When a mobile device is powered off due to battery depletion, it ceases communication with cellular and Wi-Fi networks. Consequently, services that rely on network connectivity, such as Apple’s messaging platform, cannot transmit data to the device. This means that if a device is dead, iMessages will not be delivered to it immediately.
The functionality of immediate message delivery is contingent on the recipient’s device being active and connected to a network. This contrasts with older Short Message Service (SMS) technology, which could store messages at a network level for later delivery. Understanding this limitation is crucial for effective communication, especially in time-sensitive scenarios where knowing the recipient’s device status is essential.