Samsung Pay app review and answers to popular questions

It often happens that people go out without cash or credit cards, but they almost always take their mobile devices with them. Maybe that's right. Indeed, in the near future, phones can almost completely replace plastic. Thanks to the emergence of various mobile payment services, people will have the opportunity to pay for their purchases, having with them only a smartphone, inside of which card data is stored. One service that can give a good boost towards this is Samsung Pay.

Features of the Samsung Pay payment system

Samsung's contactless payment service, like its analogues Apple Pay and Google Pay, supports NFC contactless payment technologies. The system carries out payments using a secure protocol, which avoids leakage of card data. To pay, just bring the device to the reader.

But Samsung decided not to stop there and additionally added an MST payment function that imitates the magnetic stripe of plastic cards. That is, you can pay for a purchase with your smartphone even if the terminal does not support contactless payment. The device seems to broadcast a virtual magnetic stripe within a radius of 7-8 centimeters.

The manufacturer has also provided additional protection for the personal data and bank details of the smartphone owner. In addition to the standard security measures provided by NFC technology, a dynamic code system is used.

Where to pay via Android Pay

Like other systems, Android Pay works via the NFC protocol, so payments via phone should go wherever payments via contactless Visa and MasterCard cards work.
Next to the terminals there are usually icons for PayPass, PayWave, Apple Pay, Android Pay or contactless payments. At the time of launch, Spar, Azbuka Vkusa, VkusVill, Karusel, Perekrestok, Pyaterochka, Magnit, M.video, Lenta, Metro and H stores announced partnerships with Android Pay {amp}amp;M, Burger King, KFC, McDonald's, Teremok, Starbucks, Double B, Shokoladnitsa coffee shops, BP, Bashneft and Rosneft gas stations. This means that in these establishments there should be no problems with payment and cashiers who refuse to accept payment from the phone. The application also adds discount and bonus cards from these networks. For example, the Moscow City Hall announced the possibility of traveling on the metro and MCC for 1 ruble when purchasing a ticket through Android Pay. But passengers discovered that 40 rubles were debited from their cards and no refunds were made.

Before you start using it, please keep in mind that the technology is not available for all mobile devices. This is due to the fact that the manufacturer began to install the NFC and MST module only on modern smartphone models. The service is currently available for the following company products:

1. The family of gadgets marked S is from S6 to S9, but the S6 phone only has an NFS microchip installed, and it cannot imitate the magnetic strip of a bank card, like other models.
2. A5 and A6 smartphones released since 2016. Earlier models do not support the new contactless payment technology.
3. Galaxy Note with 5 or 8 version.
4. J5 or J7 gadgets released no earlier than 2022.
5. Smartwatch - Gear Sport or Gear S#3.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r29FpQXB0_8

All other models from Samsung are outdated and budget, unable to support the contactless transaction method. Before purchasing a smartphone, carefully study the technical specifications. The manufacturer has several requirements for compatibility:

1. The phone must be equipped with an NFS microchip.
2. You must install the original firmware and the latest software version on it.
3. You must register an account in the Samsung Account system.
4. The bank card must be supported by the service.

Samsung Pay is a payment system developed for smartphones and other gadgets manufactured by Samsung Corporation. Thanks to the application, you can pay for purchases in pharmacies, shops, cafes, and wherever there are contactless terminals with NFC function.

The operating principle of the software is simple:

• the bank card is added to the software;
• after purchasing the product, the program is launched and a credit card is selected (pre-integrated into the service);
• the phone is brought to the POS terminal at a distance of 10 cm;
• The smartphone, through an electromagnetic signal, transmits information to the reading device;
• to confirm the transaction, the user touches the phone screen with his finger, scanning his fingerprint;
• After this, the software is disabled and funds are debited from the account.

You can install the payment system only on some Galaxy models, namely:

• S6-S9;
• Note 5;
• A5-A7;
• J5-J7.

Edge series phones are also supported.

The line is updated every year. All new models released since 2022 allow you to install software for contactless payments.

During the payment process, various nuances are possible. Here are some of them.

