iOS 27 could introduce a faster way to redeem Apple gift cards: holding the card near the back of a compatible iPhone. The NFC-based process is not publicly active yet, but a workaround has revealed what the new redemption flow may look like.

David Anderson, co-founder of Karta, shared a video showing the interface on LinkedIn. Anderson reportedly used a workaround to make the feature appear in iOS 27, offering an early demonstration of functionality that Apple has not yet formally announced.

How NFC Apple gift card redemption may work

New Apple gift cards are expected to include instructions telling customers to “hold iPhone here to redeem.” Users would then hold the top rear portion of an iPhone close to the bottom of the card, allowing the phone to read it through NFC.

Once detected, an automatic redemption screen should appear in iOS 27. From there, customers could check the card’s balance and redeem its value. The card’s printed instructions will reportedly continue to direct customers to apple.com/redeem if they prefer to enter the details manually.

Apple may use NFC checks to fight gift card scams

The feature could provide more than convenience. Code found in iOS 27 indicates that Apple may use the redemption process to verify whether a card is authentic and has not already been spent.

If the system detects a problem, the interface may show messages indicating that the card has been blocked or cancelled. The available code does not explain every part of the verification process, so it remains unclear how Apple will handle disputed or damaged cards.

That added validation could make it harder for scammers to use altered or invalid gift cards, although the feature’s full protections will not be known until Apple enables it and provides more details.

Which iPhones could support the feature?

iOS 27 supports the iPhone 11 lineup and newer models. Because those devices include NFC hardware, the new redemption method could be available across a broad range of current iPhones rather than being limited to the latest models.

Apple has not confirmed the feature or announced when it will become available. The appearance of the interface in the iOS 27 release candidate suggests the groundwork is in place, but features found in pre-release software can still change or be delayed before launch.