Apple has developed a technique that measures the volume of alerts on its Watch and iPhone devices based on the ambient volume of their surroundings . iPhones could in future automatically sound louder or quieter notification alerts depending on the level of background noise. The sound level reading is taken from a microphone on the user 's Watch , which is much better positioned to measure ambient volume that the user 's smartphone , often hidden in their pocket or purse . As always with patent applications , there 's no guarantee that Apple will use this technology in a marketed device .
Apple has developed a technique that measures the volume of alerts on its Watch and iPhone devices based on the ambient volume of their surroundings . The sound level reading is taken from a microphone on the user 's Watch , which is much better positioned to measure ambient volume that the user 's smartphone , often hidden in their pocket or purse . As always with patent applications , there 's no guarantee that Apple will use this technology in a marketed device .