Better late than never.
Apple has a long history of adopting features (and, to be fair, occasionally putting its own spin on them) that competitors have had for years. This time, it might be custom routes on its signature navigation app, Apple Maps. MacRumors spotted a file on the Maps back-end called "CustomRouteCreation" tied to the upcoming iOS 18, which so far is the only evidence we have that this is happening.
While it's not a lot to go on, the file name is pretty telling, and would provide a feature that Apple Maps frankly should've had a while ago. Google Maps (at least on a browser) gives users the ability to plan out their own custom routes rather than just going with the one the app suggests. If Apple were able to give iPhone users this feature and not require any kind of browser use to make it happen, that could finally give Apple Maps a much-needed leg up over Google's equivalent — especially when there's a chance Apple's default navigation app could have a rocky road ahead in the EU thanks to new Big Tech regulations.
As for when we'll get confirmation of this rumoured Apple Maps feature, it won't be long now. Apple plans to show off iOS 18, as well as the rest of its upcoming software suite, at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June.
