For starters as you can see in the screenshot above, one of the biggest and more obvious changes would be to the look of Google Maps. While it was never really an issue, the update has made the design of Maps to be cleaner and in some ways brighter than before, thus making it easier for users.
According to Google, “So as part of this update, we’ve removed elements that aren’t absolutely required (like road outlines). The result is a cleaner look that makes it easier to see helpful and actionable information like traffic and transit. And we’ve improved the typography of street names, points of interest, transit stations, and more to make them more distinguishable from other things on the map, helping you navigate the world with fewer distractions.”
The update will also include “Areas of interest”, which as the name suggests, will highlight locations that Google thinks might be worth checking out. According to Google, “The cleaner canvas also lets us show local information in entirely new ways. As you explore the new map, you’ll notice areas shaded in orange representing ‘areas of interest’—places where there’s a lot of activities and things to do.” The update should be applied to the desktop, iOS, and Android versions of Google Maps, so check it out if you haven’t done so already.