iPhone Xs and iPhone XR can read NFC tags without having to launch an app

DATE: Thu, Sep 25, 2025
PUBLICATION: 9 to 5 Mac

iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max and iPhone XR include a new feature for NFC that Apple didn’t mention on stage. The new models will be able to scan NFC tags in the background. With current iPhones, users must first launch an app to enable NFC Reader mode.