Apple’s latest iPhone and Apple Watch include new safety features that will aid in your safety in the event of an emergency. Emergency SOS via satellite is a new safety service for iPhone 14 users that allows you to communicate with emergency services when you are not in range of wi-fi or cell service. Crash Detection detects severe car accidents, automatically connects you to emergency services, provides your location, and notifies your emergency contacts. At its launch event on Wednesday, Apple unveiled a slew of new hardware products, including the iPhone 14, new AirPods Pro, and the Apple Watch Ultra. But one thing stood out: it shifted the emphasis to safety features. Here’s a rundown of what’s new.
Emergency SOS via satellite
Emergency SOS is a new satellite-based safety service for iPhone 14 users. It will enable you to communicate with emergency services even if you are not within Wi-Fi or cell service range. It could be useful for people who are stranded on a hike, for example. Apple designed a user interface that shows you where to point your phone to stay connected to a moving satellite. You can use the interface to answer questions about the emergency, send text messages, or connect to an emergency service via a relay center. Apple stated that it is free for the first two years, but did not specify how much it would cost after that.
Crash Detection
Apple also announced a new Crash Detection feature for the iPhone 14 as well as users of the new Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Ultra. It expands on Apple’s fall detection technology, which was previously available in Apple Watch models.
It’s a feature we’ve seen in other devices before, such as some Google Pixel phones, but it’s the first time we’ve seen it in Apple’s products. Crash Detection can detect frontal, side-impact, rear-end, and roll-over collisions in the majority of popular vehicle types, and the feature is only active while driving. Crash Detection will automatically connect you with emergency services, provide your location, and notify your emergency contacts in the event of an emergency.
Extreme Sports Safety Features
Sporty Apple Watch Ultra owners will have access to a variety of extreme-condition safety features. Apple redesigned the Compass app, for example, so that you can retrace your steps and mark your location, and recreational scuba divers can download the Oceanic+ app to get access to safety warnings that they would normally expect from advanced dive computers. It can alert you to a decompression safety stop while diving, as shown in the image above. The Apple Watch Ultra also includes a new 86-decibel siren that can be heard up to 600 feet away, in case you get lost or are stuck out in the elements and need people to help you find your way.