As of April 2021, Google appears to be experimenting with a place label increase to Google Maps. The changes are quite dramatic and are most noticeable in rural and suburban areas.

However, these changes aren’t without cost. In order to fit more place labels, Google has reduced the number of street labels.

For instance, in the San Jose image from earlier, Google has removed 57 of the 77 street labels that were on the old map—a 74% reduction:

Meanwhile, the Napa image from earlier has a 76% reduction in street labels:

In any event, Google’s place label increase is a further continuation of the trend we’ve been watching over the past few years of Google Maps becoming more and more place-centric.

Looking back, Google has slowly been increasing the number of place labels shown on its map and gradually making their icons larger and more colorful:

And roughly a year ago, Google even removed the map from its app icon, leaving just the place pin: