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Apple Pay is not very popular

By Daniel Petrov

Updated: Sep 08, 2021, 3:49 AM

Apple

Despite Tim Cook's slick presentation at the time, and the promises to revolutionize point-of-sale payments by replacing plastic cards, Apple Pay usage is almost as low as when it launched seven years ago, reports the latest PYMNTS survey.

Even though we now have much more iPhones that support Apple Pay around than when it launched, and more compatible payment terminals in stores, only 6% of iPhone owners with activated Apple Pay use them to pay for stuff on a regular basis, compared to about 5% when the service hit the tape many moons ago.

Apple Pay is still on the store payment margins, 7 years after launch

The reasons? Well, it just isn't as convenient or ubiquitous than the good ol' plastic, especially with the advent of contactless ones. You still need an extra device to lug around with you, and extra steps to pay, so the majority of iPhone owners apparently don't really bother except for the dedicated few.

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena from 2010 to 2025, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.