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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.

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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.

Michael Allison
Former Digital Trends Contributor
A UK-based tech journalist for Digital Trends, helping keep track and make sense of the fast-paced world of tech with a…
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