Apple Maps iOS 26 is already shaping up to be a quiet upgrade, but new beta code hints at two unannounced features that could improve both performance and usability. One is built for convenience. The other? To keep your iPhone from melting on the dashboard.
Apple Maps iOS 26 preps natural language search
According to beta code findings shared on social media, Apple is working on a more intuitive search experience for Maps. The feature, labeled “Search the Way You Talk,” will let users speak or type casual queries like “best coffee shops with free Wi-Fi” instead of relying on rigid keywords.
This search system is powered by Apple Intelligence and mirrors updates seen recently across other native apps like Photos, Music, and TV. It hasn’t rolled out in the current iOS 26 beta yet, but it’s clearly on the roadmap.
Here’s what Apple’s new search could bring to Maps:
- Casual, conversational search queries
- Improved location discovery using AI context
- Consistent search behavior across Apple’s core apps
Apple Maps iOS 26 may reduce overheating during navigation
The second leak focuses less on flair and more on function. Current versions of Apple Maps keep your screen awake during turn-by-turn directions helpful for visibility, but not great for heat.
Beta code now points to a new setting that will allow the screen to turn off during navigation to help the device cool down. Especially for drivers using dashboard mounts on hot days, this could reduce the risk of iPhones throttling or shutting down from overheating.
One feature may already be live
After reports surfaced, users noticed the thermal cooling behavior seemed active in both iOS 26 and iOS 18, suggesting Apple may have rolled it out quietly. The search update, though, remains unavailable in the latest builds.
Whether these features make the iOS 26 public release or sneak in via a 26.1 patch, Apple Maps is still evolving. And if “talking” to it feels more natural and safer, then that’s a smart direction.
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