# Samsung broke this Channel: Marques Brownlee Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP_mXUuHPbo Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/HP_mXUuHPbo Generated: 2025-07-08T02:32:15.636+00:00 --- ## 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. **Key Points:** - Samsung removed MST technology from its flagship phones starting with the Galaxy S21 series. - This decision means Samsung Pay on newer devices now relies solely on NFC for transactions. - The removal of MST eliminates Samsung Pay's key differentiator and its ability to work with older, non-NFC payment terminals. - Users of older Samsung phones (pre-S21) retain MST functionality, allowing them to continue using Samsung Pay at a wider range of merchants. - The shift to NFC-only aligns Samsung Pay with its competitors but sacrifices its unique universal compatibility. - This change impacts user convenience, especially in regions or stores where NFC terminals are not prevalent. **Context:** For years, Samsung Pay distinguished itself from other mobile payment services like Apple Pay and Google Pay by incorporating Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) technology, alongside NFC. This allowed Samsung Pay to work with virtually any payment terminal, including older ones that only accepted magnetic stripe cards, by emulating a card swipe. This universal compatibility was a major selling point and a significant advantage for Samsung users. ## Detailed Analysis Samsung has definitively removed the Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) feature from its flagship smartphone lineup, starting with the Galaxy S21 series. This strategic shift means that all subsequent flagship models, including the S22, S23, and future iterations, will no longer support MST for Samsung Pay transactions. Consequently, Samsung Pay on these newer devices is now exclusively reliant on Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, aligning its functionality directly with that of Apple Pay and Google Pay. The elimination of MST represents the forfeiture of Samsung Pay's most significant differentiator. Previously, MST enabled Samsung Pay to function at virtually any payment terminal, including older ones that only accepted traditional magnetic stripe cards. This universal compatibility was a major draw for users, providing unparalleled convenience and reliability in various retail environments. Without MST, Samsung Pay's utility is now restricted to merchants equipped with NFC-enabled terminals, which, while increasingly common, are not as universally present as magnetic stripe readers, particularly in smaller businesses or older establishments. This change directly impacts user experience by limiting where Samsung Pay can be used, forcing users to revert to physical cards in situations where MST would have previously worked. The decision reflects a strategic pivot by Samsung, prioritizing a streamlined hardware design and potentially a push towards NFC-only infrastructure, but at the cost of a highly valued and unique user feature. **Key Moments:** - **00:45**: Demonstration of Samsung Pay using MST on an older terminal, showing its unique capability. ![Screenshot at 00:45](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/HP_mXUuHPbo/00-00-45.png) - **01:30**: Visual comparison of a newer Samsung phone (S21/S22) lacking the MST coil, contrasting with an older model. ![Screenshot at 01:30](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/HP_mXUuHPbo/00-01-30.png) - **02:15**: Chart showing the decline of MST adoption in Samsung phones over recent years. ![Screenshot at 02:15](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/HP_mXUuHPbo/00-02-15.png) - **03:00**: Explanation of NFC vs. MST technology with visual aids, highlighting the limitations of NFC. ![Screenshot at 03:00](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/HP_mXUuHPbo/00-03-00.png) - **04:20**: User interface of Samsung Pay on a newer device, showing only NFC payment options available. ![Screenshot at 04:20](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/HP_mXUuHPbo/00-04-20.png) **Insights:** - Samsung's decision to remove MST aligns its mobile payment strategy with industry standards (NFC-only) but sacrifices a significant competitive advantage. - The move indicates a prioritization of hardware design and cost reduction over a unique, highly valued user feature. - This change may lead to user dissatisfaction among long-time Samsung Pay users who relied on MST's universal compatibility. - The future of mobile payments is clearly shifting towards NFC, but the transition leaves a gap for users in environments without updated terminals. - Samsung is betting on the rapid expansion of NFC infrastructure, potentially leaving early adopters of newer devices with limited payment options in the interim. **Action Items:** - Users with newer Samsung flagship phones (S21 series and later) must verify if a merchant has an NFC-enabled terminal before attempting to use Samsung Pay. - Consider carrying a physical card as a backup for situations where NFC is not available. - If universal payment compatibility is crucial, users might consider retaining older Samsung devices with MST or exploring alternative payment methods. - Merchants should prioritize upgrading to NFC-enabled payment terminals to accommodate the evolving landscape of mobile payments. - Samsung should clearly communicate the limitations of Samsung Pay on newer devices to manage user expectations.