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TechRadar
TechRadar
David Nield

'Tone deaf and short sighted': Apple Maps gets first ads pop-up in iOS 26.5 beta — and users are fuming

Apple Apple Maps
Apple Maps on an iPhone.
  • Code for ads in Apple Maps had previously been spotted
  • Now there's a user-facing pop-up announcing their arrival
  • Many see it as a step in the wrong direction for Apple

We knew that ads were coming to Apple Maps, but with the rollout of the second beta for iOS 26.5, we have the first user-facing sign that the app is going to start featuring paid-for advertising from local businesses and venues.

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