The new iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max incorporate support for dual frequency GPSin accordance with Apple’s technical specifications for the devices.
However, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus do not have this technology, nor do previous iPhone models.
What does dual GPS support mean?
Like the Apple Watch Ultra, the iPhone 14 Pro can receive signals from GPS satellites operating on the L1 frequency and the latest L5 frequency.
L5 satellites transmit a more advanced and higher power signal that can better pass through obstacles such as buildings and trees compared to L1 signals. With the combination of the two signals, iPhone 14 Pro models will have better location accuracy in apps like Maps.
According to the US government, as of June there were 17 satellites transmitting L5 signals in orbit. Combined with L1, the government says that L5 “will provide users worldwide with the most advanced civil GPS signal”. However, although the L5 has been deployed since 2010, the government says the signal is still “pre-operational”.
The standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus do not support dual-frequency GPS as per Apple’s technical specifications, but they still support other navigation systems such as GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou.