NFC And IPhone
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In summary
With the update to iOS 13 (or later), all iPhones from 7 onwards are able to read and write an NFC Tag.
As for the NFC Tags, the behavior of iPhones updated to (at least) iOS 13, is very similar to that of Android smartphones:
- for NFC Tag programming, an application is required (as for Android);
- it is possible to read the UID of the NFC chip;
- models from iPhone XS onwards support background reading, without a specific application being open (as for Android); previous models require a dedicated application to be open (from iOS 14 it is native).
The iPhone is compatible with all NFC Forum chips, from type 1 to 5, including:
- NTAG®
- ICODE®
- FeliCa™
- MIFARE® (Desfire, Plus, Ultralight)
To program an NFC Tag with an iPhone, we recommend:
- NFC Tools (free)
- NFC TagWriter by NXP (free)
- Smart NFC (2,29 €)
The same applications can be used to read NFC Tags with iPhone from model 7 to model X; from the XS model onwards, NFC reading is natively supported by the operating system.
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NFC news in iOS 14
With the release of version 14 of the Apple operating system for iPhone, an interesting new feature in the NFC field has been introduced.
With iOS 14, in fact, App Clips are introduced, which are small portions of an app that allow you to access a service offered by an app quickly and easily, without having to download it. The download, however, can be proposed after having used the service.
The novelty of App Clips is that, being very light, they can be activated via an NFC Tag or a QR code. For more information, please refer to the official page dedicated to App Clips.
Starting with iOS 14, moreover, support for reading NFC Tags is native for all iPhones from 7 onwards. The command to read an NFC Tag is present in the Control Center, as you can see in the image below.
The release of iOS 13
The big news of 2019 in the NFC panorama is related to the update of the iPhone operating system. With the release of iOS 13, which occurred on 09/19/19 at 19:00 (Italian time), iPhones finally have full access to the features related to NFC Tags.
With these new features, iPhone apps can write NDEF information such as URLs and text. iPhones also have access to Tags natively to take advantage of the features available on different NFC chips. This opening represents a turning point for all NFC applications, which can now enjoy a wider audience and a truly global reach.
The ability to access the chip's UID enables a variety of applications that were previously relegated "only" to Android smartphones, including: authentication, traceability, access control, logistics, ticketing, etc.
For all the details, especially for those who intend to develop iOS applications that exploit NFC technology, we refer to the page dedicated to Core NFC, the SDK library package withinor iOS 13, which allow reading, programming and interaction with NFC Tags.
What about iPhones with operating systems prior to iOS 13?
| iPhone Xs iPhone Xs Max iPhone XR |
| Can read Tags NFC |
| iPhone X |
| |
| iPhone 8 iPhone 8 Plus | ||
| iPhone 7 iPhone 7 Plus |
| |
| iPhone 6 iPhone SE |
| They CANNOT read NFC Tags, unless using an external reader |
| iPhone 5 and earlier |
|
Did you know...
Apple smartphones not updated to iOS 13 behave a little differently from Android and Windows ones also when it comes to NFC technology.
Here's a summary.
- An application installed and open is required (only up to iPhone X)An Android smartphone can detect an NFC Tag without any particular application installed, as long as the phone is not in standby. As for the iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus and X, however, the Core NFC libraries needed to interact with a Tag are not natively present, but it is necessary to download an application that integrates them. Furthermore, the app must also be open, otherwise the Tag is not detected. One of the apps available to read NFC Tags with an iPhone is NFC TagInfo by NXP (developed directly by the chip manufacturer).
- Only NDEF messagesAnother peculiarity of iOS is that it only allows you to read Tags that contain a message in NDEF format, so, to be clear, the standard commands defined by the NFC Forum: URL, V-Card, plain text, SMS, email, call. In iOS, unlike Android, there is no "launch application" command (a Tag programmed to open a specific app).
- It is not possible to read the UIDWith iOS it is not even possible to read the UID of the Tag. Consequently, all those applications that rely on UID reading, such as anti-counterfeiting or access control apps, are not possible, at least for the moment, with an iPhone.
- Read, but not writeFinally, it is worth noting that iPhones can read Tags, but not program them. For programming, you need to use an Android or Windows smartphone, or a PC with an NFC reader. Alternatively, Shop NFC offers the possibility of purchasing NFC Tags already programmed.
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