The Qualcomm X65 modem was found within the latest iPhone 14 devices that iFixit is currently disassembling.
The new Emergency SOS via satellite service, which was launched with the new models, cannot be used with that, though.
According to Apple, “iPhone 14 has new software that was wholly built by Apple, as well as special radio frequency components, which together enable Emergency SOS via satellite on new iPhone 14 models.”
We’ll have to wait till the iFixit deconstruction is complete before we get a better look at this unique hardware. In this video of the iPhone 14 Pro Max breakdown, we already caught a glimpse of it.
The X65 modem is unquestionably a factor. Globalstar revealed last year that the X65 supports band n53, which the 3GPP certified for usage in satellite-based IoT services in 2020. If you didn’t know, Apple has set aside up to 85% of the satellite network’s available capacity to support the new function.
In November of this year, a software upgrade will make it possible to use the emergency capability. Only North American users, including those in the US and Canada, will be eligible to participate in this beta test (however, iPhones bought in China, Hong Kong and Macao will not work). Above 62° latitude, in places like the far north of Canada and Alaska, coverage may be patchy. Here are more details on Emergency SOS.