• If the total amount is over 1000 rubles, the user will have to confirm the payment: place a finger on the sensor on the phone or enter a PIN code;
• At times, terminals lose contact with the financial structure, which results in a delay in payment confirmation or refusal by banks. In such cases, it is recommended to try making the payment again after a couple of minutes;
• There are insufficient funds on the linked card. In this case, it is first recommended to check the client’s current balance. And then try to use other cards, since by default in the settings of the Samsung Pay application only one card is used;
• The client did not purchase the phone from authorized Samsung partners. That is, he purchased a “gray” mobile device. In such situations, when registering in the Samsung system, the user will receive a message stating that the smartphone does not support the contactless payment option;
• The firmware of each phone needs periodic updates, which contain the necessary data. It is recommended to regularly update the operating system and applications used to maintain relevance and new features;
• From time to time, the NFC adapter stops working properly. You just need to restart your mobile device to check its status. If it still does not work, then it is recommended to contact an authorized service center to resolve the problem.

How to install Samsung Pay

Typically, the Samsung Pay app is installed by default on Samsung smartphones. You can also download it from PlayMarket or Galaxy Store. To activate the service:

1. Launch the application
2. Log in to your Samsung account, if you don't have one, click "Register" and create one
3. Scan your fingerprints or iris (if the option is supported on your smartphone) or set a PIN code for the application

Before installing the service, the manufacturer suggests updating the smartphone firmware to the latest version.

How to determine it yourself

In practice, there are no methods to visually determine Samsung Pay support. Here you need to focus on the manufacturer's technical specifications. In addition, most of the latest devices already have the option.

Let's look at another misconception separately. Like, if you know which Samsung phones support NFC, you can identify the device with Samsung Pay. This is wrong. The presence of NFC does not guarantee its support. For example, this option is not available in older models with NFC, namely S5, S4, Note 4, S3 and others. The A10 model is also missing from the list. Whether your phone supports Samsung Pay or not, you need to check with the seller or look in the parameters yourself.

Setting up Samsung Pay - how to add a card

Before you start using the application, you need to connect a card for payment:

1. Launch the application and click “+” in the “Bank cards” item on the main page
2. Give permission to the app to take photos
3. Enter the information manually or scan the card using the camera. There is also an “Add by NFS” option for contactless cards. To do this, you need to attach the plastic to the back of the smartphone.
4. Please indicate your agreement with the bank's terms of service
5. Click on the “SMS” button to receive a one-time code to the number linked to the bank card
6. Enter the data from the SMS message and click “Submit”
7. Apply your signature with your finger or stylus on the screen and click “Save.” It may be required to confirm payment at the checkout.

In Samsung Pay, as in its analogues, you can add several cards for payment. In total, up to 10 pieces are stored.

Bank cards supported by Samsung Pay

At the moment, Samsung Pay supports cards from most Russian banks with the Visa or Mastercard system, their list is constantly expanding, and for up-to-date information, contact the Samsung support service or the bank branch you need, or write to the official community on the social network.

Among the largest banks supporting Samsung Pay are:

• Sberbank;
• Opening;
• Alfa Bank;
• Promsvyazbank;
• VTB 24;
• Russian standard;
• Raiffeisenbank;
• Yandex;
• Gazprombank;
• Post Bank;
• Vostochny Bank;
• MTS-Bank;
• Tinkoff Bank;
• Russian Standard Bank;
• Rocketbank;
• BINBANK;
• Bank "Saint-Petersburg;
• Union Bank;
• Rosselkhozbank;
• RosEvroBank;
• AK BARS Bank;
• Megaphone;
• Bank "Saint-Petersburg;
• Devon-Credit and others.

The service allows you to simultaneously connect up to ten cards from the list of available banks to your smartphone. Depending on the conditions and rules of the bank, one card can be connected to either one device or an unlimited number of your devices. Find out more details from the technical support of the required bank.

The service does not provide the ability to withdraw cash from an ATM. However, in European countries you can get change from a bank card using your phone, provided that the store offers such a service.

How to use Samsung Pay

To pay for purchases from your smartphone:

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and select the card you want to pay
2. Authenticate using your fingerprint or other chosen method
3. Bring the back of your phone to the payment terminal

It is recommended to use this payment method when the battery level is at least 5%.

