Apple continues to invest in the evolution of the iPhone as a replacement for the physical wallet with the release of iOS 27. The new version of the operating system includes significant upgrades to the Wallet application, which enhance its usability and flexibility, making it more useful for users and organizations seeking to integrate digital solutions into their daily transactions.
See also: Sonos app unavailable in iOS and Mac App Stores
Card Upgrades
With iOS 27, Apple is expanding the capabilities of the Wallet app, adding support for more card types. Airline boarding passes, which were upgraded in iOS 26, now come with upgrades for memberships, gift cards, loyalty cards, and rewards cards. These cards can now use a bolder “Poster Generic” style, which includes full background images, a main logo, header and footer fields, and an optional barcode.
The ability to add up to two tappable actions from the bottom of the card, such as getting directions to a place or checking reward points balance, provides additional convenience for users. Additionally, Apple allows users to check the card issuer certificate to ensure that a digital card is legitimate, providing greater security for transactions.
Four new barcode types are supported, including EAN–13, Code 39, Codabar and ITF, expanding integration capabilities with various systems. For developers, the new Pass Designer for Mac makes it easy to create cards using a WYSIWYG, allowing for easy customization and creation of digital cards that meet business needs.
Create a Card
The “Create Card” feature in the Wallet app allows users to add tickets, memberships, and more using Optical Intelligence. If someone has a physical ticket for an event and there is not already a digital version available, they can create one using the physical ticket. Scanning a card with a barcode or QR code allows for easy addition to the app, while there is also the option to add it manually.
Card templates include Standard, Membership , and Event, and each type includes relevant information such as name, location, or entry type. Users can choose from 12 background colors with different texture options or seven custom backgrounds for categories such as theater, music, sports, and movies. Fields can be customized with options such as label, date, subscription, contact, coupon code, VIN, insurance, and more, allowing most physical cards to be stored digitally.
See also: 26 FakeWallet apps discovered in Apple App Store
Hotel Keys
Adding digital hotel keys from participating hotels to the Wallet app now allows users to see more details about their trip. Hotels can provide updates on booked activities and allow access to various services, enhancing the guest experience.
Account Separation with AI
The new Siri feature in the Camera, as well as features in the Messages and Wallet, allows users to take a photo of a bill and use Apple Intelligence to calculate what each person owes. Optical Intelligence scans the receipt and creates a digital copy of all the items on the list, and each person can choose what they spent. Taxes and tips are automatically calculated, and payments can be made using Apple Cash, a feature only available in the US.
Insights
The “Insights” feature in iOS 27 allows users to add financial accounts to the Wallet app to track their spending. This feature is an extension of the Connected Accounts from previous versions of iOS and includes spending tracking, recurring transactions, account balances, and more. It works for financial institutions that have implemented Connected Cards, including several banks in the UK.
Order Tracking
Order tracking in the Wallet app is expanding to Australia and Canada in iOS 27. In iOS 26, this feature was limited to the United States and the United Kingdom, now offering more options to users in different markets.
Tap to Share
Tap to Share is a new feature in iOS 27 that allows customers to connect to a participating merchant’s iPhone for faster digital checkout. This feature streamlines transactions and reduces wait times at checkout, providing a more immediate and enjoyable shopping experience.
See also: iOS 27: Create custom digital passes in Apple Wallet
Device Requirements
Visual Intelligence is an Apple Intelligence feature that requires an iPhone 15 Pro or later. Many of the other features in iOS 27 are compatible with all iPhones, ensuring that users can take advantage of the new capabilities regardless of their device.
