The digitalization of payments has transformed the way we manage our daily finances. Among the main alternatives is Samsung Pay, the native mobile payment platform for Samsung devices, which stands out for its advanced payment functions to maximise security and your enjoyment., global compatibility and usabilityIn this article you will discover in detail what it is, how Samsung Pay works, its advantages over other solutions, compatible devices, partner banks, its key technologies, and answers to frequently asked questions.
What is Samsung Pay and how does it work?
Samsung Pay is a mobile payment platform Designed to allow Samsung device users to make payments quickly, easily, and securely using their smartphone or smartwatch. It's comparable to other digital wallets like Google Pay or Apple Pay, but integrates exclusive technology that allows for greater universality when paying at retail terminals. Its main objective is to replace the use of physical cards, simplifying the shopping experience, protecting data with high security standards, and expanding payment options to virtually anywhere contactless cards are accepted.
The app, which comes pre-installed on most recent Samsung devices, allows you to register credit or debit cards from compatible banks and pay in establishments simply by bringing your mobile phone or watch close to the terminal thanks to technologies such as NFC (Near Field Communication) and, in some markets, MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission). The user only needs to authorize the operation using a fingerprint, facial recognition, or PIN.
Requirements to use Samsung Pay
Samsung Pay is available in select countries and requires certain elements to function properly:
- Residence in compatible country: It can only be used in countries where the app is enabled. Some of these countries include Spain, Mexico, the United States, Korea, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Sweden, India, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Russia, China, Puerto Rico, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Vietnam.
- Compatible card: it is necessary to have one Visa, MasterCard, American Express or associated bank cards that accepts integration with Samsung Pay (see the supported banks section for specific examples). Corporate or business cards are generally not accepted.
- Payment terminal with contactless technology: Merchants must have terminals capable of processing payments through NFCThis allows the transaction to be completed contactlessly by holding the phone or watch close, eliminating the need to enter a PIN in most cases.
- Active Samsung Account: Essential for registering payment methods and activating biometric or PIN authentication, ensuring the security of each transaction through Samsung's secure cloud.
The registration process requires installing/configuring the Samsung Wallet app (formerly Samsung Pay), registering the desired cards, and verifying your identity using the device's biometric system.
Samsung Pay Compatible Devices
Samsung Pay Only compatible with Samsung phones and smartwatchesThe list of supported models is constantly updated, but generally covers the vast majority of mid- and high-end Galaxy smartphones released in recent years, as well as recent smartwatches. Some of the most notable are:
- Galaxy Fold, Z Flip, Z Flip3, Z Fold2, Z Fold3.
- Galaxy S21 Ultra, S21+, S21 FE, S21, S20, S20+, S20 Ultra.
- Galaxy Note 20, Note 20 Ultra, Note 10, Note 10+, Note 9, Note 8, Note 5.
- Galaxy A range: including A70, A71, A51, A80, A50, A30s, A50s, A7 and A5 (2016, 2017), A8+, A9 Pro, J7 Pro.
- S range: S22, S21, S20, S10, S10+, S10e, S9, S9+, S8, S8+, Edge S7, S7, Edge S6+.
Compatible smartwatches:
- Gear S2, Gear S3
- Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch Active
- Galaxy Watch Active2 (40mm and 44mm)
- Galaxy Watch 3 (42mm and 45mm)
It's recommended to check Samsung's official website to confirm if your specific model is supported, as availability may vary depending on the operating system version and country.
Key technologies: NFC, MST, and Samsung Knox security
A differentiating feature of Samsung Pay compared to other digital wallets is the Support for NFC technology and, in some countries, MSTWhile NFC (Near Field Communication) enables short-range wireless communication between a phone and a payment terminal, MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) simulates the magnetic stripe on a physical card so the signal can be recognized by older terminals, thus expanding the number of places where mobile payments are available.
As an added bonus, Samsung Pay processes all transactions through Samsung Knox, Galaxy's secure environment, which encrypts information from start to finish and stores it in a protected area of the device. Personal and banking data is never stored visibly, either locally or remotely, and the decryption password resides exclusively in the secure environment, thus preventing potential vulnerabilities. Additionally, each payment requires authentication via biometrics (fingerprint, facial recognition) or PIN, giving you complete control over every transaction made from the app.
Advantages of Samsung Pay over other digital wallets
Samsung Pay not only matches, but in many ways surpasses, the advantages of rival digital wallets thanks to the following features:
- Ease and speed: The payment process is extremely intuitive. Just unlock your phone, swipe up from the home or lock screen, authorize the purchase, and then hold your device to the terminal. In most cases, you don't even need to open the app manually.
- Enhanced security: Your card information is never shared directly with the merchant. Instead, a unique digitized token for each transaction, reducing the risk of fraud or cloning. All this is accompanied by the protection provided by Samsung Knox.
- Global Compatibility: thanks to dual support for NFC and MST (in selected markets), Samsung Pay is accepted at most POS terminals. that accept contactless cards, allowing you to pay in millions of stores around the world.
