With the launch of the iPhone 9 approaching, it will be interesting to see how Apple's new budget device compares to the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, etc. The iPhone SE successor is rumored to be priced around $400, raising questions about what features and specs Apple will leave out to achieve that lower price point. The question has been raised as to what features and specs Apple will omit in order to achieve that lower price point.

Thankfully, the new entry-level iPhone appears to retain one notable feature that is expected to debut in the next iOS release. 9to5Mac reports that CarKey in iOS 13.4.5 - Apple's digital for cars that support the feature Key API - has unearthed code that links to the TouchID fingerprint sensor and thus the iPhone 9.

Since older iPhone models with TouchID authentication lack the ultra-wideband tracking capability present in the iPhone 11 family required for virtual keys to function, this code hint must mean that the iPhone 9 will also support CarKey which is the prevailing theory.

This is an important and unexpected feature for such an inexpensive phone. The ability to use a cell phone as a car key has been slow to catch on because it relies on car owners replacing their phones with new cars. Nevertheless, the fact that Apple has gone to the trouble of incorporating the feature into the iPhone 9 means that those who purchase the iPhone 9 are secure in the future, and this technology will continue to gain popularity.

9to5Mac suggests that the iPhone 9 will not only have the ability to read NFC tags, but also support Express Transit payments even when the device is powered off or charged. Since Apple is reportedly considering releasing a Tile-like NFC tracking tag in the near future, it would make sense if the feature makes its way to Cupertino's least expensive phones.

This would mean that Apple's flagship A13 Bionic processor and wireless charging would likely be included in a body that blends the iPhone 8's 4.7-inch proportions with the iPhone 11 Pro's stunning materials.

Indeed, it's beginning to look like the perfect smartphone in this time of economic uncertainty, and spending more than $1,000 on the iPhone 11 Pro doesn't seem like the smartest decision right now, to say the least.

The biggest thing, believe it or not, is performance. Inexpensive phones are typically not very powerful. Of course, that affects more demanding use cases, like gaming, but more importantly, a smartphone with a slower processor is also likely to age faster and not last for many years before it has to be upgraded again.

Even the best unlocked smartphone top pick, the $399 Google Pixel 3a, uses a mid-range Qualcomm processor. If Apple can offer an iPhone that is one of the fastest smartphones in the world, yet costs roughly one-third the price of some flagship models, it will single-handedly nullify all other inexpensive phones on the market.

That is not to say that the iPhone 9 will be the perfect phone at the perfect price, however; a 4.7-inch screen is really small these days, even for someone who personally prefers more compact phones. And given that it is expected to have an LCD display and a single-lens rear camera, the iPhone 9 will not satisfy those who are particularly fond of taking pictures or watching movies or TV on the go.

However, if the iPhone 9 is lightning fast, well-made, and guaranteed to support years of iOS updates, customers may find value in these trade-offs. That's why Tom's Guide has reviewed many models and created a buying guide to weed out the bad ones. iPhone 9 must be the phone we want, it could change the game in the industry - and force all of Apple's rivals to up their .