Apple Pay – Everything You Need to Know about It

Apple Pay, a mobile payment and digital wallet service introduced by Apple Inc. in 2014, has revolutionized the way we pay for goods and services. This article explores the evolution, features, benefits, and security of Apple Pay, highlighting how it has become an integral part of our daily lives.

Apple Pay was introduced as part of the iOS 8.1 update in October 2014. Initially available only in the United States, it quickly expanded to other countries and regions, allowing millions of users worldwide to make secure, contactless payments using their Apple devices.

At a Glance

• Apple Pay is Apple’s mobile payment service, which lets users with an iPhone 6 or newer, as well as Apple Watch owners, make payments using NFC with their devices.
• Apple Pay is also available in apps and on the web on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Features

• Enabled by NFC
• Touch ID or Face ID for secure authentication
• Available in more than 60 countries
• Accepted at millions of retail locations around the world
• Available on the web
• Person-to-person payments in the U.S.

How Apple Pay Works

Apple Pay is designed to be simple and convenient. It leverages Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, which enables communication between your device (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac) and a compatible payment terminal. Here’s how it works:

1. Add Your Cards: Users can add credit and debit cards from participating banks to the Wallet app on their Apple devices. You can also add store cards and transit cards.
2. Authentication: To make a payment, you need to authenticate using either Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode. This ensures that only authorized users can access and use your payment information.
3. Tap to Pay: When you’re ready to make a purchase, simply hold your Apple device near the payment terminal. A confirmation on your device will indicate that the payment was successful.

Key Features of Apple Pay

1. Security: Apple Pay is renowned for its robust security measures. It uses tokenization, which replaces your card information with a unique token, ensuring that your actual card details are never shared with merchants.
2. Privacy: Apple emphasizes user privacy. It doesn’t store transaction information, and your purchases remain between you, the merchant, and your bank. Apple can’t see what you bought or how much you paid.
3. Compatibility: Apple Pay is widely accepted, with millions of merchants worldwide supporting contactless payments through NFC technology.
4. Wallet Integration: Beyond payments, the Wallet app can store tickets, boarding passes, loyalty cards, and more, making it a versatile digital wallet.
5. Peer-to-Peer Payments: With Apple Pay Cash (in select countries), you can send money to friends and family through iMessage. It’s a convenient way to split bills or repay a friend.
6. Online and In-App Purchases: Apple Pay can be used for online shopping and in-app purchases. It streamlines the checkout process with a simple touch or click.

Benefits of Apple Pay

1. Speed and Convenience: With Apple Pay, there’s no need to fumble for cash or cards. Payments are quick and hassle-free.
2. Reduced Contact: In an era where hygiene is paramount, the ability to make contactless payments is invaluable.
3. Organization: The Wallet app helps you stay organized by keeping all your cards and tickets in one place.
4. Security: Apple Pay’s security measures provide peace of mind, reducing the risk of fraud and unauthorized transactions.
5. Global Acceptance: As Apple Pay continues to expand, it’s increasingly accepted by merchants around the world.

With which devices can Apple Pay be used?

Apple Pay is a service exclusively reserved for owners of devices produced by Apple and using the iOS system. If your phone runs Android, you will have to rely on other platforms, such as Google Pay or Paylib .

Launched at the same time as the iPhone 6, Apple Pay is compatible with all iPhones released since 2014  :

• iPhones 6 and 6+
• iPhones 7 and 7+
• iPhones 8 and 8+
• iPhone
• iPhone XS and XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone 11 and 11 Pro
• iPhone 12 and 12 Pro
• iPhone SE, 1st and 2nd generation
• iPhone 13 and 13 Pro
• iPhone 14, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max.

Apple Pay can also be used with:

• all models of Apple Watch , Apple’s connected watch, to pay in stores and in compatible applications, as well as in certain public transport networks;
• all iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad and iPad mini models equipped with a Touch ID or Face ID biometric sensor, to pay in apps or on the web;
• all Mac models equipped with Touch ID, to pay in applications or on the web.

