Apple appears to be working on a satellite-powered weather update feature for iPhones, according to evidence found in the iOS 26 developer beta.
Satellite above Earth
The feature, in the developer beta by Macworld, lets iPhones download weather forecasts via satellite. Apple didn't mention the tool at its WWDC 2025 keynote, but it's in the iOS 26 codebase and aimed at users in remote environments.
When iOS 26 arrives later in 2025, supported iPhones will allow users to receive "Weather Updates via Satellite" if standard network access is unavailable. Like Apple's existing Emergency SOS feature, users will need to aim their device at the sky to connect to a satellite.
Once connected, the iPhone will pull in updated weather data and any relevant alerts for the user's location. It's a handy feature will be helpful for hikers, campers, or climbers who depend on accurate weather forecasts in areas with no signal.
Until now, satellite functionality on iPhone has been focused on emergencies and messaging. The weather addition pushes it into more practical, everyday use.
Expanding satellite ambitions
Apple first introduced satellite connectivity with the iPhone 14 in 2022, starting with Emergency SOS. The service has since been credited with helping rescue people in dangerous situations.
The company has gradually expanded its capabilities to include satellite-based iMessage and location sharing. Apple hasn't yet confirmed whether satellite weather updates will be free or part of a paid plan.
When Emergency SOS launched, Apple offered it free for two years to iPhone 14 buyers, but hasn't outlined pricing for long-term access or for new features like weather. There will be pricing eventually.
Companies don't do things gratis for very long. Whether Apple will bundle it into iCloud+ or not remains to be seen. But rest assured, those satellites need to make money.
People who lose network connections will be able to get weather updates via satellite
Coverage also remains geographically limited, with support concentrated in countries like the US, Canada, and select parts of Europe. It's unclear whether the new weather tool will expand to more regions or require newer iPhone models to function.
The feature will be critical in disaster zones where infrastructure has collapsed. In hurricanes, wildfires, or large-scale power outages, cellular towers often go offline.
That leaves residents without access to basic information like incoming storms or extreme heat alerts. A satellite-based forecast system allows iPhones to deliver life-saving weather updates even in the middle of an emergency.
During Hurricane Harvey in 2017, like the Cajun Navy relied on decentralized coordination and offline tools to assist those cut off by flooding.
With iOS 26 at some point, iPhones may offer something beyond messaging -- a way to stay informed when weather conditions rapidly change, and there's little or no wireless carrier connectivity.
Release timeline
Apple says iOS 26 will roll out to the public in fall 2025, with a public beta available in July. More details about device compatibility and feature availability are expected closer to launch.
As Apple continues to build out its satellite capabilities, the line between emergency tools and everyday features is beginning to blur. Offline weather updates may be a small step, but it's a shift toward a more resilient iPhone.