google Maps was spotted testing a conveniently placed Home chip this week. This chip will be positioned below the search bar, highlighting the ETA with a color-coded traffic conditions indicator for your journey back home.
