The iPhone 16 has a new security feature not mentioned during Apple event — here’s what it does

iPhone 16
(Image credit: Apple)

There are a lot of big upgrades coming with the iPhone 16’s A18 chip, but there’s one major feature that Apple forgot to tell us about. According to 9to5Mac, the A18 chipset also features the “Secure Exclave” which debuted earlier this year on the Apple M4 chip.

The idea behind the Secure Exclave is to improve user privacy, which is one of the things Apple has been pushing hard the last several years. This new component handles a feature called Secure Indicator Light (SIL), which controls the microphone and camera indicator on the M4-powered iPads

Microphone and camera indicators have been around since the launch of iOS 14. The goal was to notify users when either of those things was in operation. That way users would know if either of these things was being actively used, and if that wasn’t an intentional act by an app they were actively using it could indicate that they’re being spied on. Or at the very least that one or more apps are abusing their permissions in ways they shouldn’t.

But in the past these indicators were software-based, which could be a problem if malicious actors figured out a way to bypass the triggers. But by routing these features through hardware, the security around those indicators should be a lot more robust.

By routing these features through hardware, the security around those indicators should be a lot more robust.

It’s unclear if the Security Exclave can do anything else, because Apple has kept pretty quiet about it. After all, you wouldn’t want to advertise all your best new security features, because everything you reveal gives bad actors more information to try and bypass them. Which is not something we want happening.

But it’s good to see that Apple is offering its latest security measures on all new devices — regardless of what kind of silicon they utilize. Throw in the new Private Cloud Compute, which helps keep data utilized by AI processing done in the cloud, and it sounds like the iPhone 16 could be the most secure iPhone ever.

iPhone 16 pre-orders open on September 13, ahead of a September 20 release date. You can read our early impressions of the phones in our iPhone 16 hands-on review and iPhone 16 Pro & iPhone 16 Pro Max hands-on review.

More from Tom's Guide

Category
Arrow
Arrow
Back to Mobile Cell Phones
Brand
Arrow
RAM
Arrow
Storage Size
Arrow
Colour
Arrow
Condition
Arrow
Price
Arrow
Any Price
Showing 10 of 232 deals
Filters
Arrow
(256GB)
Our Review
1
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB...
Verizon
(256GB)
Our Review
2
Samsung - Galaxy S24 Ultra...
Best Buy
Our Review
3
OnePlus 12,16GB...
Amazon
(512GB)
Our Review
4
Galaxy S24 Ultra 512GB (AT&T)
Samsung
(128GB)
Our Review
5
Pixel 8 Pro Porcelain 128GB...
Google Store NA
Our Review
6
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 512GB
Visible
Our Review
7
Google Pixel 8 Pro - 128 GB
AT&T Mobility
(256GB Blue)
Our Review
8
iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB
Straight Talk
(256GB Black)
Our Review
9
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra...
Mint Mobile
Our Review
10
Google Pixel 8 Pro - 128 GB
Verizon
Load more deals
Tom Pritchard
UK Phones Editor

Tom is the Tom's Guide's UK Phones Editor, tackling the latest smartphone news and vocally expressing his opinions about upcoming features or changes. It's long way from his days as editor of Gizmodo UK, when pretty much everything was on the table. He’s usually found trying to squeeze another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining about how terrible his Smart TV is.