iPhone NFC Tag Compatibility

The Apple iPhone supports many different uses for NFC and NFC tags both natively and via 3rd party apps. Apple initially added support for NFC in 2014 with the iPhone 6 to allow for contactless NFC payments via Apple Pay. Since then, Apple has continually added additional functionality for NFC and NFC tags to subsequent iOS releases and iPhone models. Not all models of iPhone support all NFC uses, as Apple has been improving the NFC controller within the iPhone. However, as of the iPhone XR (2018) most common uses of NFC are supported on the iPhone.

The iPhone is compatible with all NFC tag types and NFC chip types, but only a limited set are recommended. The GoToTags Store sells NFC tags that are reccomended for the iPhone along with desktop NFC readers for macOS.

apple iphone 12 front phone

iPhone NFC Compatibility Matrix

The following is an overview of what NFC features and uses are supported on each model of iPhone.

This matrix assumes the latest version of iOS is running on the iPhone.

iPhone / UsesNFC TagsBackground NFC Tag Reading3rd Party NFC AppsApple PayApple WalletOther
iPhone 15 Pro Max
(2023)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone 15 Pro
(2023)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone 15 Plus
(2023)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone 15
(2023)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone 14 Pro Max
(2022)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone 14 Pro
(2022)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone 14 Plus
(2022)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone 14
(2022)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone 13 Pro Max
(2021)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone 13 Pro
(2021)

Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone 13
(2021)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone 13 mini
(2021)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone 12 Pro Max
(2020)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone 12 Pro
(2020)

Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone 12
(2020)

Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone 12 mini
(2020)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone SE (2nd generation)
(2020)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone 11 Pro Max
(2019)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone 11 Pro
(2019)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone 11
(2019)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone XS Max
(2018)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone XS
(2018)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone XR
(2018)
Reading, EncodingYesCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips,
NameDrop
iPhone X
(2017)
Reading, EncodingNoCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips
iPhone 8 Plus
(2017)
Reading, EncodingNoCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips
iPhone 8
(2017)
Reading, EncodingNoCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips
iPhone 7 Plus
(2016)
Reading, EncodingNoCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips
iPhone 7
(2016)
Reading, EncodingNoCore NFCYesYesAirTag,
Shortcuts,
App Clips
iPhone SE
(2016)
Reading, EncodingNoCore NFCYesYesAirTag
iPhone 6s Plus
(2015)
Reading, EncodingNoCore NFCYesYesAirTag
iPhone 6s
(2015)
Reading, EncodingNoCore NFCYesYesAirTag
iPhone 6 Plus
(2014)
NoNoNoYesYesNo
iPhone 6
(2014)
NoNoNoYesYesNo
iPhone 5s and EarlierNoNoNoNoNoNo