Summary
- Waze has received an update with several useful new features, including motorcycle mode, a "less chatty" mode for voice prompts, and personalized route selections.
- Waze has also received some new Gemini-powered features, including Conversational Reporting updates and the ability to find a destination by describing what you want.
- These new features are rolling out now, although availability is slightly different for each.
Popular navigation app Waze just got a massive update. On July 13, Google announced several useful new features to help make the Waze experience better.
What's new with Waze?
Motorcycle mode
The headline feature is a new motorcycle mode that uses AI to find routes better suited to motorcycles and provide more accurate ETAs. Google says this mode considers the fact that motorcycles "can access narrower streets and are more sensitive to road surfaces." It will also highlight road hazards that may be worse for motorcycles, "like potholes, speed bumps, raised crosswalks, shoulder endings, and narrow bridges."
These features are powered by real-time traffic information and a "dedicated group of motorcycle map editors who are constantly adding new hazards to the map."
Personalized navigation
Waze will now learn from your route preferences and "suggest routes based on your previous trips." For example, if you prefer highways over local streets, those routes will be suggested first. You can still choose whichever route you like when starting a trip, and if you find the feature isn't accurate, you can turn it off entirely in settings.
"Less chatty" mode
For those who like voice prompts — but not too many of them — Waze has added a "less chatty" mode. This reduces the number of voice prompts and keeps them shorter, so you're interrupted less.
New Gemini features
Waze is also getting some new Gemini features:
- Conversational Reporting now lets you report road updates, in addition to traffic incidents. You can say "The road is closed here," and Gemini will process that info and send it to the appropriate editors to verify and update maps. This is a lot simpler than trying to tap through menus while driving.
- You can now ask Gemini to help you find potential destinations. For example, if you're looking for a coffee shop, you can say "Find me a coffee shop that's open right now," and Gemini will provide a list of options.
Waze keeps getting better
Less fiddling and more focus
Waze remains a popular alternative to Google Maps (although not everyone agrees that it's better), thanks to its aggressive rerouting and detailed alerts. These new features add significant convenience. Say what you will about Gemini — anything that reduces distractions while driving is welcome, and these new conversational voice commands should help do just that. The motorcycle and "less chatty" modes are nice touches, and the personalized navigation should help surface routes you'll prefer (in theory, at least).
Rollout and availability
Unfortunately, these features aren't all rolling out to everyone at once. Here's the breakdown:
- Motorcycle mode: Rolling out now to Android and iOS users in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, and the Philippines. Google says more countries are "on the way."
- Personalized navigation: Rolling out now globally on both Android and iOS.
- "Less chatty" mode: Rolling out now globally on both Android and iOS.
- Reporting road updates: Rolling out now globally on both Android and iOS.
- Finding your destination with Gemini: Rolling out now to Waze beta users globally on Android and iOS.
- OS
- Android, iOS
- Price model
- Free
Waze is a robust, feature-rich, community-driven navigation app that shows live traffic, EV charging stations, and police stops.