To make purchases through Samsung watches or other wearable devices:

1. Click the back button to open payment applications
2. Select the desired card by turning the bezel
3. Bring your device to the terminal and click “Pay”

It is proposed to make payments with such devices when the battery charge is at least 15%.

Advantages and disadvantages

We looked at how to use Samsung Pay step by step. Let us list the advantages and disadvantages of the system. Users highlighted the following advantages:

1. Supports both bank and club cards.
2. Ease of use.
3. You no longer need to take plastic cards with you.
4. Samsung Pay replaces cash.
5. You can make money transfers through it.
6. Online payment is supported.
7. The functionality of the service is only expanding.

It's hard to name the disadvantages. Judging by the reviews, some users highlighted the lack of support for certain banks. Additionally, the service does not work in some countries.

What devices is supported?

Before you start using an application, it is better to check whether it is compatible with your device. Samsung Pay is compatible with the following models:

• Galaxy S10e, S10, S10+, S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S7 edge, S7, S6 Edge+ ,S6, S6 Edge
• Galaxy Note10, Note10+, Note9, Note8, Note5
• Galaxy A20, A30, A40, A50 128 GB, A50 64 GB, A70
• Galaxy A9 2022, A7 2022, A8, A8+, A6, A6+, A7 2022, A5, A3 2017, A7 2016, A5 2016
• Galaxy J6+, J4+, J7 2022, J5 2017
• Gear S3 classic, frontier (but cannot add WORLD)
• Gear Sport (but you can't add WORLD maps)
• Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch Active (but cannot add WORLD)

Method No. 2 Disabling power saving

Power saving mode is an extremely useful feature that helps extend the operating time of your mobile phone. However, after activating this mode, the work of many background processes, including SP, is limited. Disable this mode and see if the situation changes.

1. Swipe down from the top of your screen to access your smartphone notifications.
2. Click "Turn off power saving" (next to the battery icon with a plus sign).
3. Check if Samsung Pay is working.
4. Did not work? Open Settings→Device Maintenance.
5. Next “Battery” → “Power Mode”.
6. Switch the power mode to "High Performance", then open SP and test the application.

Pitfalls of the Samsung Pay payment system

Samsung Pay ranks third in popularity among users after Google Pay and Apple Pay. We decided to study why the application is in less demand than its counterparts.

Is Samsung Pay accepted for online purchases everywhere?

The coverage of territories where you can use Samsung Pay is quite wide. Payment by the service is available in 24 countries. By comparison, its competitor Google Pay is used in more than 30 countries.

If we talk about online purchases through an application, then Samsung’s payment service is also a little behind its peers. You can't pay through the app in any online store. For example, when ordering an air ticket online in Pobeda, the aggregator application offers to pay using Google Pay or Apple Pay.

Samsung support

If a user has problems with a mobile device or Samsung Pay technology, he can contact the vendor’s contact center.

The hotline is available at 8-800-555-55-55 and is free for all residents of the country. Opening hours from seven in the morning until ten o'clock in the evening, Moscow time.

The subscriber dials the number and tells about his problem. If a contact center employee can resolve his issue, then he is trying to help the client. For example, advise on how points are awarded for “Gold” status when purchasing through Samsung pay.

If the issue cannot be resolved immediately, the subscriber is directed to the next support line. The company's employees are highly qualified specialists and always try to help users solve the current problem.

You can also contact the contact center in other ways. Let's talk about each in more detail. There is a link to the chat on the vendor's official website.

Chat with the call center.

The user clicks “Start Chat”. A new workspace will open in which you need to fill in the following lines

Registration window

The client enters the name that will be displayed in the chat in the “Nickname” field. The following two fields are optional, but they can speed up the response in case of a problem with a technical device. It is recommended to specify parameters.

After this, the user accepts the agreement and clicks “Start”. He will have access to an online dialogue with a support employee.

The second way to contact the call center is by email.

Email to contact support

When you click on “Write a letter,” the visitor is sent to the site with a choice of one of two categories: general or technical. After activating one of the options, the user gets access to the form for sending a letter through the vendor’s website.

