Hidden code found in iOS 13.4.5 beta reveal that the iPhone 9 will support CarKey

Compared to the latest models, the iPhone 9 might seem like an antique with its Touch ID fingerprint scanner, old school 16:9 aspect ratio, and smaller capacity battery. It also won’t be protected from water beyond light rain or a small splash. But priced at $399 for the 64GB model, it puts an iPhone into the hands of many consumers who need a new phone but might have some financial issues because of the coronavirus outbreak.

CarKey could use NFC or Apple’s UWB (ultra-wideband) chip to work. While code discovered last month seemed to indicate that the feature would only work with iPhone models sporting Face ID, the newly found code mentions CarKey being compatible with Touch ID. The code points out that CarKey can be used without biometric authentication if the phone has no battery life and can use Express Transit Card technology. This technology allows for the use of Apple Pay at a transit station without having to unlock the device. The code related to this article says that the Express Transit Card feature “may be available when your iPhone needs to be charged,” suggesting support for power reserve.

TF International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously forecast that Apple could sell 25 million to 30 million units of the iPhone 9 this year which could translate into an additional $12 billion of revenue for the company.