The topic iOS 26.5 adds new Apple Maps feature for trending places is currently the subject of lively discussion — readers and analysts are keeping a close eye on developments.
This is taking place in a dynamic environment: companies’ decisions and competitors’ reactions can quickly change the picture.
iOS 26.5 beta 1 arrived today, and with it a new Apple Maps feature for discovering where to go next—dubbed simply ‘Suggested Places.’
Last week, Apple announced that ads are coming to Apple Maps this summer in the US and Canada.
But buried in that press release was word of another forthcoming feature for Maps users: ‘Suggested Places.’
Now, Suggested Places are officially available in the first iOS 26.5 beta.
Though the feature will at some point include sponsored suggestions, it’s also broader than that, offering organic recommendations based on a variety of factors.
Suggested Places…will display recommendations based on what’s trending nearby, the user’s recent searches, and more
If you’re running the iOS 26.5 beta, you’ll see Suggested Places when you tap inside the search box.
The new search screen includes the existing buttons to quickly find nearby places, plus recent suggestions, and it also shows you two ‘Suggested Places.’
This is only beta 1, so the feature will likely improve over time, but it’s nice to see Apple debut the new Maps feature just days after last week’s announcement.
I’m curious to see how trending locations come into play, but so far in the beta I’ve already seen my Suggested Places get refreshed based on searches that I’ve performed.
It’s also nice that for now at least, there are no ads displaying in Suggested Places yet.
What do you think of the new Suggested Places feature in Apple Maps? Let us know in the comments.