The latest iPhone and iPad update limits how much location detail is shared with mobile networks
Cupertino, California, 30 January 2026 – Apple has quietly rolled out a new privacy-focused security feature for select models of its latest iPhones and iPads, making it harder for outsiders to track a user’s exact location through their mobile network provider.
The new feature, called Limit Precise Location, reduces how much location detail an iPhone or cellular-enabled iPad shares with the user’s cell carrier. Instead of providing an exact street-level location, the device shares a broader area, such as a neighborhood. Apple says this helps protect users from unwanted tracking and data misuse.
In simple terms, this update gives users more control over who can see where they are. While mobile carriers need some location data to run their networks, the feature ensures they no longer receive pinpoint accuracy by default when it is enabled.
Apple has clarified that turning on this feature does not affect how apps access location data. Apps like maps, ride-hailing services, or food delivery platforms will continue to work normally. It also does not interfere with location sharing during emergency calls, ensuring first responders can still locate users accurately when help is needed.
The feature is currently supported on iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, and iPad Pro (M5) Wi-Fi + Cellular models running iOS 26.3. It is available only on select carrier networks, including Telekom in Germany, AIS and True Thailand, EE and BT in the United Kingdom, and Boost Mobile in the United States.
Apple has not explained why it introduced the feature at this time and has declined to comment publicly. However, the update arrives as concerns around digital privacy and location tracking continue to grow.
Law enforcement agencies increasingly request location data from mobile carriers to track individuals, sometimes in real time. At the same time, hackers often target telecom companies because they store large amounts of sensitive customer data. Over the past year, major U.S. carriers such as AT&T and Verizon have disclosed cyber intrusions linked to a hacking group known as Salt Typhoon, which reportedly sought access to call records and messages.
Beyond recent cyber threats, long-standing weaknesses in global cellular networks have made it possible for surveillance tools to track phone locations across borders.
According to Gary Miller, a mobile security expert and researcher at Citizen Lab, phones themselves play a role in sharing precise location data with networks. While users are familiar with controlling app-based location permissions, many are unaware that devices can also share location details directly with carriers.
He noted that Apple’s new feature, although limited in availability, is a positive step toward giving users stronger privacy controls at the network level.
As smartphones continue to store and transmit vast amounts of personal data, updates like this highlight Apple’s ongoing focus on user privacy. While the rollout is currently limited, the feature could signal a broader shift in how device makers approach location data protection in the future.