The latest beta of iOS 14 reveals that Apple is working on a QR code system to make Apple Pay payments easier.

9to5Mac found evidence of this system in the second developer beta of iOS 14. It is not currently functional, but assuming Apple maintains this feature in the full version of iOS 14, iPhone users will be able to try this out around September.

Screenshots of this system taken by 9to5Mac also show the iPhone generating a QR code, which is then read by another user. This could be used, for example, as an easy way to transfer funds between friends.

Given the presence of this system in the public API folder, 9to5Mac believes that this QR code-based payment functionality will be available for third-party developers to integrate. This makes a lot of sense given Apple's desire to push its payment services farther, and would help developers by providing a ready-made way for iPhone users to pay for additional services within their apps.

Apple has already introduced its own QR code design for App Clips, another new feature in iOS 14 that uses codes to let phones know which section of a web application they need to access. This newly discovered payment system could work with regular QR codes or simple barcodes, but perhaps a unique radial design, or a variation thereof, could be used as Apple's preferred standard. This could be another good way for Apple to stand out among other payment services and NFC options and encourage people to use it.

The first public beta of iOS 14 will be released next month. We recommend trying it out only if you have a phone that you are willing to potentially lose data. Most users will be better off waiting until the full release later this year, or trying it out on a new iPhone 12 once it becomes available.