Form for sending e-mail

The client specifies the request type and then enters their name. As a means of feedback, you must indicate an e-mail and contact phone number.

Important! For corporate clients, it is recommended to check the appropriate box. In this case, the response will be sent to your corporate email.

The second part assumes that the client provides detailed information about the problem that occurred.

Detailed information form

The top field serves as the title of the letter, and in the message the user tells about the problem that happened. If the client needs to upload screenshots, then they should use the appropriate field below.

After this, the user optionally confirms his consent in the fields below and clicks “Submit”.

The answer will come within a few days. If necessary, the client will be contacted at the specified phone number.

Samsung also has accounts on social networks.

Social network profiles

The user follows the link and asks his question in private messages. Operators are almost constantly online and are ready to provide a detailed answer to the question asked.

What to do if you have problems with Samsung Pay

Some users are experiencing difficulties with Samsung Pay. Before contacting the service center, you should try updating or reinstalling the application. Especially if an incompatibility notification appears when launching Samsung Pay or one of the cards freezes during payment.

For some reason, Samsung Pay cannot be downloaded from the Play Market on my smartphone (a notification appears that the service is not supported on your device), but it downloads and works fine from the Galaxy Store. — Dmitry Tolstykh, video editor and motion designer at VZO

Problems can also arise due to various software glitches or features.

For example, the region where the smartphone was sold does not match the region where it is located, or the contactless payment function on it is blocked (“gray” phone). Such a violation can be resolved by changing the data system in the service center

Also, the application may not work if the smartphone is re-flashed after purchase. This lock cannot be changed. Samsung writes a special code to devices that does not allow the contactless payment system to work after re-firmware. This is done for security purposes so that no one can make transactions using the card of the owner of a stolen smartphone.

If you cannot solve problems using the application, you can use its analogue - Google Pay. It is also suitable for Samsung smartphones.

How to register in the application?

After the application has been installed on the mobile device, launch it and go through registration. There are two possible options. The first case is when the client already has an account on the Samsung domain, and the second is when the user purchased a mobile device from a Korean company for the first time.

Let's first look at how to create an account name on the Samsung portal. If the smartphone owner already has it, move on to the next point.

1. On your mobile device, open the “Settings” menu and go to the “Accounts” section. Next, click “Add account”;

Accounts section

1. In the window that opens, select the line as shown in the screenshot below;

Selecting a Samsung account

1. In the window that opens, select “Create an account”;

Account creation menu

1. The main window with registration information will be displayed on the communicator screen. Let's start filling it out as follows.

New user registration form
First, the client comes up with an account name. It can be arbitrary, the main thing is that it is easy to remember and unique.

In the next two lines, enter the password and its confirmation. It should be invented according to the recommendations below.

To check the entered data, the user can activate the “Show password” option. The data specified in the corresponding fields will be displayed on the screen.

Next, fill in the information about the year of birth and indicate the full name of the phone owner. This information is necessary so that if the mobile device is lost, the owner can get it back.

Conclusion

Samsung Pay has its pros and cons as a payment service. For example, an enhanced security system and the ability to pay for purchases in terminals that are not equipped with NFS. The service is constantly being improved to keep up with competitors. Including expanding the possibilities for payment through the application on the Internet.

On the other hand, the payment system lags somewhat behind its competitors. Some users are facing problems while installing or using it. If Samsung doesn't resolve its issues with patent rights and legal action, this could be a serious reason for its further decline in popularity in the Russian market.

I used the application for two years when I had a Samsung smartphone. I linked a virtual card to it and paid for purchases using it. Convenient enough. There were no problems. But I rarely make such payments; I usually pay with a simple plastic card. — Sergey Shchekaev, operational director of VZO

I had the Samsung Pay app installed on my smartphone by default. I wanted to add my Sber card there and try payment, but I didn’t get around to it. When I issued a Tinkoff card and installed the application, the card data was loaded into Samsung Pay automatically. But I never managed to pay, I don’t know why. Payment did not go through. Now I pay for purchases with my smartphone through another application, where I also store discount cards. This is convenient, so I settled on this option and did not bother dealing with the Samsung application. — Anna Bukhtiyarova, author of the VZO

• Samsung official website in Russia
• Official help for Samsung Pay
• Official website of Tinkoff

Installation

On a Samsung phone, the application must be included initially upon purchase. If not, you can do the following:

1. Open the Google Play application store.
2. Apply search option.
3. Install Samsung Pay on your phone.
4. Activate your account.
5. Register your card.

