iOS 26 Might Bring Weather Updates Via Satellite

Apple previews the upcoming changes for their operating systems at their yearly developer conference called WWDC. This year brings big changes highlighted by a new interface, but we always like to highlight new features that might be of interest to outdoors enthusiasts. One of those new features is weather updates via satellite and if implemented fully, would cross off a longstanding wish I had with Apple’s devices.

Currently when you head out into the backcountry and pop your phone into airplane mode to conserve battery power, both the iPhone and Apple Watch instantly forget what the current and upcoming conditions are. While frustrating, I can see a partial explanation being that you wouldn’t want misleading information for future dates as weather conditions change so quickly. Regardless, having weather conditions while you are off grid is an incredibly handy feature as it could impact your plans navigating your route. Garmin offers a great implementation of this in their inReach devices via their paid subscription tiers.

While only in beta, if the feature makes it to the final release in September 2025, weather updates via satellite on iOS would walk you through pointing your iPhone at an overhead satellite until a reliable connection could be established. From past experience sending messages through satellite, it works extremely well with the only caveat being that overhead foliage really reduces the signal so it’s best to find a clear line of sight to the sky. Currently the messages via satellite is free although we don’t know how much longer this will be the case. I would assume weather updates would also be free but at some point in a few years it’s possible that we would have to subscribe to these perks just as you do with Garmin.

Fingers crossed for this, and we eagerly look forward to testing it when it comes out.