- Device Versatility: You can pay with either your Samsung phone or your smartwatch, providing a level of convenience that's hard to match.
- Control and management: The app allows you to review your transaction history in real time, easily add and remove cards, change your default card, or adjust the authentication method according to your preferences.
- Does not store any real sensitive information: Sensitive data (such as the actual card number) is never revealed during the payment process.
How to install and configure Samsung Pay
To start using Samsung Pay, you'll need to make sure your device is compatible and that you live in a supported country. Samsung Pay typically comes pre-installed on most new Samsung devices, but you can download it from the Galaxy Store or Google Play if it's not listed.
- Open the Samsung Wallet/Samsung Pay app on your Samsung phone or watch.
- Add your cards: Select the option to add a card, scan it with your camera, or enter the details manually.
- Verify your identity: Follow the verification process requested by your bank (usually via SMS, notification, or call).
- Configure authentication methods: Choose whether you want to validate payments with fingerprint, facial recognition or PIN.
- Accept the terms and conditions: both from Samsung and the card issuing entity.
Once set up, you can start paying with your Samsung phone or smartwatch at any compatible NFC terminal.
How to make payments with Samsung Pay
Making a payment with Samsung Pay is a seamless and efficient experience. The process is similar on both phones and watches:
- Unlock your mobile phone or smartwatch.
- Swipe up from the bottom of the Home screen, Lock screen, or even with the screen off to open Samsung Pay, or access it directly from the app icon.
- Select the card you want to pay with, if you have several added. You can scroll sideways if you have more than one.
- Authorize the transaction with your fingerprint, PIN or configured biometric method.
- Bring your mobile phone or watch close to the payment terminal to complete the transaction. Payment is completed in a few seconds, and you'll receive a confirmation notification.
On Samsung smartwatches, simply hold down the back button and hold the watch near the terminal to pay. The entire process is fast, convenient and hygienic, minimizing contact with physical surfaces and cards.
Additional functions and features of Samsung Pay
Samsung Pay not only lets you pay, but also:
- Check payment history and get details of each transaction in the app.
- Add multiple cards from different banks, being able to select the default one to speed up transactions.
- Participate in rewards programs and promotions special, if the country and bank allow it.
- Advanced management of authentication and security methods.
- Synchronization with Samsung Wallet to unify payments, cards, coupons, and digitalized transportation tickets into a single platform.
The app is constantly updated to offer new features and improve the user experience, including integration with more banks, support for more card types, and compatibility with new devices.
Which banks and cards does Samsung Pay support?
The list of banks and cards compatible with Samsung Pay is constantly growing and varies by country. Generally supported banks and brands include:
- Card networks: Visa, MasterCard, American Express.
- International banks: Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citi, PNC and other global entities.
- Local and regional banks: Most major banks in each supported country integrate their cards with Samsung Pay. In Spain, for example, La Caixa, BBVA, Santander, and Unicaja, among many others, are commonly included.
To find out the exact compatibility for your region and bank, it's a good idea to check directly on the official Samsung Pay website, in your financial institution's help section, or by asking at your branch or customer service channel.
Payment limits and security
Samsung Pay does not impose its own transaction limits., as it acts as an intermediary between the card and the payment terminal. All limits (maximum amount per transaction, number of daily purchases, etc.) are defined by the card issuer. Contactless payments are generally limited in amount for security reasons, but this parameter is determined by the bank, not Samsung Pay.
For large purchases, the terminal often requests biometric authentication or PIN, even for contactless payments, adding an extra layer of security. Samsung Pay ensures that all information travels encrypted and is never visibly stored on the device or shared with the merchant.
Frequently Asked Questions about Samsung Pay
- Can Samsung Pay be used in all stores? In general, you can pay at any establishment that accepts contactless (NFC) cards and, in some countries, also at traditional terminals thanks to MST technology. To find out if a store supports Samsung Pay, just look for the contactless logo.
- Is Samsung Pay free? Yes, the platform can be used at no additional cost to the user, although bank fees may apply depending on the specific conditions of each card.
- What happens if I lose my phone? You can remotely block or delete access to Samsung Pay through the Samsung Find My Mobile website and change your Samsung account access to protect your payment methods.
- What advantages does Samsung Pay offer over Google Pay or Apple Pay? Samsung Pay stands out primarily for its compatibility with more payment terminals thanks to MST technology (in markets where it is enabled) and its native integration with the Samsung Knox security environment.
The consolidation of Samsung Pay As a digital payments ecosystem, Samsung Pay demonstrates that mobility and security can go hand in hand. It offers a robust and reliable alternative to cash and physical cards, adapting to the real needs of modern users. With global coverage, multiple layers of protection, compatibility with most Samsung devices, and a simple and intuitive interface, Samsung Pay continues to position itself as one of the leading platforms for making mobile payments and managing our daily finances from the palm of our hand.