Tap to Pay on iPhone (using your phone as a payment terminal) requires an iPhone XS or newer running iOS 16.4 or later. It is not supported on older models like the iPhone X, 8, or earlier. However, older iPhones (iPhone 6 and later) can still make payments using Apple Pay.
To set up Tap to Pay on iPhone, enable it in the payment app of your choice. To accept a payment, open the app, enter the amount, and present your iPhone to your customer. To pay, the customer holds their card horizontally or places their device directly over the payment symbol.
Tap to Pay on iPhone has a per-transaction limit for contactless payments of $50,000, and a per-transaction limit for physical contactless cards of $10,000. To accept payments with Tap to Pay on iPhone, you need to do the following: Use an iPhone XS or newer.
The service is compatible with iPhone 6 and newer, iPad Air 2 and newer, Macs with Touch ID, and Apple Watch Series 1 and later.
The oldest iPhones still considered "usable" for basic functions with some app support, thanks to extended security updates for iOS 15, are the iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, and the original iPhone SE (1st Gen), though they are now considered obsolete by Apple and will stop getting major updates soon. For modern apps and better longevity, you'd need an iPhone 8/X (stuck on iOS 16) or newer, with the iPhone 11 being a good entry point for current iOS 26 support and better functionality as of late 2025/early 2026.
Most modern smartphones, including iPhone (iPhone 6 and later) and many Android devices (Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, newer OnePlus, etc.), support tap-to-pay via NFC, using digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Wallet, or Samsung Pay for contactless payments, with specific model compatibility depending on the app and carrier. The key is an NFC chip and a compatible digital wallet app for seamless, card-free transactions.
You don't typically "turn on" NFC on modern iPhones; it's always on for automatic functions like Apple Pay and tag reading, but you can enable the tag reader feature through the Shortcuts app by creating an NFC automation, which prompts a scan when near a tag. For older models (iPhone 7/8), you might add the NFC Tag Reader to the Control Center via Settings.
With Tap to Pay on iPhone, customers' payment data is protected by the same technology that makes Apple Pay private and secure. All transactions made using Tap to Pay on iPhone are encrypted and processed using the Secure Element and, as with Apple Pay, Apple doesn't know what's being purchased or who is buying it.
If you receive a “Something's wrong” message during a Tap to Pay sale, confirm the following: Your device is supported: Tap to Pay is currently available on iPhone XS and above running iOS 16.7 or later. Your device software is up-to-date: To update to the latest version, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Supported devices
Tap to Pay requires an iPhone XS or later running a one-year or later iOS version.
Back Tap is available on iPhone 8 and newer models running iOS® 14 or later.
An iPhone's touch screen stops working due to software glitches, dirt, physical damage, or accessory interference, often fixed by cleaning the screen, removing cases/protectors, disconnecting accessories, or performing a force restart (quick volume up, quick volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears). If these steps fail, it might signal deeper hardware issues requiring an Apple Store visit.
TAP cards in Apple Wallet are supported on: iPhone 8 and above (running iOS 13.6 and above)
What devices can I use Apple Pay on?
Apple Pay® can be used on your iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus at merchants, plus the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 can be used for online purchases. Samsung Pay can be used on the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge+, Galaxy A5 or newer.
You can use Apple Pay in stores on your iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone® 7, iPhone® 7 Plus, iPhone® 6, iPhone® 6S, iPhone® 6 Plus, iPhone® 6S Plus, and Apple Watch™ with compatible iPhone 5 or later & Apple Watch Series 3, 2 & 1.
An unopened, factory-sealed first-generation iPhone (4GB model from 2007) sold for a record $190,372.80 at auction in July 2023, becoming a highly sought-after collector's item due to its extreme rarity and status as a "Holy Grail" for Apple enthusiasts, far exceeding its original price and previous record sales for the device.