Apple launched Tap to Pay on iPhone in 2022, letting merchants accept NFC payments without dedicated hardware. Retail staff have been using iPhone 14 devices for the service, but reports from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman indicate the company will issue iPhone 16 units to more employees. The newer phones address compatibility issues noted on the iPhone 14, such as difficulty reading metal cards like American Express Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve, and they remove the need for separate Bluetooth card readers.

The rollout aligns with iOS 27, which adds a "Tap to Share" function that extends the NFC capability beyond payments. By standardizing iPhone 16 as the point‑of‑sale tool, Apple streamlines its in‑store transaction flow and reduces hardware costs for its retail network. The move also showcases the iPhone as a multi‑purpose business device, potentially encouraging other retailers to adopt similar NFC‑only solutions.

For consumers, the change means faster checkout experiences and fewer peripherals to manage when shopping at Apple stores. For the industry, it signals a shift toward leveraging consumer devices for merchant services, pressuring traditional POS manufacturers to adapt or integrate more closely with smartphone ecosystems.