BMW has just announced Digital Key for iPhone, allowing Apple iPhone users to unlock a compatible BMW model.

This comes after slightly after two years BMW introduced Digital Key for NFC-equipped Samsung devices.

Typical of Apple, getting started is easy – you just need to pair your iPhone or Apple Watch to a BMW that supports Digital Key for iPhone, then hold your Apple device to the door handle. Once that’s completed, the authentication process with start and you can use either FaceID or TouchID to unlock your BMW.

Like the Digital Key for Samsung, Digital Key for iPhone also allows the car owner to share access with up to 5 friends. The sharing option also allows the car owner to restrict top speed, power output, and maximum radio volume.

These following models built from July 2020 are compatible with Digital Key for iPhone:

• BMW 1 Series
• BMW 2 Series
• BMW 3 Series
• BMW 4 Series
• BMW 5 Series
• BMW 6 Series
• BMW 8 Series
• BMW X5, X5 M
• BMW X6, X6 M
• BMW X7
• BMW Z4

As for compatible Apple device, these models are supported:

• iPhone XR
• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (2020)
• Apple Watch Series 5

Moving forward, it’s refreshing to see BMW extending support for both Apple and Android devices, as in the past, BMW models were limited to Apple CarPlay and Samsung-only Digital Key. Talk about odd pairing.

Now, not only has BMW included Android Auto on selected models, Digital Key has also been extended to support Apple devices, encompassing both major mobile operating systems.