Everything to Know Before Putting a Car Key on Your iPhone
You can access your car without even having to unlock your iPhone. Apple's digital car key feature allows you to store a set of digital car keys and unlock or even start your car with a tap.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
Apple's digital car key feature allows you to store a set of digital car keys and unlock or even start your car with a tap. Several popular car brands support Apple's digital car key, and it's become a lot more useful.
Imagine you have a special phone that can unlock your car without you needing to take it out of your pocket. This is called a digital car key, and it's like a magic key that works with your phone.
Analysis
What is Apple's CarKey Feature?
Apple added support for digital car keys in its Wallet app with the release of iOS 14. Through the new CarKey API, developers gained the ability to add a digital key to users' iPhone that can lock or unlock a vehicle with a tap.
How Do Digital Car Keys Work on iOS?
Apple's approach to car keys is similar to Google's and is based on the Car Connectivity Consortium's Digital Key specification. Once your phone and car are paired, a digital copy of your key is cryptographically secured on your device. Locking and unlocking a car works using your iPhone's NFC chip, just like tapping to pay.
Which iPhones and Cars Support Digital Car Keys?
At a minimum, Apple's digital car keys require an iPhone running iOS 13 with an NFC chip built in. That means you'll need to own either an iPhone XS or later or a second-generation iPhone SE or newer to use the feature. Several major car makers have adopted the feature since its launch in 2020, including BMW, Hyundai, and Rivian.
Key points
- Apple's digital car key feature allows you to store a set of digital car keys and unlock or even start your car with a tap.
- Several popular car brands support Apple's digital car key, including BMW, Hyundai, and Rivian.
- The feature requires an iPhone running iOS 13 with an NFC chip built in.
- Digital car keys are cryptographically secured on your device and work using your iPhone's NFC chip.
If this development plays out positively, it could make car ownership more convenient and secure, allowing users to access their cars without needing to physically carry a key.
However, there are also potential risks associated with digital car keys, such as the possibility of hacking or unauthorized access to the car.
