iOS 18 is coming later this year and may focus more on AI, but Apple will still want to make some updates to existing apps on the iPhone. And that could mean big changes to the built-in maps, tools, if recently discovered code is any indication.

MacRumors code researcher Nicolás Alvarez reports that he has found code that suggests that iOS 18 Maps will add custom routes. Presumably, Apple pushed a file called "CustomRouteCreation" to the Maps backend in iOS 18. The file does not reveal much beyond its name, but mentions that the upcoming feature will initially only be available in the US, which is fairly typical for a new Maps feature.

When planning a trip in Apple Maps, the current options are quite limited. It is possible to add certain restrictions when planning a trip, such as not using highways or toll roads. A comparison of Apple Maps and Google Maps shows that these options are inferior to other map applications. Google Maps, in particular, allows users far more flexibility when planning routes.

The appeal of custom routes is that they offer users freedom in planning their trips and can make the experience much more enjoyable. For example, users will be able to choose specific roads based on visual aesthetics, unlike the current approach, which emphasizes convenience.

While examining the code, we also discovered that the topographic maps already available on the Apple Watch could be added to Apple Maps on iOS, macOS, and visionOS. This code has been dormant for some time in these operating systems, but appears to be active in iOS 18.

We have heard an abundance of rumors about what could be announced when Apple previews iOS 18 at WWDC in 2024, with a particular focus on Apple's AI plans. We are glad to hear that other features of Apple's built-in apps are not being neglected in this AI push.

Then again, we are talking about a single line of code that doesn't give us much information to work with; how "CustomRouteCreation" will work, or even if it will be included, won't be known until WWDC, which is confirmed to take place on June 10. WWDC, which is confirmed to be held on June 10.