will crash detection work on a 13 promax and a SE watch without cellular?

My son has an iPhone 13 promax and I’m thinking about getting him a 2023 apple watch SE. My question is will crash detection work? I’ve read that crash detection works on the SE but not the 13. But will it work with the 16 update? And without the watch being cellular?


iPhone 12 Pro Max, iOS 17

Posted on Dec 18, 2023 10:34 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 18, 2023 10:42 AM

If your Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Series 9, or Apple Watch SE (2nd Generation) detects a severe car crash, it can help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.


If cellular and Wi-Fi coverage are not available, and your iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro or later is near your Apple Watch, Crash Detection notifications to emergency services may be communicated by the Emergency SOS via satellite system, where Emergency SOS via satellite is available. See the Apple Support article Use Emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone.


For more info, see:

Manage Crash Detection on Apple Watch - Apple Support

and the 'iPhone and Apple Watch models that work with Crash Detection' section in:

Use Crash Detection on iPhone or Apple Watch to call for help in an accident - Apple Support


2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 18, 2023 10:42 AM in response to Mandapanda2003

If your Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Series 9, or Apple Watch SE (2nd Generation) detects a severe car crash, it can help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.


If cellular and Wi-Fi coverage are not available, and your iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro or later is near your Apple Watch, Crash Detection notifications to emergency services may be communicated by the Emergency SOS via satellite system, where Emergency SOS via satellite is available. See the Apple Support article Use Emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone.


For more info, see:

Manage Crash Detection on Apple Watch - Apple Support

and the 'iPhone and Apple Watch models that work with Crash Detection' section in:

Use Crash Detection on iPhone or Apple Watch to call for help in an accident - Apple Support


Dec 18, 2023 10:53 AM in response to Mandapanda2003

  1. The iPhone 13 will not detect the crash regardless of what iOS version it is running.
  2. If the Apple Watch SE is a second generation or later it will detect the crash and attempt to place the call to emergency services itself. It may use the iPhone to place said call if necessary if it can't place the call itself and the iPhone is nearby and can place the call.


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will crash detection work on a 13 promax and a SE watch without cellular?

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