Apple showcased the iPhone 16 series at Monday’s event, highlighting its specs, but didn’t cover everything. For instance, all iPhone 16 models now support Wi-Fi 7, and the regular versions are lighter than before. Plus, they all offer 45W USB-C fast charging.
A big privacy improvement has also arrived on the iPhone 16 series. It’s called Secure Exclave, which was previously only available in the M4 chip on the 2024 iPad Pro. This feature stops hackers from secretly accessing your phone’s camera and microphone.
Secure Exclave ensures that apps can’t quietly use your mic or camera without you knowing. It was first discovered by developer Guilherme Rambo, and it’s tied to a Secure Indicator Light (SIL). When the mic or camera is in use, the light appears directly from the hardware, making it nearly impossible for malware or other apps to bypass it.
Apple first introduced similar light indicators in iOS 14, where orange and green dots appear when apps access your mic or camera. On older iPhones, these indicators are software-controlled, meaning in theory, hackers could disable them, though no such attacks have been reported.
The iPhone 16 series, powered by the A18 chips, takes this protection even further. Both the A18 and A18 Pro chips, found in the regular and Pro models, include the Secure Exclave feature with hardware-based light indicators.
Simply put, all iPhone 16 models are now even better at protecting your privacy, ensuring no app or hacker can secretly access your camera or microphone without triggering the light.
