According to a new report, the iPhone SE2–AKA the iPhone 9–will launch at an event on March 31.
After being discontinued in 2019, Apple’s cheaper smartphone model the iPhone SE has been much missed. But it looks like the budget iPhone will soon be back–it’s due to launch at an event at the end of March and could hit the shops on April 3, according to a new report.
The previous iPhone SE was a great phone, especially as a starter smartphone for an older user. Also known as the iPhone 9, the new model should also be easy to navigate and use, cheap, and will come with a fantastic set of intuitive security features.
However, the rumoured launch date is not certain, or confirmed by Apple. In addition, MacRumours reports that delays may occur due to the impact of the Wuhan Coronavirus on production.
However, the iPhone maker has a history of March events, so the predicted window looks possible. In fact, Forbes’ David Phelan predicts the iPhone SE2 event could come on Monday 23 March.
Whenever it does appear, here are some important security features you can expect from Apple’s iPhone SE2/iPhone 9.
Touch ID will form the biometric security layer
Although biometric face scanner Face ID was rumoured for this new Apple smartphone, the latest reports state that the Touch ID fingerprint reader will feature on the iPhone SE2.
Reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts the design of the new iPhone will be similar to the iPhone 8 with a 4.7 inch screen, which means the iPhone SE2 still features the home button of the older models with Touch ID as a layer of biometric authentication.
Touch ID is also coming back to the higher end iPhone models due to launch this fall, integrated into the display along with Face ID.
The iPhone SE2/iPhone 9 will run iOS 13, with multiple powerful security and privacy features
If you have an older iPhone, you might not have been able to upgrade to Apple’s very cool iOS 13 operating system (OS). Making you more secure by default, the updated OS comes with multiple new security and privacy controls. For example, when using iOS 13 on the iPhone SE2/iPhone 9, you will have the ability to limit the data that apps such as Google and Facebook collect.
It’s also likely Apple will launch a major update to iOS 13, iOS 13.4 at the March event–which allows you to potentially use your iPhone or Apple Watch as a car key. Very cool indeed, as long as it’s secured by biometrics of course.
You can now consider FIDO compliant security keys such as the Yubico Yubikey–or your device itself
Again, if you currently own an older iPhone model, you might not have the update with iOS 13.3 that allows you to use security keys in Apple’s Safari browser. The ability to use keys such as the Yubico YubiKey on the iPhone SE2/iPhone 9 could really be lifechanging for your security, as it allows you to physically authenticate yourself on sites such as Facebook and Twitter by simply plugging in the key once you have authenticated yourself with biometrics.
Physical keys add a strong layer of security, which is something Apple is striving to make even better in the future, having just joined the FIDO Alliance–an organization dedicated to improving authentication and reducing reliance on passwords.
There’s also another cool way you can use security keys: Your device itself. Yes that’s right, Google has now given iPhone users the ability to use their smartphone as a security key to access its services via the secure enclave on Apple’s Series A chips. It is one of the aims of FIDO, so expect to see more of this in the future.
