Your iPhone has a built-in barometer — Here's how to use it

Feeling a little under pressure? Your iPhone can measure that.

By Thomas Godwin Nov. 14, 2026 9:45 am EST gioele piccinini/Shutterstock Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

Since Apple introduced the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in 2014, most iPhones have included a built-in barometer. The first-generation iPhone SE didn't get the memo, apparently, and is an exception. Apple explained its inclusion as a means of determining relative elevation changes. Without diving too deeply into atmospheric science, iPhones with barometers detect your elevation based on current barometric pressure. The higher up you travel, the lower the pressure, which your iPhone translates into an approximate elevation reading.