Back in August 2020, Google began testing a seemingly Apple Maps-inspired map style that added darker and deeper landcover colors throughout the world:
While some areas, like deserts, looked much improved…
…other areas, like metropolitan areas, became harder to read:
And areas with lots of hills and mountains became especially cluttered and difficult to scan:
For the past three years, Google’s cartography has largely remained in this difficult-to-scan state—that is, until now. That’s because as of late August 2023, Google appears to be testing a new Apple Maps-inspired map style.
Unfortunately, Google’s new, in-testing map style is even worse than its old one. Here in Chicago, for instance, notice how much harder it is to read and scan the map:1
And the same goes for New York City:
The new New York map above looks comically bad, almost like student-level work.
It’s difficult to understand Google’s motivations for making suc
