The iPhone 14 has accident detection for the first time. But does it actually work as advertised when it comes to a real car accident? A YouTuber has now answered exactly this question – and destroyed a car in the process.
iPhone 14: accident detection under the magnifying glass
With the new iPhone 14 (Pro) and also the Apple Watch (Ultra), the manufacturer has implemented accident detection for the first time. Not only should it be used in an emergency detect car accidents, but automatically dial the emergency number. The function relies on the gyroscope, accelerometer, GPS, barometer and even the microphone of the cell phone or smartwatch. Based on the collected data, the devices recognize whether a serious car accident has occurred.
It didn’t take long until a first YouTuber has accepted the matter. According to TechRax, they simply wanted to know whether the accident detection really does what Apple claims. To do this, he glued an iPhone 14 Pro to the headrest of the driver’s seat and let the car drive against an obstacle by remote control.
The video that has now been released was filmed “in a safe and controlled environment” (source: TechRax). Trying it out for yourself is of course not recommended. Just watch the video here:
Accident detection of the iPhone 14 in a practical test
The iPhone 14 Pro survived the accident and recognized it as such. In the video you can see how the smartphone was about to call 911. A warning also appears on the screen for the first ten seconds after the accident. After the emergency call, all saved emergency contacts are also informed.
When unveiling the feature, Apple pointed out that no setup is required and the Accident detection is enabled by default. Frontal and side impacts, rear-end collisions and rollovers should be detected.