We’ve heard about the iPhone 16’s new features, like camera control and its support for future Apple Intelligence features, but there’s one upgrade that Apple hasn’t mentioned at all. Its chip comes with a new security feature, according to a report from 9to5Mac.
The A18 series chips used in the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro feature a Secure Exclave, which is different from the Secure Enclave that Apple has been using since the iPhone 5s. Apple hasn’t mentioned the Secure Exclave in its product announcements, but developer Gui Rambo talked about it at the launch of the M4 iPad Pro, where it made its debut.
Among the tasks that Secure Exclave appears to handle is the security indicator light, which was introduced in the M4 iPad Pro. When its camera and microphone are in use, the security indicator light turns on; Rambo said this makes it “much less likely that malware or a user-space application could access these sensors without the user’s knowledge.” While Apple has used indicator lights in the past, they were controlled by software, making them somewhat vulnerable to hackers. Apple implemented the indicator lights so users would know when the camera and microphones were active, in case the device was hacked and malware ran these components without the user activating them.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro are now available for preorder, with shipping beginning September 20. Learn more about iPhone 16.
