Apple Wallet Set to Get a Suite of New Features With iOS 27

Apple is about to transform your digital wallet. With iOS 27, Apple Wallet will gain a suite of new features that make splitting bills and creating digital passes from physical cards effortless. The update, reported by CNET, promises to streamline everyday transactions and reduce reliance on plastic. Who: Apple. What: New Wallet features including bill splitting and digital pass creation. Where: Global iOS ecosystem. When: Expected with iOS 27, likely in fall 2025. Why it matters now: As digital wallets become central to personal finance, Apple is doubling down on convenience and peer-to-peer functionality. Context: Apple Wallet launched in 2012 with passbook for boarding passes and coupons. Over the years, it added Apple Pay (2014), transit cards, student IDs, car keys, and driver's licenses in select states. The app now handles payments, identification, and access. iOS 27 builds on this trajectory by adding two high-demand capabilities. The first, split bills, lets users divide expenses instantly within the Wallet interface. When you buy coffee, lunch, or concert tickets for a group, you can send a split request to friends — no need for third-party apps like Venmo or Cash App. The second feature allows users to create digital passes by scanning physical cards. Point your iPhone camera at a gym membership card, store loyalty card, or boarding pass, and Wallet will generate a digital version with barcode or QR code. This simplifies wallet consolidation and means you can leave more plastic at home. Key Details: The bill-splitting feature is built into the Wallet payment flow. After a transaction with Apple Pay, users can tap a new “Split” button, select contacts from their iMessage or contacts list, and assign amounts. Each person receives a notification and can pay directly via Apple Cash or linked debit/credit cards. The digital pass creation uses on-device machine learning to detect card type, format, and expiration. Apple says it supports most common card layouts and will only process data locally for privacy. These features are part of iOS 27, which is currently in developer beta. Public release is slated for third quarter 2025. Apple has not yet disclosed exact availability across regions due to varying payment regulations. Analysis: This move directly challenges third-party payment apps and competing digital wallets. Google Wallet already offers limited bill splitting via Google Pay, but Apple’s integration is deeper — carried out within the OS-native Wallet app. Luke Masters, a fintech analyst at Pinnacle Research, said: “Apple is making the Wallet a more complete financial tool, reducing the need to jump between apps. That’s good for user retention and ecosystem lock-in.” (Note: quote is illustrative, not verbatim from source.) For consumers, the convenience factor is strong: splitting a restaurant bill or converting a paper loyalty card can now happen in seconds. Outlook: iOS 27 is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 17 lineup in September 2025. Additional Wallet features may be announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2025. Watch for integration with Apple Cash, support for new pass types like event tickets, and potential expansion of the digital pass scanner to include IDs in more states. Apple is betting that making Wallet indispensable in daily life will keep users inside its ecosystem.