Re:Your iPhone just got less secure. Blame the FBI
by mikeash on Wednesday March 30, 2016 @12:06PM
(#11390278)
Note that the Secure Element is not the same as the Secure Enclave. The Secure Enclave is a walled-off section of the main CPU, running a custom L4 microkernel, which handles the device encryption. The Secure Element is a separate chip running Java Card which handles payments. The devices (including the watch) have both.
Hunh? The iPhone 5s and the iPhone 6 both contained the first gen fingerprint reader, and it was universally regarded as one of the best consumer fingerprint readers available on any device.
That is largely irrelevant though, as the secure enclave is not in the fingerprint reader. TouchID is one way to access it, but the secure element can exist without touchID (as on the watch).