Samsung broke this — Marques Brownlee

Quick Overview

Key Takeaway: Samsung removed the MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) feature from its newer flagship phones, effectively breaking the universal compatibility of Samsung Pay with traditional magnetic stripe readers.

Key Points: Samsung Pay on newer flagship phones (S21 series onwards) no longer supports MST, limiting its use to NFC-enabled terminals. The removal of MST significantly reduces Samsung Pay's unique advantage over competitors like Google Pay and Apple Pay. Older Samsung devices with MST can still utilize the feature for wider payment terminal compatibility. This change forces users to rely on NFC, which is not as widely adopted as magnetic stripe readers, especially in older retail environments.

Summary

Samsung has made a significant and controversial change to its mobile payment service, Samsung Pay, by removing the Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) feature from its latest flagship smartphones, beginning with the Galaxy S21 series. Historically, MST was Samsung Pay's defining advantage, allowing it to function at nearly any point-of-sale terminal, including those that only accepted traditional magnetic stripe cards, by mimicking a card swipe. This universal compatibility set Samsung Pay apart from competitors like Apple Pay and Google Pay, which rely solely on NFC (Near Field Communication) and are thus limited to newer, NFC-enabled terminals.

The removal of MST means that Samsung Pay on newer devices now operates identically to its rivals, exclusively using NFC. This decision effectively eliminates Samsung Pay's unique selling proposition and its ability to work in a broader range of retail environments, particularly older establishments that have not upgraded their payment infrastructure. While NFC adoption is growing, it is not as ubiquitous as magnetic stripe readers, leading to a diminished utility for Samsung Pay users with newer devices. This move has been met with disappointment by many long-time Samsung users who valued the MST feature for its unparalleled convenience and reliability.