Heads-up! Apple Maps ads are getting closer – here’s what you can expect to see

If you’re rocking one of the best iPhones, you should know that Apple Maps ads are incoming.

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With the latest iOS 26.5 beta 2, users are now seeing a new splash screen that spells out how ads will work, MacRumors reports. According to the update, ads will be based on your approximate location, what you’re searching for, and even what part of the map you’re currently viewing.

They won’t just sit quietly in the background either. Apple is planning to surface ads in the Suggested Places section – a feature introduced in earlier iOS 26.5 betas – meaning promoted locations could start appearing there alongside regular suggestions.

Apple, naturally, is keen to stress this won’t come at the cost of privacy. The company says ad interactions won’t be tied to your Apple Account, and that it doesn’t collect or store data for ad targeting or share it with third parties. In short, it’s being pitched as a more privacy-conscious alternative to the kind of tracking-heavy ads you might find elsewhere.

It’s also not exactly uncharted territory. Google Maps has shown ads for years, including sponsored search results and promoted pins that surface businesses directly on the map. Apple’s version looks set to follow a similar approach – just with its usual privacy-focused spin. Apple already runs ads in the App Store, and the plan is for Maps ads to follow a similar format, complete with a clear “Ad” label so you know what’s being promoted.

As for when Apple Maps ads will launch, early signs appeared in the first iOS 26.5 beta, and this latest update suggests Apple is now laying the groundwork for a wider rollout. It’s not yet clear whether ads themselves are live for testers, or if this is still just preparation for a final rollout.

Apple first confirmed back in March that ads would be coming to Maps, with a public rollout expected “this summer” across iPhone, iPad, and Mac – initially in the US and Canada – with no word yet of a release in other countries.

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Esat Dedezade Contributor

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.