New Roadmap Outlines What's Next for NFC on iPhone

[MacRumors]

Apple could benefit from a new wave of NFC technology upgrades after the NFC Forum this week published a roadmap outlining faster data transfers, new security standards, and expanded capabilities.

The NFC Forum is the global standards body for Near Field Communication technology. Apple is a board member of the organization. The latest multi-year Technology Roadmap identifies six development priorities that will shape future NFC standards.

One of the most significant changes outlined is work toward substantially faster NFC data rates, up to eight times higher than current levels. The roadmap also places emphasis on improving NFC reader mode interoperability through end-to-end application testing.

The roadmap continues to highlight multipurpose tap functionality, which would allow a single NFC tap to support multiple actions depending on context. The NFC Forum says this would enable readers to request specific credentials needed for a given action.

The NFC Forum said it is beginning work on next-generation NFC wireless charging specifications, with goals that include higher power levels and support for devices with multiple charging receivers. While NFC charging is currently limited to low-power accessory use, expanded standards could influence future devices.

Security enhancements are another major focus, with plans to publish the first NFC Controllers Security Profile, establishing baseline security requirements for NFC hardware. The roadmap includes work toward future-proofing NFC protocols against post-quantum computing threats and strengthening protection against relay-based attacks.

Digital keys remain an active area of development as well, with plans to explore new digital key experiences to support a wider range of industry requirements.

The NFC Forum last published a technology roadmap in 2023, with several goals delivered as part of NFC Release 15 in June 2025.

Last year, Apple expanded its use of NFC notably by rolling out Tap to Pay on iPhone in many new countries, allowing merchants to accept contactless payments directly on an iPhone without additional hardware using the device's NFC capabilities. At the same time, under the European Union's regulatory regime, Apple continued to open broader third-party access to the iPhone's NFC chip so that third-party developers can use NFC for contactless transactions, enabling Apple Pay competitors such as Curve and PayPal to offer NFC-based payment options on iOS in Europe.

Article Link: New Roadmap Outlines What's Next for NFC on iPhone

 

[Plutonius]

I believe that the future of NFC is what the EU will require 🙁.

 

[robvalentine]

So Apple will let you use Apple Pay slightly quicker

 

[Ben11]

So Apple will let you use Apple Pay slightly quicker

Agree but you know Apple can’t stop talking ‘bout security if anything it will be for sure them to implement it into their devices

 

[SAIRUS]

Tim is looking for line items so he can monetize it some how...
...but I say open up the chip at least for headphone pairing.

 

[fede777]

Yeah sure whatever, just let us use NFC with whatever Wallet app we want.

In Argentina Android users can put money in their transport cards and validate it with the official app via NFC, iPhone can't.

Google made Express transit mode available 2 months ago, iPhone still waiting.

 

[jm22381]

I believe that the future of NFC is what the EU will require 🙁.

Thanks to the EU, we'll have Bizum Pay and Wero Wallet, allowing us to make free NFC payments between individuals or from customer to store, without using Apple Pay or Google Wallet, and without Visa or Mastercard taking a commission to the US for doing nothing. We'll be following in the footsteps of payment systems like those in China (AliPay), India (UPI), and Brazil (Pix).

 

[bluecoast]

Very interesting, but largely irrelevant for iPhone as Apple doesn't want to give anyone else access to the NFC chip, so for the iPhone, this is like a proprietary piece of tech.

 

[bradman83]

Yeah sure whatever, just let us use NFC with whatever Wallet app we want.

In Argentina Android users can put money in their transport cards and validate it with the official app via NFC, iPhone can't.

Google made Express transit mode available 2 months ago, iPhone still waiting.

Apple added support for third party apps to directly access NFC (without using Apple Pay or Apple Wallet) in iOS 18.1, but I don't think it's been released globally yet. Right now it's supported in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, and the EU. You mentioned Argentina so if that's where you're based out of that could be why it's not available for the apps you use yet.

 

[I7guy]

Yeah sure whatever, just let us use NFC with whatever Wallet app we want.

In Argentina Android users can put money in their transport cards and validate it with the official app via NFC, iPhone can't.

Google made Express transit mode available 2 months ago, iPhone still waiting.

iPhone has had express transit for a while at least in the US.

 

[dominiongamma]

So Apple will let you use Apple Pay slightly quicker

Wouldn’t mind that, it’s can be pretty slow

 

[TheColtr]

Multi action NFC is interesting. I frequently tap my Walgreens rewards before using Apple Pay, being able to use both a rewards and send payment in a single tap would be nice.

 

[Ja50n]

My stove supports NFC for programming cook stages through my phone, but only on Android because Apple doesn’t give access to NFC. If Apple gets their way, the future of NFC will stay bleak.

 

[leonremi]

How about just letting me clone whatever stupid nfc based dongles and keycards I have into my iPhone?

 

[svish]

Think it will take some time for these to be implemented and to be finally available on an iPhone.

 

[jz0309]

Cool, added security is a good thing though I am unclear what exactly that will do.
As for speed, I hold my watch close to the terminal for less than 1 sec, so, we'll have to see what that really means

 

[fede777]

Apple added support for third party apps to directly access NFC (without using Apple Pay or Apple Wallet) in iOS 18.1, but I don't think it's been released globally yet. Right now it's supported in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, and the EU. You mentioned Argentina so if that's where you're based out of that could be why it's not available for the apps you use yet.

Yes I'm talking about Argentina in particular, but it's the same with like 90% of the planet. When I saw that NFC was gonna be opened up I got excited that maybe it was gonna be worldwide, but no, just a couple of countries. And like I said, on Android, any Wallet and our official transit app can use NFC, not just Google Pay/Wallet.

iPhone has had express transit for a while at least in the US.

Yes, and a lot of other countries too, just not here yet, for whatever reason, we do have Apple Wallet support, so I don't know what's taking so long to also add express transit mode, even more when Google already did.