Gemini’s latest upgrade makes it easier for you to discover local hotspots

The new interface shows you key information, review summaries, and more at a glance.

By Pranob Mehrotra Published December 15, 2025

A person using Google Gemini on the Google Pixel 9a. — Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Google has started rolling out a fresh upgrade for Gemini on desktop and mobile that levels up how it displays information from Google Maps. Instead of a wall of text followed by a map view at the end featuring pins, Gemini can now offer Google Maps results “in a rich, visual format” that gives users access to “photos, ratings, and real-world info.”

When users ask Gemini for nearby places like restaurants, parks, or attractions, it now displays an interactive map at the top with themed pins for different locations. Each location is highlighted with its own unique card that includes photos and a star rating, followed by a text response related to the user’s query.

Starting today, Gemini can serve up local results in a rich, visual format. See photos, ratings, and real-world info from @GoogleMaps, right where you need them.
— G3mini (@GeminiApp) December 13, 2025

This new card-based interface makes it easier to compare options at a glance without scrolling through a long list or switching to the Google Maps app for additional information. Tapping on the location card reveals a Gemini summary based on Google Maps reviews of the place. This includes additional cards like “People talk most about,” “People go here for,” “Review summary,” and “Tips from reviewers.”

Review summaries and tips are now baked into place cards

As their names suggest, these cards show things people frequently mention in their reviews of that particular place, an overall summary of the reviews, and advice shared in the reviews. Google Maps recently received a similar update that introduced Gemini-powered “Know before you go” tips based on user reviews and local data.

Recommended Videos

The updated Google Maps experience in Gemini started rolling out on desktop and mobile over the weekend, but it’s currently only available when the language is set to English. You can try it out by asking Gemini for nearby restaurant or sightseeing recommendations.

The change makes Gemini a more practical tool for real-world information about local hotspots, turning it into a handy tool for exploring, planning, and deciding where to go next. Add to it the Gemini-powered improvements for Google Maps navigation, and the overall experience from discovery to navigation feels much more cohesive and practical.

Pranob Mehrotra

News Writer

Pranob is a seasoned tech journalist with over eight years of experience covering consumer technology. His work has been…

Topics

Phones

T-Mobile’s new plans let you pick your own perks instead of a fixed bundle

T-Mobile launches T-Mix plans with customizable perks and three pricing tiers.

Are you tired of paying for streaming services you never watch just to get a phone plan feature you actually want? T-Mobile has good news for you! The carrier is rolling out new plans, called T-Mix, in early November to replace its old Experience lineup with a build-your-own perks system called Picks.

The benefits you choose vary from streaming and gaming to food delivery, AI, satellite service, and phone discounts. But if you are satisfied with your existing plan, you can keep it.

Phones

Apple is investigating cracked screens on the iPhone Duo and replacing broken units

Apple assures that not all units of the iPhone Duo are affected by the display issue.

iPhone Duo screen in the hand.

Merely days after the iPhone Duo hit the shelves, images of broken screens on the phone started popping up across social media. Until now, it’s been unclear what’s causing the line of defective pixels that appears vertically along the crease, as well as horizontally, on the phone’s inner display.

Apple has finally acknowledged the issue, which has shown up on iPhone Duo units owned by customers as well as demo units in stores. In a statement shared with Bloomberg, Apple says that not all iPhone Duo units are affected and that those that are tend to show the display fault early on. The company added that users who experience problems with their iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare for a replacement.

Phones

Apple quietly hopes to end the gizmo right-to-repair war. The iPhone Duo is the latest specimen.

The right-to-repair movement has entered its fine-print era.

iPhone Duo on MagSafe mount with screen half open

Not long ago, Apple treated independent repair like an act of outright hostility. The Cupertino giant locked down parts with serial-number pairing, while repair tools remained firmly out of reach of anyone outside its authorized repair network. More importantly, the company waged a legal and lobbying battle against right-to-repair legislation.

I've covered enough of these fights over the years to know what a shift looks like. That's why what happened in October 2026 genuinely caught me off guard. The day the iPhone Duo went on sale, what may be the most mechanically complex iPhone to date, Apple pulled off a surprising about-face. It published teardown-style repair manuals for a handful of major components.