After installing the program and the appropriate settings, you can pay using Samsung Pay.

Video on the topic

Recommended for you

• How to use Apple Pay
• Review of Google Pay - payment system for Android

Victor Avdeev Has been working in the project since 2022, before that he was freelancing. Manages the work of marketers and SEO specialists. Experience working on similar projects allows him to effectively participate in the development of our service.

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What cards can be linked?

You can also register a virtual card in the Samsung Pay software. The registration principle is similar to the process for standard bank cards, but there are some differences.

Firstly, the payment instrument details are generated by the vendor, without user participation. This guarantees a high level of reliability of the generated data.

Secondly, the maintenance of such a card is completely outsourced. That is, the user no longer needs to change it or contact representatives of the financial institution in case of any problems.

Thirdly, a virtual payment instrument will allow the client to secure their payments on the global network. If he suspects that he has been hacked, just go to the Samsung Pay program and block the current virtual card.

An important question arises: which credit cards are compatible with the contactless payment service. Now the Samsung company cooperates with many domestic banking organizations. At any time you can check whether the card is suitable for use on the manufacturer’s official portal. Here you can enter the name of the bank and a reliable answer will instantly appear on the display. Currently, Samsung has more than 60 partner companies, and this list is updated periodically.

Here, on the developer’s portal, you will find a list of stores whose discount cards work in the system.

The article examined in detail the features of the Samsung Pay application, and also found out what devices it works on. Using the service, you can pay for purchases using a mobile device of a well-known brand.

Method #7 Disabling NFC in Phone Settings

The SP app supports both Magnetic Secure Transfer (MST) and Near Field Communication (NFC). However, you will not be able to make a transaction with an MST terminal if your smartphone uses NFC (which is enabled by default). The solution is to disable NFC in the device settings.

1. Go to Settings and open Connections.
2. Find the NFC feature and disable it by moving the slider to the appropriate position.
3. Check if you can make a payment through SP. Got a notification from NFC? Just close it.

Nothing changed? Then let's check if MST is functioning normally:

1. Open the dialer on your phone and enter this combination of numbers and symbols:
   *#0*#
2. Once in the diagnostic menu, select “MST TEST”.
3. In the "Continuous" section, click on "Track 1+2" and hold your phone's camera to your ear. Do you hear any buzzing or squeaking noises? If you hear, then MST is working as it should. If not, then there’s definitely something wrong with your smartphone—it’s time to take it to the nearest service center.

Method #4 Changing the display resolution

SP may stop functioning correctly if the user sets the resolution to HD+ on their phone. Have you recently changed the resolution in Settings? Perhaps this is precisely the problem. You need to go to Settings again and return the resolution to the default value. Of course, this method is not applicable to all Samsung smartphone users.

1. Open Settings → Display.
2. Tap Screen Resolution and use the slider to select FHD+ or WQHD+ (any resolution other than HD+).
3. After changing the resolution, open the SP app and check it.

Operator competence

Technical support is well organized. Most technicians keep a daily log of all the calls and clients they receive.

Another important quality for a technical support consultant is strong argumentation skills, as they must solve problems and determine a cost-effective solution. Thinking skills help technicians find a solution to any problem with ease. The ability to solve problems is important, as is the ability to be good trainers to explain to clients what caused the problem and how to prevent it from happening in the future.

Hotline for calls from other countries

For CIS countries you can call the following numbers:

1. Azerbaijan..
2. Armenia. 0 800 05 555.
3. Belarus. 8 108 00 500 55 500.
4. Georgia. 0 800 555 555.
5. Kazakhstan. 8 108 00 500 55 500.
6. Moldova. 0 800 614 40.
7. Tajikistan. 8 108 00 500 55 500.
8. Uzbekistan. 000.
9. Ukraine. 0 800 502 000.