Samsung Wallet and NFC: What's Different From Apple Pay and Google Pay

What it is: the short answer

At the payment terminal, Samsung Wallet now works the same way as Apple Pay and Google Wallet: your phone taps over NFC, and that's the whole story. Samsung dropped MST starting with the Galaxy S21 in 2021, so current Galaxy phones are NFC-only.

MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) came to Samsung with its 2015 LoopPay purchase. It produced a magnetic signal that looked like a card swipe, so a Galaxy phone could pay at older terminals with no NFC reader. Samsung gave the spread of NFC terminals as its reason for dropping it. Phones released before the S21 keep MST.

The name also changed. Samsung Wallet was announced in February 2022 and released that June, combining Samsung Pay and Samsung Pass in one app.

How it actually works

What the terminal sees

All three wallets use tokenization. The terminal never receives your real card number. It gets a device-specific number plus a one-time cryptogram generated for that tap. Apple describes this as a Device Account Number and a one-time security code, and the issuer or card network checks the code before approving. Samsung and Google follow the same pattern.

Where the secrets live

This is where the designs diverge a little:

• Apple Pay keeps the Device Account Number in the Secure Element, a certified chip separated from the operating system. It is not on Apple's servers or in iCloud backups.
• Samsung Wallet relies on Samsung Knox, which one comparison describes as a hardware-level platform that isolates payment data on the device.
• Android apps in general can route NFC to a secure element, or use host-based card emulation (HCE), where the app answers the reader's APDU commands from the host CPU. With a secure element, no Android app is involved in the transaction.

You won't notice any of this at the register. It matters if you build NFC apps, because it explains why a phone can't be made to act like an arbitrary payment card.

Where you'll see the differences

The tap itself is equal, so the gaps are elsewhere.

Hardware. Samsung Wallet works on Samsung phones and Galaxy Watches only. Google Wallet runs on Android phones with NFC and Wear OS watches. Apple Pay works on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

Web checkout. The same comparison notes that Google Wallet and Apple Pay work on websites, while Samsung Wallet does not.

Sending money and rewards. Peer-to-peer transfers differ by wallet and region. Apple handles them in Messages, Google through the older Google Pay app, and Samsung's support is limited and region-dependent. Samsung's rewards are tied to Samsung purchases.

Keys, IDs, and passes. All three support digital car keys and some state IDs, though availability is uneven. Samsung's wallet adds a few specifics: NFC car keys need Android 12 or later, home keys need Android 14 or later, and a Fast Mode keeps car keys, transit cards, and campus or company IDs usable for up to five hours after the battery dies (not on Galaxy Watch). Transit cards are region-specific. For how passes and loyalty cards ride on NFC, see Apple VAS and Google Smart Tap, and for tap-to-unlock, read about Aliro.

Tips, gotchas, and a quick check with NFCore

• If you own a pre-S21 Galaxy, MST may still work where NFC does not, but terminals that need it are rare.
• Availability of IDs, keys, and P2P varies by country and by model. Check Samsung's list for your phone before relying on a feature.
• If taps fail on an iPhone instead, see why Apple Pay taps fail after iOS 26.

Payment tokens are locked inside the wallet, and that's deliberate. NFCore doesn't read your payment cards. It reads, writes, and inspects tags you own, like NDEF stickers and business cards, so you can see for yourself how NFC records are structured. Get it on the App Store or Google Play.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Samsung Wallet still use MST?

Not on current phones. Samsung dropped MST starting with the Galaxy S21 series in 2021. Older Galaxy phones keep it.

Is Samsung Wallet's NFC payment different from Google Wallet's?

At the terminal, no. Both tap over NFC and send a tokenized card number with a one-time cryptogram. The differences are device support, web checkout, and extras like keys and IDs.

Can I use Samsung Wallet on a non-Samsung phone?

No. It runs on Samsung Galaxy phones and watches only. Google Wallet works on Android phones with NFC.

Can NFCore read my Samsung Wallet card?

No. Payment tokens are protected and tied to the wallet. NFCore works with tags you own, such as NDEF stickers and business cards.