On these devices, Apple Pay is accessible natively, thanks to the pre-installed Wallet application. It is therefore not necessary to install another application , not even that of your bank, to be able to start paying.

Is my credit card compatible with Apple Pay?

To be able to use Apple Pay, it must be associated with one or more compatible bank cards . It is therefore necessary that your bank has an agreement with Apple: the latter charges a commission for each payment you make with the service. It is likely that this is the case: 9 out of 10 cards currently in circulation in France are compatible.

Here is the list of the main brands compatible with Apple Pay (the complete list can be consulted on the Apple website ).

Note that certain cards carrying restaurant vouchers can also be imported into Apple Pay: Apetiz and Ticket Restaurant in particular.

Please note: to create an account on Apple, you must be at least 15 years old. Customers of children’s banks Kard or Pixpay under the age of 15 will therefore not be able to use Apple Pay.

How does Apple Pay work?

This is one of the strengths of Apple Pay: its use is extremely simple (and free).

To import your card into Apple Pay

1. Open the “Wallet” application installed by default on your iPhone;
2. Click on the “+” sign at the top right of the screen;
3. Place your bank card in the camera frame. This allows it to scan the information on the front: unique number, expiry date;
4. Manually complete the 3-digit security code located on the back;
5. Authenticate yourself: The procedure depends on your bank, but it often involves sending a one-time code by SMS.
6. It’s ready !

If you have imported several cards into Apple Pay, you can choose the one to use by default , in the “Settings” application on your iPhone, “Wallet and Apple Pay” section.

To pay with your iPhone in store

1. Check with the merchant that their payment terminal is equipped for contactless;
2. If your iPhone works with Touch ID, approach the top of the mobile phone to the payment terminal while holding your finger on the sensor, until a check mark and the word OK appear on the screen.
3. If it works with Face ID, double-click the side button, look at your iPhone to authenticate and bring the top of the mobile closer to the payment terminal, until a check mark and OK appear on the screen
4. If you have imported several cards and want to pay with a different one than the default one, select the card of your choice before paying, by double-clicking the Home button (Touch ID) or the side button (Face ID ).

To pay with your Apple Watch in store

1. Double-click the watch side button;
2. Approach the watch to the payment terminal until you feel a slight vibration.

Can I pay abroad with Apple Pay?

If the bank card you added to your iPhone Wallet allows you to make purchases abroad, that is to say if it displays the Visa or Mastercard logo , payments outside French borders with Apple Pay will also be possible.

Another condition to be met for Apple Pay to work: you must travel to a country where the Apple company’s service has been deployed. This is the case in most European countries, as well as in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Australia, China, Japan, etc.

Finally, be careful: choosing Apple Pay to pay does not exempt you from paying any fees charged by your bank for purchases made in foreign currencies.

Is there a risk of fraud with Apple Pay?

Besides its ease of use, the main advantage of Apple Pay is security. Indeed, the use of biometrics (finger or face depending on the model) to authenticate payments is a very robust process in the face of fraud, as it is almost impossible to circumvent. So, even if your iPhone is lost or stolen, the criminal will not be able to make payments with Apple Pay. Apple Pay mobile payment ultimately proves to be much more secure than cash, check or contactless bank card.

What payment limit with Apple Pay?

Its robustness in the face of fraud explains that the amounts that can be paid with Apple Pay are not capped by default , unlike the contactless bank card which cannot go beyond 50 euros.

Be careful, however: there is a limit to the cumulative payments that you can make with your bank card, often over 30 rolling days. This payment limit (whose default level depends on the range of your card) also applies to purchases made with Apple Pay.

Conclusion

Apple Pay has redefined the way we make payments. It combines convenience, security, and privacy, making it a trusted and widely adopted method for both in-store and online transactions. As technology evolves, it’s likely that Apple Pay will continue to innovate and provide even more features to enhance the payment experience. In an increasingly digital world, Apple Pay is at the forefront of modern payment solutions, simplifying our lives one transaction at a time.