I always install Google Maps going on my Android phones and so should you

Several years ago, Google built a light version of Android, Android Go, for lower phones with slower processors and limited resources. Google gave out light “go” versions of some of their own apps especially for these phones, and one of them is Map goes. On paper, there is no reason why you should use this Barebones version of Google Maps if you already have the full-fledged app on your phone. But I always install Google Maps in addition to maps on my Android phonesEven the most powerful. Why? Blame map.

If you’ve ever used Google Maps in recent years, you probably understand this claim without explaining it: Google Maps is useless when you start navigation. Whether I get driving or wandering directions, when I first have navigation on turn-to-turn, there is nothing else I can do in the app. I can stop, and that’s just that. Search becomes almost useless, my saved places disappear, and every detail disappears.

To explain why this is a problem, you can imagine this: I go somewhere, and I discover a nice restaurant on the street, but I can’t see ranking, reviews, pictures, menu or making a reservation. If I press it, maps will want to add it as a stop on the trip without letting me see the details. No, I have to end the navigation, check the place, and search for my original destination again and restart navigation. It is unnecessary hacky and complicated. In addition, there is no way to make a proper, thorough search while navigation is in progress. You get a fleeting search along your route for some places, but nothing more.

However, if I use public transport guidelines (not running/going), Google lets me tap in nearby places to see its details without interrupting navigation, but I can’t do any search whatsoever – not even on my route. I’m not sure why this is this deviation, but that means the whole app is basically useless, no matter what mode of transport I use.

It’s annoying. I trust Google Maps a lot because I live in a foreign country, in a city I haven’t remembered as the back of my hand yet, and I often travel to explore cities nearby. Using directions to come anywhere is important to me, but it is then to look up places, and that I can’t do this while doing what blows my thoughts.

I swear that there was a time when you could go back while holding the navigation active, but that’s no longer the case. For months I looked for a solution to no avail, it hit me: Google Maps Go!

Google maps go Is a lighter, more basic version of Google Maps. It weighs around 2 MB, requires only a placement permit, sends no notifications and does not need a super fast connection to work. It has all the usual map data, but navigation is quite barbon (there is no live guide for transit, for example), and it lacks some extra flowering like offline maps, timeline saving and search filters. But for the purpose of having a secondary map incoming that I can open each time the main app is taken over by an ongoing navigation, it is perfect – and better than just bookmark maps.google.com in my browser.

So every time I walk, drive or commute somewhere, and I need to search for nearby places or look up the details of a pub, restaurant or any interesting place I pass by, I just open maps and use it. It keeps my navigation intact in the main app and saves me from having to stop and start it again.

I can simply look up the details in any location, see its ranking and reviews, opening hours, looking at some pictures, checking the menu or site and saving it on my lists as well.

I miss having more powerful filters while searching to limit the results, and there are times when I have to stop maps, go from leading over to the main app, but I take these little nigles over the annoyingly foolish way the map maps take on ongoing navigation. I’d rather use a different, more limited app than waste time stopping and resuming step-by-step directions.

Until the Maps team fixes this audit in the main app, Google Maps Go will have a permanent space on some of my Android phones. I just hope Google doesn’t kill it or stop supporting it soon – after all, the last time it was updated was in October 2023. It doesn’t give good for it, unfortunately.