UK Apple Pay users can now turn their smartphones into contactless card readers for the first time, thanks to the new Tap to Pay feature. The feature, which was already available in the US, uses NFC technology and lets you accept payments from other Apple Pay users or contactless cards within compatible apps. You don’t need to open iOS or the Wallet app to use it, but you do need to be close to the payer.

The feature is ideal for small businesses that don’t want to invest in a separate card reader. Some of the first UK apps that support it are Revolut and Tyl by NatWest, but more will follow soon, including Adyen, Dojo, myPOS, Stripe, SumUp, Viva Wallet, Worldline, and Zettle (a PayPal subsidiary). Apple will also use the feature in its own stores.

Tap to Pay on iPhone works with any contactless credit or debit card from American Express, Mastercard, or Visa. You need an iPhone XS or newer with the latest iOS version. The feature will prompt you for the payment and encrypt it securely, just like Apple Pay.

Apple Pay is a mobile payment and digital wallet service by Apple Inc. that allows users to make payments in person, in iOS apps, and on the web using Safari. It is supported on the iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac. It uses Near Field Communication (NFC) to communicate with point of sale systems and can also integrate with Apple’s biometric authentication features like Touch ID and Face ID.

Here’s a quick rundown of its features:

Set Up: You can set up Apple Pay by adding your credit, debit, or prepaid cards to the Wallet app on your compatible Apple device.

Pay Later: With Pay Later, you can split your purchase into four equal payments over six weeks with no interest or fees.

Apple Cash: This feature lets you send and receive money via Messages or Wallet and use it anywhere Apple Pay is accepted.

Privacy and Security: When you use Apple Pay, your card number isn’t stored on your device or shared with merchants, and transactions are encrypted for an added layer of security.

Apple has also released a beta version of its iOS 17 software, which will bring new features and improvements to iPhone users later this year. To try it out, see How to download and install the iOS 17, iPadOS 17 and macOS Sonoma public betas.

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