Emergency services should work even if there is no cell reception. Otherwise you are not prepared and death is coming /sBut what if I'm stranded nooooooowwwwwwww?
And, you will likely be eaten by a grue.Emergency services should work even if there is no cell reception. Otherwise you are not prepared and death is coming /s
When it eventually arrives in the UK, assuming it does, it might help on the many parts of the coast where there is no signal. There are many parts which have mobile signal further out to sea, but right in by the cliffs, etc., nothing at all.Where I live, there are many areas with no cell signal (mountainous region, no signal in many of the canyons). This is a feature that might have me updating my wife's phone two years earlier than planned (I already have a 14Pro, replacing my five-year-old X).
Regarding solar, the items you mentioned are in testing. And what do you expect people to do? Walk around in the wilderness with their iPhone turned toward the sun? Perhaps they could strap their phone to their forhead..
Working solutions- If you've even thought of doing a medium risk adventure, you would know about these. They have been in regular use long before smart phones and cellular were a thing. Skiers, back country snowmobilers, hiking, etc.
![]()
The 5 Best Satellite Communicators of 2025
If you need to communicate from beyond cell signal, we've tested the products and services and report back on equipment from Motorola, Garmin, SPOT, ACR...www.outdoorgearlab.com
"This is so incredibly far-fetched and unlikely as to defy credibility."
In your not so humble opinion. Sounds like someone that has not ever had the opportunity to leave their armchair quarterbacking position. Iphones last a day at best on a full charge, and that's in the best case. Cold weather drops that significantly. If it in fact IS an emergency, one that you had not expected, it is likely that you may not have a powerbank with you. I don't know many people that carry a fully charged power bank with them all the time. Not so unlikely. Fortunatly my travels don't often take me to off grid areas, but if it did on a regular basis I sure wouldn't be counting on my phone to help, I'd be carrying around a much more tired and true solution that has been around and proven.
"push forward with solar charging screens". Apparently very much so. Apple has done more with less mature technology before.
![]()
Transparent solar panel display charges your phone through the screen
www.pocket-lint.com
![]()
Solar Panels in the Screens of Smartphones Could Power the Devices
Kyocera unveils a prototype for a phone with a layer of transparent crystals in its screen that helps to charge it both indoors and outsidewww.smithsonianmag.com
![]()
Phones could be charged by invisible solar panels hidden in screen
Titanium oxide and nickel oxide could be the key to unlocking transparent solar panelswww.independent.co.uk
![]()
Solar-charging screen could augment your phone’s battery life
SunPartner Group hopes to push out a new transparent panel that will allow your screen to give your charge your phone, using the power of the sun.www.androidauthority.com
Hopefully so. I am glad it will be available in case I ever fall into that .1%.99.9% will never use or need this
This. I can be 200 yards from my house and have no signal of any kind (no cell, no wi-fi). Say I'm cutting firewood, and despite wearing proper PPE, I get hurt. iPhone 14 Pro was a day one purchase for me.Some of y'all need to get out of the city once and a while. I live in Utah, there are plenty of off-grid locations where this is going to be a life saver many times over. Every county has a Search and Rescue team that gets called out regularly, and most of those rescues happen outside the reach of cell phones, and all they have is "He's missing, was hiking here, haven't heard back yet". This is going to make their job a lot easier because it puts emergency relay information in the hands of far more people.
Same and it's infuriating. I'm glad we have this feature.This. I can be 200 yards from my house and have no signal of any kind (no cell, no wi-fi). Say I'm cutting firewood, and despite wearing proper PPE, I get hurt. iPhone 14 Pro was a day one purchase for me.
By that argument, 98% would never sideload. So why isn't Apple looking out for the other 2%?Not sure what your point is, but the implication seems to be you don't think Apple should be bothering with this? 99.9% will also never use or need a fire extinguisher in their home (or fire insurance), yet it would be foolish not to have both.
By that argument, 98% would never sideload. So why isn't Apple looking out for the other 2%?