Apple's digital car key feature will soon be able to unlock and start your car with your iPhone still in your pocket

In 2020, Apple introduced a digital car key feature that works based on a tech dubbed Digital Key 2.0, allowing you to unlock compatible vehicles with just your iPhone or Apple Watch. Now, Digital Key 3.0 is available to the Car Connectivity Consortium and its members can use it, including Apple, reports MacRumors. This means you will be able to unlock your car without taking your iPhone out of your pocket.

Digital Key 3.0 tech will allow you to unlock and start your car with your iPhone still in your pocket

The Digital Key 2.0 technology works based on NFC to unlock or start a compatible car. The 3.0 version, however, will work based on Ultra Wideband and Bluetooth LE connectivity. These improvements of the technology will make it possible for you to unlock your car with the iPhone still in your pocket or bag.

Digital Key 3.0 also improves security thanks to Ultra Wideband's precise location awareness, which will prevent relay attacks. Relay attack is an attack where the radio signal between your iPhone and the car is intercepted by a third party.

Still, the new tech will maintain NFC support as well, to make sure it is backward compatible and to allow unlocking your car up to five hours after an iPhone has run out of battery juice.

Digital car keys are stored in the Wallet app on an iPhone running iOS 13.6 or higher and Apple Watch with WatchOS 6.2.8 or higher. The feature is currently compatible with certain BMW models, manufactured after July 2020. Luckily, there are reports that Hyundai is also working on offering the feature later in 2021.

BMW previously stated its first vehicle with support for Digital Key 3.0 will be available in Europe in late 2021, and in the US by early 2022.