The next version of Apple’s iOS software will include a new feature that limits how precisely location data from iPhones and iPads is transmitted to cellular networks. But the feature, at least for now, will only be available for the iPhone Air, the iPhone 16e and the iPad and only through one US wireless carrier, Boost Mobile.
In an Apple Support document published Monday, Apple says the iOS 26.3 feature, Limit Precise Location, can be toggled on or off in Settings under Cellular/Cellular Data Options.
«With this setting turned on, some information made available to cellular networks is limited,» Apple said in the document. «As a result, they might be able to determine only a less precise location — for example, the neighborhood where your device is located, rather than a more precise location (such as a street address). The setting doesn’t impact signal quality or user experience.»
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The feature, Apple said, does not apply to emergency calls or to location information shared with apps, such as Apple’s Find My. It’s unclear whether Apple’s introduction of the feature is related to recent concerns about government surveillance tools or whether it will expand to other carriers.
A representative for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The big limitation, however, may be hardware related. According to AppleInsider, only Apple hardware with a C1 or C1X modem can use the feature: the iPhone Air, the iPhone 16e and the iPad Pro M5 with cellular service. In the Apple post, the company says the only supported carriers are Boost Mobile in the US, EE and BT in the UK, Telekom in Germany and AIS and True in Thailand.
AppleInsider speculates that Apple’s iPhone 18 lineup is likely to include the modem hardware that would make the feature available to more of its customers.
iOS 26.3 could also include another privacy feature: end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging. The operating system is in beta right now but should be available sometime in February.