Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Watch the iPhone 14’s car crash detection get put to the test

With the iPhone 14, Apple introduced several nice-to-have features to the iPhone. These include the much-expected satellite communication support as well as car crash detection. Testing crash detection didn’t quite happen in many iPhone release day reviews for obvious reasons, but post-launch reviews have seen the iPhone strenuously tested for both its durability prowess and the new crash detection support.

Car crash detection is also available on the Apple Watch Series 8. It kicks into gear when your device detects a solid stop. Once that happens, the iPhone (or Watch), will dial emergency services automatically after a short delay unless the driver is physically able to cancel the call. While Apple’s marketing is one thing, you can now see how this happens with TechRax’s video on YouTube below.

Does the iPhone 14 Pro Crash Detection Actually Work? - Car Accident Experiment

“The entire iPhone 14 lineup introduces groundbreaking safety capabilities that can provide emergency assistance when it matters most. With a new dual-core accelerometer capable of detecting G-force measurements of up to 256Gs and a new high dynamic range gyroscope, Crash Detection on iPhone can now detect a severe car crash and automatically dial emergency services when a user is unconscious or unable to reach their iPhone,” Apple said. The company also says that crash detection works best with an Apple Watch and an iPhone paired together. Affected users can dismiss the crash detection prompt from the Watch, while the call is placed from the phone if needed.

Apple isn’t the only phone brand to offer car crash detection. Google’s Pixel line has supported crash detection since the Pixel 4’s first feature drop.  The company later expanded its availability to even more countries than the limited few it launched with a few months ago. Google is also thought to be expanding its availability away from Pixel to other Android phones in a future release of its personal safety app. It’s a feature that most people will hope they never have to use, but one that would come in handy if it is needed.

Editors' Recommendations

Michael Allison
A UK-based tech journalist for Digital Trends, helping keep track and make sense of the fast-paced world of tech with a…
This is the iPhone concept of my dreams
iPhone concept mimicking iPad Pro desgn.

It’s an odd day to be talking about iPhone design. Yesterday, Apple delivered what can be called the pinnacle of tablet aesthetics with the 2024 iPad Pro, which is even slimmer than the iPod Nano. Today, Bloomberg reports that Duncan Kerr -- a design executive from the legendary Jony Ive group and was a key figure behind the iPhone, iPad, and Mac products since 1999 -- is leaving the company.

It’s a great loss for Apple and disheartening news for iPhone enthusiasts. Apple almost seems obsessed with the design language it introduced with the iPhone 11 series. And if recent leaks are any indication, we are going back to the iPhone X days with the non-Pro iPhone 16 models later this year.

Read more
A big iPhone update is right around the corner
An iPhone 15 Pro Max sitting upright, showing one of its home screens.

With announcements for 2024 models of the iPad Air and iPad Pro, today's been a busy day of Apple news. But the iPad isn't the only Apple product in the news today. Following the big announcements from its event earlier this morning, Apple also shared some important news regarding the next iPhone update.

As of Tuesday, May 7, Apple has begun rolling out RC builds for iOS 17.5. RC stands for "Release Candidate," and it's the last beta version of a software update that Apple releases before its final public rollout. In other news, the official iOS 17.5 update should be right around the corner.

Read more
I found an amazing new way to use my iPhone 15 Pro Max
The back of a Natural Titanium iPhone 15 Pro Max.

When Apple announced the iPhone 15 Pro series last September, there was one feature I was more excited about than anything else: the Action button. Gone was the useless ring/silent slider. In its place was a button we could customize to our exact liking.

I've been using the Action button on my iPhone 15 Pro Max ever since I got it, and for the last few months, it's been programmed to open the camera app. It's convenient, but it's also nothing particularly exciting. Recently, though, I found a new and unexpected way to use my iPhone's Action button — and it's kind of blowing my mind.
Supercharging the Action button

Read more