Announced at WWDC 2026, the update will use new aerial imagery combined with Visual Intelligence models to create sharper, more realistic 3D city views.
Apple Maps is about to get a stunning dose of reality. Announced at this month's WWDC 2026 keynote, the upcoming iOS 27 release will use new "Visual Intelligence" models to create an incredibly detailed and realistic Flyover experience.
The upgrade will render 3D city views with unprecedented sharpness. Apple claims the improvements will be noticeable down to the "shapes of individual trees to the way light reflects off the glass of skyscrapers," creating a more lifelike digital twin of major cities.
While the feature was announced at the keynote, it is not yet available in the initial iOS 27 beta. It is expected to arrive in a future beta release before the public launch this fall.
Flyover is a signature feature of Apple Maps, offering interactive 3D views of over 350 cities worldwide. The feature uses aerial imagery captured by planes to build detailed models of landmarks, buildings, and parks.
The iOS 27 update advances this process by combining high-quality imagery with new Visual Intelligence models. This integration is the key driver behind the leap in visual fidelity, enabling the software to interpret and render complex textures and lighting effects more accurately than ever before.
For the millions who rely on Apple Maps, this update makes Flyover a more intuitive and visually engaging tool for exploration. The enhanced detail will make it easier to identify specific locations and get a true sense of a place.
By improving the rendering of everything from foliage to architectural materials, Apple is blurring the line between digital models and reality. This has practical benefits for planning trips or simply exploring the world's cities from your screen.
This level of detail could also pave the way for more advanced AR integrations, where digital information is overlaid onto a near-photorealistic view of the city. While the full impact will be seen when the feature rolls out, the announcement signals Apple's deep investment in its mapping service.
