- The just-launched Samsung Galaxy S21 collection doesn’t help magnetic stripe know-how (MST).
- As an alternative, Galaxy S21 house owners might want to rely completely on NFC funds.
- There’s no readability on the areas the place the telephones nonetheless help MST funds.
Replace: January 21, 2021 (6:15 AM ET): A couple of days again we informed you that Samsung has listed MST capabilities for the Galaxy S21 collection on its South African, Indian, and UK websites. Nevertheless, opposite to the specs listed on these official pages, tipster Ishan Agarwal now claims that the telephones don’t characteristic MST help, not less than in India.
To be honest, Samsung did be aware on its web sites that “cost options and obtainable options could differ relying on market, service, and repair suppliers.” Some Twitter users are additionally saying that MST is supported on Galaxy S21 models in South Korea.
We’ll replace this text if/when Samsung places out a complete checklist of areas the place the contactless cost methodology characteristic on the brand new flagships.
Authentic article: January 14 2021 (4:51 PM ET): One of many defining options of Samsung Pay is its help of magnetic stripe know-how, in any other case often known as MST. Utilizing MST, a person can conduct a contactless cost with any bank card machine — even when it doesn’t help near-field communication (NFC). That is the largest distinction (and profit) to utilizing Samsung Pay over a competitor, corresponding to Google Pay.
See additionally: Google Pay: A beginner’s step-by-step guide
Nevertheless, Samsung confirmed as we speak that the model new Samsung Galaxy S21 series won’t help MST (by way of Ron Amadeo on Twitter). This implies Galaxy S21 house owners might want to depend on NFC help at any time when they conduct a contactless cost.
Are you upset about this? Reply the ballot beneath, after which proceed on to seek out out why that is occurring.
Loading ballotMST on Samsung Pay is gone, however why?
Samsung despatched a press release to Amadeo, which you’ll be able to see beneath:
As a result of speedy adoption of near-field communication (NFC) know-how by shoppers and companies, starting with gadgets launched in 2021, Samsung Pay will focus its help on NFC transactions, throughout the Galaxy portfolio. Whereas future gadgets will now not embrace magnetic stripe know-how (MST), clients with earlier, suitable Galaxy gadgets will be capable to proceed utilizing Samsung Pay, together with MST.
It seems the reason for this transformation is just that NFC is much more prevalent now than it was when MST first grew to become obtainable. Subsequently, it was seemingly a easy cost-saving measure that pushed Samsung to take away MST {hardware} from the Galaxy S21 telephones.
This will likely be upsetting to many Samsung followers, little doubt. Whereas NFC help is definitely simpler to seek out in shops today, it’s nonetheless not in all places. This might drive a small share of consumers who love the characteristic to keep away from upgrading their telephones.
