Google Maps new Pixel 10 power saving mode explained

Navigation apps are some of the biggest secret battery killers on any smartphone. The moment you start turn by turn guidance in Google Maps, your device fires up the GPS chip, pings the network for live traffic data, keeps the screen on at a readable brightness, and constantly redraws the map as you move.

It is no surprise that many drivers instinctively reach for a car charger before starting a long journey. With the Pixel 10 series, Google is finally trying to address this problem directly inside Maps with a clever new power saving mode that is built specifically for navigation.

Instead of treating battery life as something the operating system manages in the background, Google has designed a feature that lives inside the Maps experience itself. When enabled, it reshapes how navigation is displayed so that it requires far less energy while still giving you the information you care about most: where you are, what your next turn is, and how far away it is. The result is a navigation view that looks far more minimal than the standard map, but continues to guide you reliably even when your battery is already running low.

The catch is that this upgrade is currently exclusive to the Pixel 10 family. Older Pixel phones and other Android devices do not yet have access to this built in mode, even though they run the same Google Maps app. Google appears to be testing the concept first on its own flagship hardware, likely because the Pixels combine a bright always on display, efficient panel technology, and tuned system software that together make this feature shine. For now, if you want the full experience, you need a Pixel 10 in your pocket.

How Google Maps power saving mode actually works on Pixel 10

When you switch on the new power saving mode, Maps hands off its interface to a special low energy view that is designed to live on the lock screen. Instead of the usual colorful map, dynamic animations, and dense on screen controls, you get a stripped down layout that focuses on essential details. You still see your route line, your current position, and the next maneuver, but everything is presented in a simplified format that the display can render using much less power.

The mode leans on the Min Mode style of the Pixel always on display. In practice, that means Maps is shown in a mostly monochrome palette with restrained use of color, the refresh rate drops, animations are reduced, and the display brightness is toned down compared to full navigation view. Crucially, the phone can stay locked while still showing your guidance, so the processor does less work and the system spends more time in efficient low power states. You glance, get your bearings, and put the phone back down without waking up the full interface.

How to turn on Google Maps power saving on Pixel 10

Setting up the feature is straightforward, although it is slightly hidden inside the app settings. On a Pixel 10 device, do the following:

• Open Google Maps and tap your profile icon in the upper right corner to open the app menu.
• Choose the Settings option to access all navigation and app preferences.
• Scroll to the Navigation section and select it.
• Under the Driving options heading, locate the switch labeled Power saving mode and turn it on.

Once the toggle is enabled, you use it while navigating. Start a driving route as you normally would, wait for turn by turn directions to begin, and then press the power button to lock the phone. Instead of going completely dark, the Pixel 10 presents a simplified navigation view on the lock screen. This is the new power saving interface, and it will continue to show your next turn and distance updates while consuming noticeably less power than the full navigation screen.

Important limitations and hidden catches

As impressive as the feature is, there are a few restrictions you should know about before you rely on it. First, power saving mode in Maps is locked to portrait orientation. If you rotate the Pixel 10 into landscape, Maps refuses to stay in this minimal view and shows a pop up explaining that landscape is not available with power saving turned on. For drivers who mount their phones horizontally on the dashboard, that is a frustrating compromise.

The second limitation is that the feature works only in driving mode. If you use Google Maps while walking, jogging, or cycling, you will not see the new power saving navigation view at all. That is a strange decision, because people on foot or on a bike often have the least access to a charger and may care even more about preserving battery life for the rest of the day. Google has not provided a clear public explanation, but it is possible that the company wants to keep the first implementation tightly scoped before expanding it to other modes.

Finally, as already mentioned, availability is restricted to the Pixel 10 line. No older Pixel devices, and no Android phones from other brands, can activate the Maps power saving mode today. That is likely a mix of technical and marketing reasons: Google can tune the feature to specific hardware characteristics of the latest Pixels, and at the same time it gives the new phones a unique perk that sets them apart from rivals.

Why this feature matters on long trips

Anyone who has driven for several hours with navigation running knows the sinking feeling of watching the battery percentage count down. Even with a charger in the car, you can run into issues, such as slow charging from a weak power adapter, a cable that disconnects when you hit a pothole, or a hot day that forces the phone to throttle and charge more slowly. A mode that reduces the energy draw of Maps directly lowers the amount of power your device needs just to keep you on course.

On top of that, the lock screen based interface helps from a safety perspective. With the full app minimized to a simple turn indicator, there is less temptation to interact with the screen, pan around the map, or poke at extra menus while driving. You get a quick, high contrast summary of your next maneuver that you can absorb at a glance, and you can rely on audio prompts for the rest. Fewer distractions and more efficient power use make this a modest but meaningful quality of life upgrade for regular drivers.

How it compares to Waze, Apple Maps, and other apps

At the moment, rival navigation services do not offer an equivalent built in power saving interface. Waze and Apple Maps still depend entirely on the system level low power modes and whatever brightness and refresh rate policies your phone already applies. Those options can help, but they are more generic and do not redesign the navigation view itself to be more battery friendly in the way Pixel 10 Maps does.

If you are on a non Pixel phone and want to get similar benefits, you still have a few tools. Turning on your phone wide battery saver before starting navigation lowers background activity and limits power intensive tasks in other apps. Downloading offline maps for the area you will be traveling through reduces how often Maps needs to talk to the network, which saves both data and power. Offline maps do not remove the need for GPS or the display, so they are not a magic bullet, but they can stretch your battery compared to constant online loading.

Extra tips to squeeze more battery from navigation

Even on a Pixel 10, and especially on other devices, a few simple habits can extend your battery life while using Maps. Dim the screen to the lowest comfortable brightness instead of leaving it near maximum. Use a wired charger rather than relying on a low power wireless pad in the car. Close heavy background apps such as games or streaming services before you hit the road. Consider using an eSIM data plan from a travel focused provider when you go abroad, so that Maps does not waste energy hunting for a weak or unstable roaming connection.

Combine those general practices with the dedicated power saving mode on Pixel 10, and you get a noticeably more efficient navigation experience. The feature is not as flashy as a new camera mode or a radical interface redesign, but over dozens of commutes and road trips it can make the difference between arriving with battery to spare and scrambling for a power outlet.

What this tells us about the future of Maps

The arrival of a navigation specific power saving mode signals that Google sees battery life as something that can be optimized at the app level, not just by the operating system. It is easy to imagine future updates that bring similar minimal modes to walking or cycling navigation, or that roll out the feature to more Android phones as manufacturers adopt compatible display hardware. For now, Pixel 10 owners get a useful head start, and everyone else gets a glimpse of how smarter navigation can respect both your route and your battery.