Apple will let millions text for free even if you don’t have signal – list reveals if your iPhone is eligible instantly

A LIFE-CHANGING Apple upgrade lets you text for free – even if you don't have phone signal.

It's called Messages via Satellite, which gives you a big clue about how it works.

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Apple has already been offering Emergency SOS via Satellite for a few years now, allowing you to contact emergency services without phone signal.

It works by using satellites passing overhead to transmit messages.

Now Apple is extending this to your Messages app for sending regular texts, all as part of the upcoming iOS 18 update.

"There's a new way to stay connected whenever you don't have Wi-Fi or cellular service," said Apple's Ronak Shah at this week's WWDC event in California.

"We're using the same groundbreaking technology that gave us Emergency SOS via satellite to bring you Messages via satellite.

"Now you can use the satellite capabilities on 14 and later to connect to satellites hundreds of miles above the Earth to text your friends and family when you're off the grid all right from the Messages app."

The good news is that there's no limit to the number of texts that you can send.

And you can send not only iMessage texts but regular SMS messages too.

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Additionally, all of the iMessage texts that you send will be end-to-end encrypted just like normal.

There are some catches.

For a start, you'll only be to send and receive text messages, emoji, and reaction Tapbacks.

You won't be able to share photos or videos – or receive them.

And the other problem is that not all iPhone owners are going to be able to access this feature.

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APPLE MESSAGES BY SATELLITE – ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?

Firstly, the feature is only coming to iPhone models running iOS 18.

That's only available on select models, so very old devices won't get it.

Importantly, iOS 18 won't land until the fall – likely in mid-September.

More importantly, not all devices will get the Messages via Satellite feature.

It's only available on iPhone 14 models or later.

That means you'll need:

• iPhone 14
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 15
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max

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And it's likely that if Apple does announce an iPhone 16 later this year, that'll get it too.

Also there's no guarantee that this feature is going to be free forever.

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Apple is currently making it available at no cost for two years when you buy your new iPhone.

There's a chance that this could be extended (as happened previously), but there's no confirmation just yet.